KitHuff
Registered
You mention diving with a new DM and being okay with it when they do not have much experience. Was that when you had 100 dives, 200, 300, more? I have less than 20. I do not believe it would be the same situation for me as it is for you. I am sure it is okay when you have a lot of experience. It is not okay when you do not and you are paying for the DM having that experience. How can I count on a DM to help if they do not have the experience? I understand why he wants to be a DM. If he is going to be a good DM, then I expect him to understand why I am not comfortable diving with him.If I was like that was then I would not be diving with a lot of dive centers in Asia. There are always people doing DM courses with less diving experience than I have. I have dived with DM's that are newly certified. I never ask to see their log books. You as a diver should not rely on the DM but be happy they are there to assist if you have an issue. Real life experiences I have those but many new DM's do not. The DM would have rescue cert and have recent EFR.
I have dived with new instructors who have less experience than I have. New DM's I have seen some tend to over monitor the dive group and then find out they are the one running low on air as they have done too much checking of divers.
I would dive with this chap doing his DM course now. The dive center would say hey we are doing very shallow dives with a new DM and OW certs would you care to join that dive. I've done this many times. Then the DM can pair me up with a diver. This does not bother me at all. If I want to do deeper dives to say 35m then I ask to be assigned to a group doing deeper dives.
I believe the OP should really do some more diving and gain experience. His high air consumption is a worry as he has to be able to have enough air to share with other divers in an emergency.
The OP has found a passion for diving. That's great as he will be wanting to learn things and he wants to improve his skillset. To do that he needs more diving. Working as a DM will get him a lot more dives than maybe he can afford to pay for as a customer.