Dive master questions

[tursiops]

For SSI, presuming you're certified as a Dive Control Specialist which represents PADI DM plus certified assistant ...

A PADI DM is already a certified assistant. Nothing additional needed, other than insurance, of course.

Yes, your instructor is important, but you should note that a DM (or even instructor, for that matter) cannot function professionally under an agency other than that which provided his professional credentials.

 

[Steve_C]

A PADI DM is already a certified assistant. Nothing additional needed, other than insurance, of course.

Yes, your instructor is important, but you should note that a DM (or even instructor, for that matter) cannot function professionally under an agency other than that which provided his professional credentials.

You can get credentials from more than one agency if you jump through the right hoops.

 

[tursiops]

You can get credentials from more than one agency if you jump through the right hoops.

True, I'm certified as an instructor by two different agencies. But if I want to teach -- or even just DM -- for a third agency, I can't do it.

It's funny: we tell people the agency doesn't matter, just the instructor. But if you are taking professional instruction, the agency matters a lot.

 

[decompression]

I agree with Tursiops (ouch, that hurt). Of the four agencies I've been certified by I've seen a few fundamental differences in agencies. It isn't always an option but picking an agency that closely aligns with your values and beliefs can keep you happy and satisfied in your career. Sometimes you don't find this out until much later............


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Carl_F]

A PADI DM is already a certified assistant. Nothing additional needed, other than insurance, of course.

Yes, your instructor is important, but you should note that a DM (or even instructor, for that matter) cannot function professionally under an agency other than that which provided his professional credentials.

Thanks! I'd been led astray. Fixed my post.

 

[Shipwreckscanada]

Thank you all for the good information. I understand that a yearly renewal fee is required and an insurance. I can accept this as a good thing. Is it expensive the renewal and the insurance? Can you give me a ballpark figure?

I ask because I live in Canada so teaching is done from around March to October. I want to do this part-time until I retire, soon. I have not made-up my mind yet but the financial cost is a criteria I can’t ignore. The time investment I can afford. I’m a full time teacher with adults so I understand the work.

 

[Hawkwood]

Thank you all for the good information. I understand that a yearly renewal fee is required and an insurance. I can accept this as a good thing. Is it expensive the renewal and the insurance? Can you give me a ballpark figure?

I ask because I live in Canada so teaching is done from around March to October. I want to do this part-time until I retire, soon. I have not made-up my mind yet but the financial cost is a criteria I can’t ignore. The time investment I can afford. I’m a full time teacher with adults so I understand the work.

I don't remember the DM costs for PADI Membership or for the Insurance, so hopefully someone else from Canada will let you know what the costs would be for you here.

My DM costs would typically be recouped after a couple of months of teaching DSDs, Discover Snorkelling, and doing Refreshers.

As to my costs as an Instructor:

Hub International Insurance	$313.00 CDN
Professional Association of Diving Instructors	$326.00 CDN

 

[Shipwreckscanada]

I don't remember the DM costs for PADI Membership or for the Insurance, so hopefully someone else from Canada will let you know what the costs would be for you here.

My DM costs would typically be recouped after a couple of months of teaching DSDs, Discover Snorkelling, and doing Refreshers.

As to my costs as an Instructor:

Hub International Insurance	$313.00 CDN
Professional Association of Diving Instructors	$326.00 CDN

The insurance is more reasonable than I expected. do you need both?

 

[Hawkwood]

If you plan on actually helping with courses as a DM, or teaching what you are able to teach as a DM, you must be insured and renewed.

The place you work through might cover your insurance costs. The place I work through does not. We pay for our own insurance.

The big advantage to that is that I can teach stuff independent of the dive shop. I do a significant amount of first aid courses for the workplace on my own.

 

[captio2000]

I am a PADI DM and in addition to what the others have said, you need yearly medical and need to stay current on your EFR Cert.

Yes, you can teach just a few limited classes as a DM: Skin Diver (snorkeling); Discover SCUBA in confined water; and SCUBA Refresh (now PADI replaced with ReActivate).