When should DMs become Instructors?

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

Question for the instructors:

How much time did you spend as a dive master before becoming an assistant instructor and how much time did you spend as an AI before going for full instructor? Thanks.

 

[j yaeger]

i dm'd for 2 years
i then did my idc for the winter
did my i.e. that spring in montreal
i, unfortunatly, do not speak any french
my classmates,no english,or so they implied!!
interesting doing my presentations.....
time as a divemaster would all depend upon how much you were doing
we were doing classes 3 nights a week, and diving all weekends,so a lot of different experiences happened for me
i was happy just as dm, but felt that it would help all around to be able to team teach
you know if you're ready...
have fun
yaeg

 

[endurodog]

I DM'd for 9 months before going AI then 4 months before finishing Instructor. (I had been certified for 28 years before I started down the pro path)

I think it depends on the person, what experince you are getting, life experince, ect. I don't think anyone can give a set time, some never should, some could right away. I had an instructor that I talked to about it (at each step) and he gave me some good advice.

 

[TSandM]

I've been a DM for two years, and haven't signed up for an instructor class yet. But I was a diver for five years, and had about 800 dives and a bunch of technical training, before I stepped up to DM. Don't be in a hurry -- if you get through your professional training with the bare minimum amount of experience, you will have very little to offer your students.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Question for the instructors:

How much time did you spend as a dive master before becoming an assistant instructor and how much time did you spend as an AI before going for full instructor? Thanks.

I spent about 16 months as DM before becoming an instructor. In the NAUI system, AI is a lower level than DM, and I skipped the AI certification altogether. I certed as DM at about 550 dives, and as instructor at about 900 dives ... after having worked with several instructors from multiple agencies (NAUI, YMCA, SSI and PADI).

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[tstormdiver]

I was a diver for 4yrs before certifying for Dive Control Specialist. I then was a Dive Control Specialist for a year (I assisted with every available class, classroom, pool & Open Water, that I could). By being active with all the classes that I assisted with, it gave me a huge insight into instructing.

 

[randytay]

One year as a DM for me, and took my IDC twice (same agency, NAUI). During that 1 year, I mainly organized dives for diver and doing logistic work and helping other divers improved their skills.

Will be going for another IDC next February (UTD) if everything pans out well and the stars align themselves correctly.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

DM as intern and actual DM nearly 2 years. Got some tech training and did no DM work for a few months. Then crossed over from PADI to NAUI/YMCA for 6 months. Became YMCA instructor then SEI when that shut down, Then added CMAS 2 star instructor 2 years later (2010) followed by crossover to SDI/TDI 2012 in addition to SEI/CMAS. While a DM for PADI and YMCA/NAUI took the time to work seriously on being able to take most any gear set up that was around at that time and get to the point where if it fit or not, was overweighted, or had different weight system I could still get neutral and in trim in a few minutes. Before starting DM I made sure my basic skills were down and did not need more than a little polishing to be demo quality. One should not start DM if your buoyancy and trim skills need work, you can't do basic skills fluidly and smooth and they should not require thought. They should be instinctual. If not you're going to waste a lot of time.

 

[ElGaucho]

I don´t think you should overdo it either. Not that experience as a DM is counterproductive. But it is not necessary to be an assistant for years. You can just become an instructor, and continue to DM, or be an Assistant Instructor, or team teach, an OWSI rating will allow you to do all that. Don´t feel you have to wait. Once you realize what an IDC and IE are all about, you realize that if you waited 2 years to do your IDC, to be more prepared for the IE, you wasted your time. I just want to make the point straight and honest. Being a DM for a long time, assisting different instructors WILL help you with teaching. But it WONT help you much for the IDC or the IE. My point is, if you are interested and capable of doing the IDC and the IE, being an instructor and offering your services as a DM/AI will allow you to continue to learn, to team teach, to assist someone, and also will give that "main" instructor much more flexibility in how you can help him. Most IDCs/IEs are of much lower standard than what many people on this board believe an instructor should be (including me). If you have the means, and you want to do the IDC, and IE, go ahead.

 

[knotical]

Was DM for a year and AI for a year. I focused on (and highly recommend) working with as many different instructors as possible. No regrets. Well, there was this one instructor ...