Going to the dark side

[Hairy Tim]

Hello all

Having finished up in scotland with (hopefully) a few more initials before and after my name, I am taking a break.

The plan is in place to go to Lanzarote and do my PADI divemaster with Calipso diving in Costa Teguise. I was there the other year and liked their set-up. Now this means crossing over from being a BSAC instructor to becoming a PADI divemaster, which I am fine with doing as I have a job over there.

Now the question is, what roles do PADI DM have in diving, I have spoken to some DMs and found out some info but what other opinions are out there. Is it a good life? Can you move on and up to say AI and still travel around the place?

Hairy Tim

[Narked@50]

Before I upset anyone out there, I would just like to say this is a general opinion and I am sure not applicable to every DM, ................however:

From most of the guys I have spoken to over the years it is common for them to do just about anything, be over worked and underpaid, expected to do 4+ dives a day for 6 or 7 days a week, and keep quiet about taking a few shortcuts when it comes to putting a few $ in the till. (I'm not suggesting they are downright dangerous, but how many take OW divers to 25-30m regularly??)

This said, they love it for the most part and definately look at it as a transition or a lifestyle type of thing for a couple of years, most of them have a great time. (you don't get many old DMs!)

You can progress if you pay, or it will be a benafit to your employer, this will let you get a few better jobs, a little more money and a bit more prowess, but you are still not going to pay the mortgage back home on it!

The big danger is turning your hobby into your job - because then you don't have a hobby - unless you are one of the few lucky ones.

James

[Allan Carr]

Originally Posted by Hairy Tim

Hello all

Having finished up in scotland with (hopefully) a few more initials before and after my name, I am taking a break.

The plan is in place to go to Lanzarote and do my PADI divemaster with Calipso diving in Costa Teguise. I was there the other year and liked their set-up. Now this means crossing over from being a BSAC instructor to becoming a PADI divemaster, which I am fine with doing as I have a job over there.

Now the question is, what roles do PADI DM have in diving, I have spoken to some DMs and found out some info but what other opinions are out there. Is it a good life? Can you move on and up to say AI and still travel around the place?

Hairy Tim

Is Peter Monk still running that place? He pulled my leg the last time we were there about the flaky papyrus in my qualification book. Seems a professionally run place and Peter was very good but didn't like one of the DM's we dived with - didn't take enough care of a newly qualified diver and I had to help her out when she had problems with a leaky mask (hair stuck in it).

[Tony F]

Originally Posted by Hairy Tim

Hello all

Now this means crossing over from being a BSAC instructor to becoming a PADI divemaster, which I am fine with doing as I have a job over there.

Hmmm...... as I understand it you could go directly to an IDC and qualify as a PADI instructor if you're already a BSAC instructor. Have you considered that?

Although the theory exams cover the same stuff in both the DM exams and IDC and you'd have to work on those a bit (IE learn PADI speak and that air is 21% O2 rather than 20%) I'd imagine you'd be more useful to dive centres as an Instructor than a DM.

Just a thought.

[Hairy Tim]

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Originally Posted by Allan Carr

Is Peter Monk still running that place?

He is still running the place but I have a thick skin

Tim