The PADI Divemaster and unqualified divers!

[wilbo]

the DSD instructor guide..

http://www.padi.com/english/common/c...ro/PDF/DSD.pdf

page 3 at the bottom: 6 metres..

[Lynne]

From the instructor manual

"A teaching status PADI instructor must conduct the knowledge development and waterskills development sessions and accompany participants on the first open water scuba dive"

"Subsequent open water dives can be conducted by a certified assistant on a 1:2 ratio, indirectly supervised by a teaching status PADI instructor"

"The maximum depth for any discover scuba diving open water dive is 12 metres"

Since certified assistants need to be renewed PADI DMS, AIs or OWSIs, a DM under training can surely not be a certified assistant, since they are not yet registered as a DM?? And it doesn't sound like there was an instructor indirectly supervising the dives

[up 4 it]

And you slag BSAC divers off.....nuff said

Steve

[dlegros]

Originally Posted by iani

Dom,

You aren't looking at the latest version.

Ian

Is there a more up to date version than DIM 2005 Q3?

Given that DIM 2006 hasn't been released yet.

Dom

Edit: Having looked at the v1.1 linked by Wilbo (DIM 2005Q3 has v1.0) The quote is still correct.

A DM may conduct DSD if they have completed the internship in a confined of confined OW environment at a depth of no more than 6m. If OW dives are carried out, the initial experience must be carried out by an OWSI.

[Lazlo]

Originally Posted by Lynne

From the instructor manual

"A teaching status PADI instructor must conduct the knowledge development and waterskills development sessions and accompany participants on the first open water scuba dive"

"The maximum depth for any discover scuba diving open water dive is 12 metres"

Since certified assistants need to be renewed PADI DMS, AIs or OWSIs, a DM under training can surely not be a certified assistant, since they are not yet registered as a DM?? And it doesn't sound like there was an instructor indirectly supervising the dives

A trainee DM should never have any responsibility for students.

A qualified DM can do a DSD on his own but only to 6m. The optional open water dive can be to 12m but this needs to be under direct supervision of an instructor.

Originally Posted by Lynne

"Subsequent open water dives can be conducted by a certified assistant on a 1:2 ratio, indirectly supervised by a teaching status PADI instructor"

This is true, but would only be possible after "new divers complete a PADI Discover Scuba Diving open water dive with a PADI Instructor".

[wilbo]

Originally Posted by up 4 it

And you slag BSAC divers off.....nuff said

Steve

steady...

[Rod]

Originally Posted by jamie

Are PADI Divemasters allowed to take unqualified divers diving? If so what are the requirements/rules?

Thanks
Jamie

So the answer to your question is YES an Active Status Divemaster who has had the extra DSD training CAN take unqualified divers in the sea. But only 2 at a time and then to a maximum of 6 meters.

Rod

[Dive In Paphos]

Hi Guys,

Just to clarify a couple of points. A Divemaster who is DSD certified can only take unqualified divers in either a: Pool OR b: Confined open water.

Confined open water is defined as a body of water that offers similar conditions to that of a swimming pool in terms of calm, clarity and depth. Sorry for preaching to the PADI instructors on here .

Ok so as it stands, a DSD trained DM should certainly not be taking unqualified divers out of a confined water enviroment. The only exception to this is when it is a subsequent dive after the original dive (confined + open water sessions) has been conducted by a an OWSI or above.

Rod's quote from PADI IM is correct and has been since the inception (sp) of the new DSD format.

FWIW no credit towards O/W can be given if a DM conducts the confined session on his/her own.

Hope this helps.

Have a good 'un

Jonno

[Sipadan]

Jonno is spot on, so no need to further comment on the technicalities.

When working as a DM + DSD Leader (crap name), I did a LOT of DSDs and can see no problem with it at all. It's one of those things that instinctively sounds bad when taken out of context, but when put in the context of the clear guidelines that Jonno and other have spelt out, I don't think there's much argument against.

There are a lot of shoddy, unsafe practices in the holiday diving market, but this isn't one of them.

[TonyG]

The rules are quite clear and if you have a problem you should report it to PADI QA. In practice PADI Europe appear to be a bit more lax than PADI International/UK. I think we have all been on holiday and have witnessed AOW Rescue Diver/ BSAC Sport/Ocean Diver students running taking dives along the house reef with the promise that they will be divemasters at the end of the season.