The PADI Divemaster and unqualified divers!

[jamie]

Hello all,

Was talking to a friend today about his holiday in cyprus to find out that he went diving, and as a result has decided to get qualified.

Now my question related to what he did in cyprus. Being an unqualified diver he went into the dive centre and was given a Divemaster who explained all the basics and equipment to what sounds like an acceptable level. He was then taken for a short dive in the pool and then straight into open water for around 40mins at 12mtrs (with no instructor supervising).

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

Thanks
Jamie

[Ferg3333]

Some PADI Divemasters can do a Discover scuba diving internship and yes they then can take unqualified divers into the water. I'm not sure what the max depth is as I never did the DSD internship but my mate did i'll ask him 2moro

[dlegros]

IIRC, the answer is no, unless an OWSI or higher has carried out an open water dive first.

I'll have to check to be certain as I don't have a manual with me at work!

Dom

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by dlegros

IIRC, the answer is no, unless an OWSI or higher has carried out an open water dive first.

I'll have to check to be certain as I don't have a manual with me at work!

Dom

This was the position until 2 years ago when the DSD internship was introduced, some DM's now run DSD's

Ian

[onthetrain]

Originally Posted by jamie

Hello all,

Was talking to a friend today about his holiday in cyprus to find out that he went diving, and as a result has decided to get qualified.

Now my question related to what he did in cyprus. Being an unqualified diver he went into the dive centre and was given a Divemaster who explained all the basics and equipment to what sounds like an acceptable level. He was then taken for a short dive in the pool and then straight into open water for around 40mins at 12mtrs (with no instructor supervising).

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

Thanks
Jamie

Not sure. However When I was in cyprus in august I spoke to a guy doing try dives in our hotel pool. I later saw him doing discover scuba's in a little bay behind our hotel. He was an AOW diver who had been diving for less than a year. But it was OK cause he was starting his DM whenthe holiday season ended!!!!

[dlegros]

Originally Posted by iani

This was the position until 2 years ago when the DSD internship was introduced, some DM's now run DSD's

Ian

Just checked my manual, and I was right...

Open water dive — Maximum depth: 12 metres/40 feet.
Only Teaching status PADI Instructors may conduct the PADI Discover
Scuba Diving program in an open water environment—including
all portions of the program leading to and including the open
water dive.

DMs may conduct subsequent open water dives at a 2:1 ratio.

Dom

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by onthetrain

Not sure. However When I was in cyprus in august I spoke to a guy doing try dives in our hotel pool. I later saw him doing discover scuba's in a little bay behind our hotel. He was an AOW diver who had been diving for less than a year. But it was OK cause he was starting his DM whenthe holiday season ended!!!!

No this is not OK. Firstly to start DM the guy needs RD and second he has not enough skill or experience to accept the responsibility..... There are some dreadful cowboys out there. Sounds like another one!

Chris

[Rod]

The max depth a DM may do a discover scuba to is 6 meters in confined open water at a ratio of 2 to 1.

Rod

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by dlegros

Just checked my manual, and I was right...

Open water dive — Maximum depth: 12 metres/40 feet.
Only Teaching status PADI Instructors may conduct the PADI Discover
Scuba Diving program in an open water environment—including
all portions of the program leading to and including the open
water dive.

DMs may conduct subsequent open water dives at a 2:1 ratio.

Dom

Dom,

You aren't looking at the latest version.

Ian

[Lazlo]

Confined water does not necessarily have to mean a swimming pool. Confined water can be an open water site with swimming pool-like conditions with respect to clarity, calmness and depth.

A PADI DM (who has also done the DSD internship) can do a DSD in a confined open water site at a ratio of 2:1 (it would be 4:1 in a pool).

However, I would have thought that 12m did not fit the above requirement.

HTH