From non-diver to pro

[ruuuuuuuuuu]

Hi. I want to get qualified at least up to divemaster level and possibly beyond. I am currently thinking of Thailand but not sure exactly where or with which company. Anyone care to share their thoughts on this matter. I have been only once before but I am pretty sure its something i'd like to pursue for a while at least. Any advice or pearls of wisdom would be greatfully received.
Thanks

[Paul Oliver]

Do some diving first.

[dave archer]

Like Paul said...

Qualified is only half the story, you need experience too.

Being a DM or instructor means having reponsibility for other divers in the water. You need to have very solid ability at looking after yourself before you go adding students.

The are many organistations and schools out there who will cert you to DM and beyond with just the bare minimum experience - this doesn't mean you're ready and able to cope IMO...

Dave.

[Hazel W]

what they said !

[Jim Shaw]

Brilliant post, well said

Originally Posted by dave archer

Like Paul said...

Qualified is only half the story, you need experience too.

Being a DM or instructor means having reponsibility for other divers in the water. You need to have very solid ability at looking after yourself before you go adding students.

The are many organistations and schools out there who will cert you to DM and beyond with just the bare minimum experience - this doesn't mean you're ready and able to cope IMO...

Dave.

[finbar.taylor]

I know of several people who have taken the route you sugest.

I don't think any of them work in the dive industry (even part time).

if some one is looking for employment then they need to have experiance and possibly even be "known" if you are looking to set up your self then your students are going to look for a known instructor.

just my thoughs/experiance

Fin

[Bantam]

Agreed with the others.

Most dive operations will only recruit a divemaster who has a decent amount of experience, and a chunky logbook, and won't look at DM's who have done the rapid training. All of us have seen what a liability that they can sometimes be (that doesn't mean all of them are bad - just a few).

Brownie points are gained for internships (how I did mine - took me just over 2 years in total but every moment well spent) too.

Recommendation - learn to dive first. Get a few dives under your belt, then work out where you want to go. If you do your Open Water / Advanced Open Water and Rescue, if you work hard enough and get in with the right crowd, you might find somewhere that is willing to invest in you and take you on internship to do your DM and/or OWSI.

Just my 2p worth.

Mark.

[chas49]

and just a thought - what if you don't actually like it (or find you're not suited to it)??

Do an entry-level course before you start getting carried away! (Why not do a try-dive in this country - in a pool - at least to see how you feel about being underwater : it's not for everyone!

(And if you take it further - what everyone else so far has said! )

[wilbo]

completely agree with all of the good advice above..

get the dives in, build up the experience..

One word of caution about doing the rapid ascent thing from OW to PADI instructor. Yes it gets you there - but then you learn in the crystal clear waters of Thailand.. Then you'll come back to blighty and pea soup.. Keeping track of errant students in clear water is one thing - on <2m viz is another! Plus you'll only find that the nutters use wetsuits in UK coastal waters.. I guess what I am saying is do the training where you intend to instruct: you'll learn all about the specifics of the water you will be diving and instructing in: the Equipment, the Enviroment and any other special considerations..

Good luck in whichever direction you go.

[Buoyant Babe]

Wot they all said - do some diving first before you decide where you want to go with it. Diving for pleasure is great

My Rescue Diver Course was invaluable in making my think about where I wanted to take my diving. It also made me think very hard about the way I dive and my responsibilities to myself, my buddy and others. I would certainly recommend that if you want to progress your diving, go as far as Rescue Diver before you commit to anything else.

Like Bantam, I have appreciated the experience that doing a Dive Master Internship has given me. Mine has taken nearly a year, mainly as I have put off studying for the exams until now. Nothing prepares you for dealing with the extremes of both nervous and overconfident trainees - and everything else in between. I have now decided that I don't want to go any further than DM for a while. I am pleased therefore that I didn't pay up front for my Instructor Course like I was tempted to. I will progress in my own time, if I want to. Right now I'll be happy with DM.

Gaining experience before you progress to DM is a real must. You can't afford to worry about whether your own buoyancy is right, or be unfamiliar with your own equipment set-up when you are under the water with trainees who are liable to shoot to the surface at anytime. Your attention must be focused on their needs.

Most of my diving last year was with trainees in Ellerton Lake. I am glad that before I did my DM I had a good all-round experience of shore diving and boat diving in the UK, as well as diving abroad. Diving in UK conditions has been, for me, far more demanding than anything I have done abroad. It makes me appreciate diving abroad, but I love UK diving more.

Hope this helps.

Hxxx