Getting your PADI Dive Master - The Pro's and Con's of Internships?

[nimpto]

Can anyone advise me on the best course of action to attain the PADI DiveMaster qualification.
I'm currently Rescue diver qualified.

Any advice to jon_4077@hotmail.com

Thanks.
Jon

[Mr T.]

Hey Jon,

Firstly, a very warm welcome to YD my friend! Get in amongst it and enjoy.

Secondly, can you give us a bit more about yaself?? For instance, where are you in the UK? The more we know, the quicker we can get you hooked-up with someone near you who we know and who can instruct you in a manner that you'd find beneficial and safe.

Hope this helps and look forward to getting you squared away.

[nimpto]

Sorry, should have mentioned, I'm in Knaresborough.

Thanks,
Jon

[Frog]

Hi Nimpto, welcome aboard.  I'm up in Glasgow area, a bit too far for you!  Dive safely.  

[Argo]

Originally Posted by nimpto

Can anyone advise me on the best course of action to attain the PADI DiveMaster qualification.
I'm currently Rescue diver qualified.

Any advice to jon_4077@hotmail.com

Thanks.
Jon

Well the one thing I will say is DON'T do internships. You'll be a slave for a long time...........If you want to get the PADI DM cert (Though God knows why?). Go to your LDS and talk with a PADI Instr about it.........I always find that if you pay for your courses you can demand a high level of training........

Just my 2 cents worth (Opppps Pennies worth)

[Bantam]

Originally Posted by Argo

Well the one thing I will say is DON'T do internships. You'll be a slave for a long time...........If you want to get the PADI DM cert (Though God knows why?). Go to your LDS and talk with a PADI Instr about it.........I always find that if you pay for your courses you can demand a high level of training........

Just my 2 cents worth (Opppps Pennies worth)

And I'd argue the opposite. If you're ever considering working as a DM then internship is the only way to go. You learn infinitely more working, doing the job you're going to do, than you ever do by just doing the course. Reading a book and filling in the blanks on a multiple guess is easy, and then it just vanishes out of your head.

Most dive operations will only employ someone who has done it via internship unless they exhibit exceptional skills. Mainly because we've all done it so many times it's drilled into you

Mark.

(PADI DM-613167 (via Internship )

[nigelH]

Well you had for and against internships so you should be nicely confused so now is the time to ask "Why on earth did I want to be a Divemaster anyway?" and throw the whole idea overboard and go and enjoy your diving rather than playing wetnurse to a bunch of oiks.

Beware the PADI machine that sweeps you along from one course to the next when Rescue Diver is a good qualification to go and enjoy all sorts of diving in the UK and around the world and discover what aspect of this wide ranging hobby is the one for you. DM is the foundation stone for instructing and doesn't teach you anything useful that you won't learn by just doing the hours in the water.

[Bantam]

Originally Posted by nigelH

Well you had for and against internships so you should be nicely confused so now is the time to ask "Why on earth did I want to be a Divemaster anyway?" and throw the whole idea overboard and go and enjoy your diving rather than playing wetnurse to a bunch of oiks.

Beware the PADI machine that sweeps you along from one course to the next when Rescue Diver is a good qualification to go and enjoy all sorts of diving in the UK and around the world and discover what aspect of this wide ranging hobby is the one for you. DM is the foundation stone for instructing and doesn't teach you anything useful that you won't learn by just doing the hours in the water.

I thoroughly agree.

Mark.

[Bantam]

Just to answer your question, the nearest PADI Centre running DM courses to you would be the Dive Bureau in Harrogate.

However, not knowing anything about them (and worrying if they're any relation to Dive Time who were slightly scary) I urge caution, unless anyone on here can prove me otherwise.

Alternatively, a quick nip along the A59 and you're talking Overland Underwater - DDJ should be able to put me right as to whether they run Divemaster courses, but they're the best PADI outfit in the area, IMHO.

Mark.

[Argo]

Originally Posted by Bantam

And I'd argue the opposite. If you're ever considering working as a DM then internship is the only way to go. You learn infinitely more working, doing the job you're going to do, than you ever do by just doing the course.

Most dive operations will only employ someone who has done it via internship unless they exhibit exceptional skills.

Mark.

(PADI DM-613167 (via Internship )

So Bantam, how long did you have to serve the diveshop you did your internship with?...........I advise against internships because of following problems. You pay to get to the place, and find that all that was written is in fact lies..... OH it does happen, and happens a lot.
I am Admin of another ProForum and we get complaints from people almost every day that have had the wool pulled over their eyes...........
The last one said If I'd known I was going to be filling tanks all day every day for 2 months I would never have joined their internship program......... Others promising you the possibility to work afterwards.........BS.........Certification Cards held back etc etc etc......... the list is endless.........

So If you were lucky enough to find a good place to do your Internship as DM Bantam all I can say is lucky you............ BTW your comment that most dive operations will only take someone that has done an internship is wrong all of our DM's and Instr's have Paid for their courses and not all of them have excetional skills............ This is the case at all of the DiveShops / Schools that I worked at...................Also most of the owners that I know are the same.............

PADI MSDT
TDI INSTR
CMAS 2** Instr
Ex-Sat Instr.