Just had this video come up on my feed Gary, and I have to admit you got the nail on the head. I completed my PADI DM course in December of last year, and then went on to do a DSD internship, both of the main mentors for both courses where my father, who is a PADI Master Instructor, it was my goal to get DM before I was 30, and with his help and training I achieved it. It wasn’t easy, the course took me best part of 3 years. But I finally got the certification, and I felt absolutely elated. I did my rescue course about a week prior to starting my DM, but I did the rescue scenario for DM as my second to last scenario for my DM course in December in a UK Quarry. I’ve been told by my Local shop’s manager, course director, and my dad that I should look into progressing to OWSI, but I’ve told them I’ll do it when I feel ready
Thanks for the feedback Matt. I love teaching the pro level courses and always start with these kind of thoughts and insights. As they're things I would have loved to know when I did my DM, all those years ago, also in a quarry in the UK (Stoney Cover and Gulidy anyone?) As for progressing to Instructor? I'd only recommend walking forward to OWSI if you have aspirations of teaching diving. Its an expensive course and the ROI is zero unless you really plan to use it. So think long and hard about it.
@@DeeferDiving great to hear, and in regards to the OWSI. I’ve got a ideal plan. Which is gain my OWSI / MSDT ( PADI is what I know but also open to SSI / SDI ) Then once I’m at MSDT status, look into working on yatchs, be it live a boards, or M/Y as a deck hand / dive guide
I am a PADI Instructor and i have discussions like this with all our DM candidates. By the way, all five instructors on our staff did the IDC/IE in Grenada. Also been to Carriacou several times to dive, perhaps the best wreck diving in the Eastern Caribbean. Check out the Bianca C wreck off Grenada. Thanks for the video Deefer, solid advice all the way around! Best mountain wishes from Trinity Diving, SW Colorado & NW New Mexico.
Wow, really? You'll have to let me know who, as I was probably involved in their training.... Unless it was a looooong time ago. I love to dive the Bianca, particularly as a tech dive on CCR. Unfortunately she's an old girl now and starting to show her age... so no penetration any more.
Thanks Deefer, I started working with my mentor in Dec 2020, needed to get to 40 dives, to officially start dm. Just hit 40 dives last weekend, starting my course next week, but have already been diving with my mentor and getting advice as well as what he expects of me throughout the program. Thanks for the tips and keep diving.
You got this! Thanks for watching our little video and I'm thrilled that some of what we might have had to say resonated and helped. Stick with it and get the most you can from your mentor. It makes the learning so much more. Good luck and stay wet
Thankyou, should have seen this before I did my divemaster course, course not internship, but in behalf of future dive pros, thanks for this great vid...all points covered.
Thank you for this great video, I definetly need to revise my knowledge before I attempt my divemaster. I've been flying through the levels from Padi open water to Padi Rescue diver with only 30 dives and I think its times to chill, gain more experience and revise all the theory up to divemaster. Thank you for helping me realise this and happy dives to you fellow diver :)
Glad it was helpful! Taking a leadership role in the water is about so much more than blasting through the course levels. Its about confidence, competence and comfort first. But then in a working environment its also far more encompassing than the narrow course defined by any of the training agencies too. If you're interested in working in the industry, take your time. Becomes a good diver. Bring some other skills to the table too....
Thank you for making this video, it was very informative! I will be doing my DM this summer in a 1 month internship program. I know that ideally I should take more than a month to do it, but since I've already had the opportunity to do an internship at the same diving center (which is also the place where I did most of my previous certifications) last year, I already have some experience working with customers on the boat, on land, and in the water :) I was very lucky to have that opportunity last year and feel honored that my mentor put that much trust in my skills, and I'm really looking forward to gaining more experience and put in the hard work to hopefully become a good DM during my course in August!
The best way to be a better diver, is to dive with people you aspire to be like. Learn from them as they dive, and chat with them during surface intervals. You'll learn far more during these sessions than you can on any course....
Glad to hear things are getting busy again! We are in Ilhabela, Brazil right now. We miss diving the crystal clear waters of Carriacou! We just got the gear out here and and went for a dive, but only to clean the barnacles off the propeller :-) Hope you and the rest of the team @Deefer Diving are well. Cheers!!!!
Thank you for this video. I did my DM in Malta over a 3 months internship program and I agree with everything you said. Choosing the right mentor is very important. Don't do the 8-10 days short course. Get into an internship and you will get to practice a lot more and you will learn so much on the diving business as a whole and not just what you need to become a dive master. For those who wish to continue to be an instructor - getting on an internship program with the right mentor will make your IDC and IE so much more easier. Yes, it is a lot of hard work but it is worth it... and you get to have a lot of great fun and the most important, a hell of a lot of diving :) :) :)
I'm glad you had a great experience with your DM and feel that you learned a lot and you're prepared to move forward. Its always great to hear the success stories where you manage to hook up with a mentor than works for you. How did you select your instructor in Malta? Was it research based or luck? I'd be interested to know your process. Also - good luck for your future diving career
Sorry Eyal. I can't see any message yesterday on the thread. Sometimes YT holds a message back for moderation - but there is nothing there (except someone wanting me to check out their hot sister!?). Any chance you can remember what you said and post it up again?
@@DeeferDiving Well, no worries. I will write it again. My process was research based. I have emailed a lot of dive centers and some of them either didn't answer me at all or took a long time to answer which showed me right away which ones are serious and which ones are not so. I narrowed it down to 3 centers which offered the DM internship, 2 of them were PADI and one SSI. I did skype meetings with the people in charge and I ended up choosing Bubbles dive center in Malta. I had the feeling that I will get a good level of training there and they have an in-house course director. I wasn't wrong - The level of training was superb. Like my mentor David says: There are the PADI standards and there are Bubbles standards. On top of all the DM skills and requirements, I was also tought how to service equipment, how to fill tanks and many more skills required for working at a dive center. My subsequent IDC and IE were easy due to the level of training I received during my DM internship. This is season I am going back to Malta to work for Bubbles as an OWSI and a part of the team. I am proud to take part in the training of the next DM interns which will come this year. I can definitely say I had a great experience in my DM inernship and yes - The mentor is much more important than the agency. 100% :)
Very useful video. I think, from my modest experience, that PADI has a best overall training in terms of teaching and demonstrations. I like that you can not go ahead and continue, if you are not able to perform certain skill.
Thanks for your feedback and comment. The difference between most of the major training agencies in terms of what you learn is very very tiny, as all of the courses are governed by the RSTC. If you trust your instructors, then the PADI model can be frustrating for both a student and instructors as technically we're not able to move on and come back to a skill issue. If you don't trust your instructors, the PADI methodology is ideal. Experienced and diligent instructors will utilise techniques and tricks that they've learned over the years to help students deal with all of the more challenging elements of learning to dive - and this is why its far more important today to ensure that you can get the most from your divemaster program by being able to connect with the instructor you're working with....
Doing my Divemaster course with Angel Divers here in Perhentian. I've been in the shop dawn to dusk helping, assisting, keep the shop. Worst but most fruitful part is carrying the oxygen tanks. I'm thinking if I were ever to open up my own dive shop, this would come in handy. the extra heavy weight pull-skill. Apart from that, I've panicked before every test, and passed it by keeping calm somehow... Things have been great so far. Almost a month in the ocean is going to be great. P.S. - I'm scared about my swim test. I feel like I have no form. Any ideas how to ace it well?
Hey Janna.... I've just completed a DM course with somone here who was feeling the same way about her swim tests. Remember, the watermanship skills are 5 skills together where you need to score 15 points over the 5 skills. Focus on what you can do, then put energy into what you think you can do. My approach - nail the float and equipmenr exchange. That's 10 points. Go hell for leather on the inert diver tow - you should be able to get 2-3 points. Get a good rhythm on the snork swim and aim for 2 points..... which means you only need to complete the 400m swim to get the 1 point you need. No time, no pressure.... just don't stop. You gotta have a strategy and play to what you can nail... Hope that helps
@@DeeferDiving thank you so much. that really helps. However, I've extended the course for one month to get more diving experience....since I don't get much of it at home. My name's Jannati by the way, it's cute the way you shortened it though. I'm really glad you took the time out to reply...
Planning to do my divemaster in May/June with my AOW instructor out in Hurghada, getting my crew pack today so it will be well read by the time I get out there.
That's awesome. Make sure you have a good read of the Encylopedia Of Recreational Diving which comes with your crew pack. Whilst its not 'necessary' for the DM it has so much more information on the physics, physiology and ocean planet that when added to the DM core materials make for really good learning materials. Too many people see this big book and decide not to read through it. Enjoy you DM/IDC and really really enjoy Egypt..... I long to go back there and dive again :)
@@Daveador876 Awesome Dave. Really happy to read that. There is so much information available relating to diving and dive theory that the truth is no single person will likely ever know it all. Keep the positive approach and learn as much as you can and this sport will always fascinate you. I know it does me...
@@DeeferDiving It's how I came across your channel, do you have any of your videos on further advancing my knowledge working towards divemaster and above that you would recommend to me.
Personally I think the current pre requisite dives for Divemaster are too low and should be raised to 100 logged dives. How can you be considered a “master” after only 40 repetitions of something?
Oh now that's a WHOLE other conversation... I'm personally less concerned about the number before you start as I am about the number, content and expectations of the dives DURING the course. What you learn and how deeply ingrained the learning is, is far more important. It's why I will never offer a short form, 5 day, DM course which has become the norm in so many places.
@@DeeferDiving I am going next month to join these dive master course before I am going to join these course I watch these videos to more details how about these course is any opportunity in abord
@@joyalvarghese4943 If you need any guidance or advice, feel free to reach out. I would be more than happy to support you finding the best place for you thats local to you too. Much comes down to the instructor who will be teaching you. If you connect with them, you'll have a great experience. Enjoy anyway
Just had this video come up on my feed Gary, and I have to admit you got the nail on the head.
I completed my PADI DM course in December of last year, and then went on to do a DSD internship, both of the main mentors for both courses where my father, who is a PADI Master Instructor, it was my goal to get DM before I was 30, and with his help and training I achieved it.
It wasn’t easy, the course took me best part of 3 years. But I finally got the certification, and I felt absolutely elated.
I did my rescue course about a week prior to starting my DM, but I did the rescue scenario for DM as my second to last scenario for my DM course in December in a UK Quarry.
I’ve been told by my Local shop’s manager, course director, and my dad that I should look into progressing to OWSI, but I’ve told them I’ll do it when I feel ready
Thanks for the feedback Matt. I love teaching the pro level courses and always start with these kind of thoughts and insights. As they're things I would have loved to know when I did my DM, all those years ago, also in a quarry in the UK (Stoney Cover and Gulidy anyone?)
As for progressing to Instructor? I'd only recommend walking forward to OWSI if you have aspirations of teaching diving. Its an expensive course and the ROI is zero unless you really plan to use it. So think long and hard about it.
@@DeeferDiving great to hear, and in regards to the OWSI.
I’ve got a ideal plan. Which is gain my OWSI / MSDT ( PADI is what I know but also open to SSI / SDI )
Then once I’m at MSDT status, look into working on yatchs, be it live a boards, or M/Y as a deck hand / dive guide
I am a PADI Instructor and i have discussions like this with all our DM candidates. By the way, all five instructors on our staff did the IDC/IE in Grenada. Also been to Carriacou several times to dive, perhaps the best wreck diving in the Eastern Caribbean. Check out the Bianca C wreck off Grenada. Thanks for the video Deefer, solid advice all the way around! Best mountain wishes from Trinity Diving, SW Colorado & NW New Mexico.
Wow, really? You'll have to let me know who, as I was probably involved in their training.... Unless it was a looooong time ago. I love to dive the Bianca, particularly as a tech dive on CCR. Unfortunately she's an old girl now and starting to show her age... so no penetration any more.
Thanks Deefer, I started working with my mentor in Dec 2020, needed to get to 40 dives, to officially start dm. Just hit 40 dives last weekend, starting my course next week, but have already been diving with my mentor and getting advice as well as what he expects of me throughout the program. Thanks for the tips and keep diving.
You got this! Thanks for watching our little video and I'm thrilled that some of what we might have had to say resonated and helped. Stick with it and get the most you can from your mentor. It makes the learning so much more. Good luck and stay wet
Thank you, very important thought inspiring arguments
My pleasure! Thank you for watching
Thankyou, should have seen this before I did my divemaster course, course not internship, but in behalf of future dive pros, thanks for this great vid...all points covered.
Glad it was helpful! What were the highlights of your course, and what would you change if you could go back and do it again?
Thank you for this great video, I definetly need to revise my knowledge before I attempt my divemaster. I've been flying through the levels from Padi open water to Padi Rescue diver with only 30 dives and I think its times to chill, gain more experience and revise all the theory up to divemaster. Thank you for helping me realise this and happy dives to you fellow diver :)
Glad it was helpful! Taking a leadership role in the water is about so much more than blasting through the course levels. Its about confidence, competence and comfort first. But then in a working environment its also far more encompassing than the narrow course defined by any of the training agencies too. If you're interested in working in the industry, take your time. Becomes a good diver. Bring some other skills to the table too....
Thank you for making this video, it was very informative!
I will be doing my DM this summer in a 1 month internship program. I know that ideally I should take more than a month to do it, but since I've already had the opportunity to do an internship at the same diving center (which is also the place where I did most of my previous certifications) last year, I already have some experience working with customers on the boat, on land, and in the water :) I was very lucky to have that opportunity last year and feel honored that my mentor put that much trust in my skills, and I'm really looking forward to gaining more experience and put in the hard work to hopefully become a good DM during my course in August!
Thats fantastic. Good luck with your course and also with your time as a DM....
I totally agree with who you train under is the key!!! It is a goal for me one day but for now I just want to take classes on being a better diver
The best way to be a better diver, is to dive with people you aspire to be like. Learn from them as they dive, and chat with them during surface intervals. You'll learn far more during these sessions than you can on any course....
@@DeeferDiving I agree …. I can’t wait to get back into that routine again
Good Morning Gary!!!!
Hello there! Where the heck are you guys now? We've been a little lax on YT as we've gotten a wee bit busy
Glad to hear things are getting busy again! We are in Ilhabela, Brazil right now. We miss diving the crystal clear waters of Carriacou! We just got the gear out here and and went for a dive, but only to clean the barnacles off the propeller :-) Hope you and the rest of the team @Deefer Diving are well. Cheers!!!!
great video
Glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for your feedback too
I wish I saw this before I started my dm course! Great information. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Did you have a good experience with your DM?
Thank you for this video. I did my DM in Malta over a 3 months internship program and I agree with everything you said. Choosing the right mentor is very important. Don't do the 8-10 days short course. Get into an internship and you will get to practice a lot more and you will learn so much on the diving business as a whole and not just what you need to become a dive master. For those who wish to continue to be an instructor - getting on an internship program with the right mentor will make your IDC and IE so much more easier. Yes, it is a lot of hard work but it is worth it... and you get to have a lot of great fun and the most important, a hell of a lot of diving :) :) :)
I'm glad you had a great experience with your DM and feel that you learned a lot and you're prepared to move forward. Its always great to hear the success stories where you manage to hook up with a mentor than works for you. How did you select your instructor in Malta? Was it research based or luck? I'd be interested to know your process.
Also - good luck for your future diving career
@@DeeferDiving Hi, I replied here yesterday but for some reason I don't see the reply anymore :(
@@eyalshultz5306 Let me check to see if it's been held for moderation by YT...
Sorry Eyal. I can't see any message yesterday on the thread. Sometimes YT holds a message back for moderation - but there is nothing there (except someone wanting me to check out their hot sister!?). Any chance you can remember what you said and post it up again?
@@DeeferDiving Well, no worries. I will write it again. My process was research based. I have emailed a lot of dive centers and some of them either didn't answer me at all or took a long time to answer which showed me right away which ones are serious and which ones are not so. I narrowed it down to 3 centers which offered the DM internship, 2 of them were PADI and one SSI. I did skype meetings with the people in charge and I ended up choosing Bubbles dive center in Malta. I had the feeling that I will get a good level of training there and they have an in-house course director. I wasn't wrong - The level of training was superb. Like my mentor David says: There are the PADI standards and there are Bubbles standards. On top of all the DM skills and requirements, I was also tought how to service equipment, how to fill tanks and many more skills required for working at a dive center. My subsequent IDC and IE were easy due to the level of training I received during my DM internship. This is season I am going back to Malta to work for Bubbles as an OWSI and a part of the team. I am proud to take part in the training of the next DM interns which will come this year. I can definitely say I had a great experience in my DM inernship and yes - The mentor is much more important than the agency. 100% :)
Thanks fella be safe
Thank you. You too
Very useful video. I think, from my modest experience, that PADI has a best overall training in terms of teaching and demonstrations. I like that you can not go ahead and continue, if you are not able to perform certain skill.
Thanks for your feedback and comment. The difference between most of the major training agencies in terms of what you learn is very very tiny, as all of the courses are governed by the RSTC. If you trust your instructors, then the PADI model can be frustrating for both a student and instructors as technically we're not able to move on and come back to a skill issue. If you don't trust your instructors, the PADI methodology is ideal. Experienced and diligent instructors will utilise techniques and tricks that they've learned over the years to help students deal with all of the more challenging elements of learning to dive - and this is why its far more important today to ensure that you can get the most from your divemaster program by being able to connect with the instructor you're working with....
Doing my Divemaster course with Angel Divers here in Perhentian. I've been in the shop dawn to dusk helping, assisting, keep the shop. Worst but most fruitful part is carrying the oxygen tanks. I'm thinking if I were ever to open up my own dive shop, this would come in handy. the extra heavy weight pull-skill.
Apart from that, I've panicked before every test, and passed it by keeping calm somehow...
Things have been great so far.
Almost a month in the ocean is going to be great.
P.S. - I'm scared about my swim test. I feel like I have no form.
Any ideas how to ace it well?
Hey Janna.... I've just completed a DM course with somone here who was feeling the same way about her swim tests. Remember, the watermanship skills are 5 skills together where you need to score 15 points over the 5 skills. Focus on what you can do, then put energy into what you think you can do. My approach - nail the float and equipmenr exchange. That's 10 points. Go hell for leather on the inert diver tow - you should be able to get 2-3 points. Get a good rhythm on the snork swim and aim for 2 points..... which means you only need to complete the 400m swim to get the 1 point you need. No time, no pressure.... just don't stop. You gotta have a strategy and play to what you can nail...
Hope that helps
@@DeeferDiving thank you so much. that really helps. However, I've extended the course for one month to get more diving experience....since I don't get much of it at home. My name's Jannati by the way, it's cute the way you shortened it though.
I'm really glad you took the time out to reply...
Planning to do my divemaster in May/June with my AOW instructor out in Hurghada, getting my crew pack today so it will be well read by the time I get out there.
That's awesome. Make sure you have a good read of the Encylopedia Of Recreational Diving which comes with your crew pack. Whilst its not 'necessary' for the DM it has so much more information on the physics, physiology and ocean planet that when added to the DM core materials make for really good learning materials. Too many people see this big book and decide not to read through it. Enjoy you DM/IDC and really really enjoy Egypt..... I long to go back there and dive again :)
Both books will be read cover to cover by then, I'm trying to absorb as much information as I can. Want to be working in the industry by Christmas. 🤞👌
@@Daveador876 Awesome Dave. Really happy to read that. There is so much information available relating to diving and dive theory that the truth is no single person will likely ever know it all. Keep the positive approach and learn as much as you can and this sport will always fascinate you. I know it does me...
@@DeeferDiving It's how I came across your channel, do you have any of your videos on further advancing my knowledge working towards divemaster and above that you would recommend to me.
Personally I think the current pre requisite dives for Divemaster are too low and should be raised to 100 logged dives. How can you be considered a “master” after only 40 repetitions of something?
Oh now that's a WHOLE other conversation... I'm personally less concerned about the number before you start as I am about the number, content and expectations of the dives DURING the course. What you learn and how deeply ingrained the learning is, is far more important. It's why I will never offer a short form, 5 day, DM course which has become the norm in so many places.
Thank you
You're welcome. Thank you for taking the time to watch. I hope we've given you some food for thought....
Love from india
Hey Joyal. Hi and great love to you from Carriacou too.... How's the diving over there
@@DeeferDiving I am going next month to join these dive master course before I am going to join these course I watch these videos to more details how about these course is any opportunity in abord
@@joyalvarghese4943 If you need any guidance or advice, feel free to reach out. I would be more than happy to support you finding the best place for you thats local to you too. Much comes down to the instructor who will be teaching you. If you connect with them, you'll have a great experience. Enjoy anyway
@@DeeferDiving okk tnq sir