Actually, I think bad diver = not going pro? would have been a more accurate description & heading....

Just had quite enough of the "but he's not a DM or anything" comments

Excuse me, "or anything?", this non DM in question is probably one of the most experienced divers I know & someone was commenting on his being "not-pro" = he can't be "that" good! What has choosing to teach or not have to do with being a good diver or not?

As for the Master Scuba Diver thing - it's quite a joke isn't it? Does it help one pickup in bars?