Just started Divemaster training and now my Instructor is leaving!!

[lars2923]

Is there no other Instructor in the area?
If not, I'll go through the course with you...


I live in Fla... :-)

[hbh2oguard]

If I'm understanding this you have 24 dives total(60-34) and your already deciding to do DM? What's the urge to jump in sooooo fast? I'd rethink it, especially leaving your current job to go to another country. Like others said, I'm sure there has to be another descent instructor. How about doing the DM at the same center, where you'll get the free dives under another instructor. After your done you can visit your instructor in the other country and do another internship or work under him/her to refine your skills.

[nat]

Hey guys,

DM is purely "desire to learn more" driven. I want to know more, for my own knowledge. Ok, sure, I wanna be able to teach and be a good teacher and I want that as an option..

I feel completely let down with what I was offered and what I've now got. The new instructor (Manager) has arrived and is boasting about doing confined 1-5 in 35 minutes in the pool!! NOT an option for me as a student-sorry, no! All I want do is learn and then apply with my own style. I negotiated a programme where I dive for free (up to 60+) whilst working in the centre, when I can ...sitting on as many courses as possible to LEARN.

I fully appreciate what you're saying. The centre is one of the better ones in the area and I'm frustrated. I'm not looking for a quick progression. Probably part of working within a hospital - I HAVE to know how things work..what's likely to go wrong, how do you deal with it.. etc. It's in my nature. DM is another step - for me - to understand the equipment, the physiology, the physics, better.

Perhaps that's something else to debate - Do people "Go Pro" for the right reasons? Is it for themselves as a diver, or for the status. I just want to be safe underwater, knowing I aim and have the potential to teach...

Opinions please..

Nat

[acelockco]

If I'm understanding this you have 24 dives total(60-34) and your already deciding to do DM? What's the urge to jump in sooooo fast? I'd rethink it, especially leaving your current job to go to another country. Like others said, I'm sure there has to be another descent instructor. How about doing the DM at the same center, where you'll get the free dives under another instructor. After your done you can visit your instructor in the other country and do another internship or work under him/her to refine your skills.

I agree 100% on this.

[hbh2oguard]

I really think you should only do one thing, and that is get some more dives. You don't have to go through formal training to learn. Find a more experienced diver and dive with them, forget the classes for now and go diving!

[shinek]

Sounds to me like you wanted to go through the DM training because of the instructor you would have been working with. I completely understand that, I have been a DM for a few years and have been fortunate enough to work with some excellent instructors and other DMs and have learnt from all of them.

However, I'm with "hbh2oguard", no need to rush to get the badge. Experience is a great teacher so get out there and dive, dive in different places with different people, find experienced divers that you like, trust and can learn from. Some of those will be instructors and DMs, others will just be other divers who share your enthusiasm. Maybe you can set yourself some personal goals in diving that you can practise and develop, with the help of more experienced divers if necessary. Use specialty classes if and when appropriate, navigation, buoyancy, wreck, night, search & recovery etc. all add to your skills and confidence as a diver, but don't let them become the driving force.

Fundamentally, enjoy your diving. There is always a risk that if you try to push yourself for a specific certification too aggressively, your passion may become a chore and that would be a terrible shame. While you're working to develop your personal dive skills, remember to stop and smell the underwater roses from time to time.

[hbh2oguard]

Fundamentally, enjoy your diving. There is always a risk that if you try to push yourself for a specific certification too aggressively, your passion may become a chore and that would be a terrible shame. While you're working to develop your personal dive skills, remember to stop and smell the underwater roses from time to time.

couldn't agree more, absolutely spot on!

[samtihen]

If you are willing to leave the country to do a divemaster course, you should at least look at all available options.

Some places do free divemaster internships where you work a bit and pay nothing. Many places you don't work, have to pay a bit, but you at least get free unlimited diving.

It's worth checking around - don't artificially limit yourself to one instructor. There are LOTS of great ones.