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

[nat]

Hey guys,

Just returned from a week diving in the Seychelles (Beau Vallon). Incredible diving including a surprise visit by a whale shark at the end of a deep dive. I came home with my decision made - I signed up for Divemaster, bought all of my equipment and got going on the manual... when...

My Instructor has just told me she's leaving the dive centre and her new job is in another country!! She leaves in 4 weeks time and have no where near enough dives or the time to fit them in as I work full time.

I'm totally confused now what to do! She has suggested that I follow her and do a two week course, in her new location, as part of a holiday (having completed the manual / workbook at home and reached the required dive number stated by PADI). The other option is to sign up to a different instructor at the centre. I don't believe that the other Instructors will teach me to the standard I really want - they seem certification number orientated only. There are no other divemasters working at the centre.

An additional problem was that I signed up on the premise that I would get free dives during the course until I reached the 60 required (at least) in return for assisting the Instructor during the weekends. I would now have to pay for 34 dives from my own pocket if I now wait to do the course abroad with her. She also said that she wasn't sure if the offer of the free dives would stand once she left.

Has any one else been in this situation? Any pearls of wisdom?

Nat
(I always seem to be in a dilemma, eh?)

[The Publisher]

A good relationship makes the learning experience so much more enjoyable. But you raised some valid financial aspects associated with all those dives.

By the same token you entered into an agreement based upon apparently agreed upon expectations. Can you discuss this with her and see if she can accommodate you at her new place?

[nat]

Well, one of the options we discussed last night was for her to contact her new boss and discuss with him the possibility of doing a divemaster - Instructor internship with me. That brings its own considerations - do i take 6 months unpaid leave from work and I hope I have a job to return to or do I see where diving takes me and jump in with both feet? To be honest, I wasn't really interested to think about being an instructor at this stage - just want to make myself a safer diver with the option available to assist / teach.

Why is nothing ever simple?! If I'm honest, it's the finance side of my DMT that worries me!!

[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.