Divemaster Course

Responsibilities, Schedule and Administration

■Course Logistics – Assignments, Responsibilities, Schedule and Administration

Topic 1 – Course Introduction

The Role and Characteristics of a PADI Divemaster

Recommended Materials and Methods for Covering This Topic

This is the first presentation for the PADI Divemaster course and must be conducted before any other course components. It’s most effective for you to use the following outline to present the information in a classroom-like setting.

Much of this presentation sets the tone for the course and lays the groundwork for developing professionalism and desired attitudes in candi-dates. Encourage discussion and interaction in your group, which not only assists in attitude development, but will help develop familiarity between your candidates, you and your staff.

The first chapter of the PADI Divemaster Manual supports this topic. If possible, have candidates read the chapter and complete the Knowledge Review before attending. However this presentation covers additional material specific to the logistics that apply to your divemaster candidates and the local area, and therefore aren’t covered by the manual.

The PADI Divemaster Video also strongly supports this presentation. It’s recommended that you have candidates watch the video prior to this presentation, or immediately after it.

Presentation

Overview and Learning Objectives

I. Introductions

II. The Role and Characteristics of a PADI Divemaster 1. What three broad characteristics may divers

ex-pect in a PADI Divemaster?

2. What five criteria define “professionalism” as it applies to the PADI Divemaster?

3. What is a “role model”?

4. What are the characteristics and attributes of a good role model PADI Divemaster?

5. What are the characteristics and attributes of a poor role model divemaster?

6. How may role model behavior affect other divers?

7. How may role model behavior affect your ability to function as a divemaster?

8. How may good role model behavior benefit student divers when you assist with training?

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PADI

Divemaster Course PADI

Introduction Introduction

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What criteria define professionalism?

■Expertise

■Judgment

■Appearance and manner

■Interpersonal skills

■Exemplary rescue skills

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The Role and Characteristics of a PADI Divemaster The Role and Characteristics

of a PADI Divemaster

What is a PADI Divemaster?

III. Benefits and Responsibilities of PADI Divemaster Membership

9. What are the benefits and responsibilities of a PADI Divemaster?

IV. How to Succeed in This Program

V. Assignments, Responsibilities, Course Schedule and Administration

Outline

I. Introduction A. Introductions

[Introduce yourself and have your staff and candidates introduce themselves. Encourage a relaxed, light atmo-sphere and try to get everyone interacting. This gets the course off to a good start.]

B. [Paperwork]

II. The Role and Characteristics of a PADI Divemaster What is a PADI Divemaster?

A. The goal of this course is to qualify you as a PADI Divemaster. This raises the question, “What is a PADI Divemaster?”

[Use the question to launch a five minute class discus-sion about what a PADI Divemaster is. Write the an-swers down as you go, and treat anan-swers as a basis for further discussion.]

B. What three broad characteristics may divers expect in a PADI Divemaster?

[Use the candidates’ answers to note the characteristics that divers expect in a PADI Divemaster.]

1. professionalism 2. role model behavior

3. ability to assist with supervising dive activities and dive training

C.What five criteria define “professionalism” as it applies to the PADI Divemaster?

1. “Professionalism” means different things depending upon the activity. Specific to a PADI Divemaster, a professional is someone who:

a. has expertise in diving: dive theory, dive skills and dive management.

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What is a role model?

■Positive behavior

◆Good dive skills

■Positive behavior

◆Good dive skills

◆Committed to safe diving

◆Uses well maintained equipment

◆Maintains physical fitness

◆Agrees with PADI philosophy

◆Empathetic, inspirational, and supportive

◆Earns respect, trust and confidence

continued...

b. has good judgment. The PADI Divemaster follows responsible diving practices when conducting/

assisting with PADI-sanctioned programs, follows PADI Standards, and errs to the conservative when making decisions that could affect diver safety.

c. maintains a professional appearance and man-ner.

d. has good interpersonal skills.

e. has exemplary rescue skills.

[Ask the candidates why people expect these qualities.

Encourage a five minute discussion about this topic, with you confirming and elaborating on appropriate candidate responses.]

D.What is a “role model”?

1. A “role model” is someone who other people base their behavior on because they respect and identify with the role model.

2. What are the characteristics and attributes of a good role model PADI Divemaster?

a. good dive skills

b. commitment to beliefs – there’s no question that the divemaster believes in responsible dive prac-tices and PADI Standards because the individual follows them consistently.

c. uses up-to-date, well maintained dive equipment.

d. maintains self – stays physically fit for diving and stays up-to-date on dive trends, theory, equip-ment, etc.

e. agrees with the PADI training philosophy and supports the instructor with that philosophy when assisting with student divers in training.

f. accepts and empathizes with divers and students in supervisory situations.

g. inspires other divers to pattern their dive habits after the divemaster.

h. supports the business needs of the dive operation.

i. easily establishes rapport with divers and custom-ers.

j. earns and maintains respect, trust and confidence of divers and customers.

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How does role model behavior affect other divers?

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What is a role model?

■Negative behavior

◆Lacks conviction and commitment

◆Disregards personal fitness

◆Uncaring, contradictory, and unsupportive

3. What are the characteristics and attributes of a poor role model divemaster?

a. hypocrisy and lack of conviction – pays lip ser-vice to responsible dive practices and standards by saying one thing and doing another, or only following those practices and standards when compelled to do so by standards or an employer.

Doesn’t appear to stand for anything that’s not convenient at the moment – may take a “do as I say, not as I do” approach.

b. disregards personal fitness and does not keep current on dive information and practices.

c. uncaring and unempathetic of other divers and their skill levels. Behaves in ways that causes other divers to not respect the individual.

d. contradicts or disagrees with an instructor in front of student divers or other assistants.

e. not a “team player” and fails to support the customer service and equipment counseling aspects of the dive operation’s business needs.

4. How may role model behavior affect other divers?

[Ask the class, based on the above attributes, “How might good and poor role modeling make you more and less effective as divemasters?” Encourage a five minute discussion, elaborating on appropriate candidate comments. The following summarizes the conclusions the class should reach – fill in any missing concepts.]

a. How may role model behavior affect your ability to function as a divemaster?

1. Good role model behavior can aid other divers by giving them a behavior pattern to follow with respect to responsible dive practices and habits. Poor role model behavior can cause them to question these practices and habits.

People follow your example as much as (some-times more than) what you say.

2. Alternatively, poor role modeling can cause divers to question you and your suggestions.

Divers may be less likely to act on your advice.

Good role modeling is more likely to give you credibility and encourages divers to follow accepted dive practices and consider your suggestions.

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What are the benefits of becoming a Divemaster?

■PADI Membership

◆Receive publications and updates – The Undersea Journal

◆Access to PADI materials and educational consultation

◆Access to professional liability insurance

■Earn income by conducting PADI programs

b. How may good role model behavior benefit student divers when you assist with train-ing?

1. Good role model behavior helps student divers, who learn much by watching the instructor and assistants. Consistency between you and the instructor reinforces what student divers learn.

Good role model behavior earns student respect, which means they listen and learn from you better when you’re assisting in training.

III. Benefits and Responsibilities of the PADI Divemaster Membership

[If possible, show the This is PADI video to start this sub-ject.]

A. Benefits

1. As a PADI Divemaster you’ll be a member of PADI, the world’s largest and most respected diver training organization.

2. As a PADI Member, you:

a. receive regular mailings of information, standards changes and industry alerts. [Identify the publica-tions they get from the applicable PADI Office instead of or in addition to The Undersea Journal, etc. If PADI Divemasters for your area receive Assisting and Divemastering, either as part of the Journal or separately, call attention to this publica-tion dedicated specifically to their duties.]

b. have access to certain PADI materials at the PADI Divemaster rate as well as access to educational consulting at your PADI Office.

c. have access to Professional Liability Insurance and to the dive industry’s most experienced legal de-fense team. You’ll learn more about this later in the course.

d. may earn income or benefits by assisting with PADI Diver courses, and by conducting some PADI programs independently (more about these later).

Divemaster also have access to PADI’s job place-ment information service.

B. Being a PADI Divemaster has responsibilities:

1. Adhering to PADI Standards when assisting with and/or conducting PADI programs as identified in the PADI Instructor Manual or other PADI materials.

Much of what you learn in this course applies to this. ^{DM 1 -}^{DM 1 -}

What are responsibilities of a Divemaster?

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■Adhere to PADI Standards

■Stay current

■Represent PADI favorably

■Maintain PADI Membership

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How to Succeed How to Succeed

■Start independent study EARLY

1010

◆Read manual, watch video and complete Knowledge Reviews

■Seek more information – don’t limit yourself

■Practice, practice, practice

■Ask for help – help others

2. Staying current with PADI Standards by reading the quarterly Training Bulletin.

3. Representing the PADI organization favorably as you conduct yourself professionally.

4. Maintaining your PADI Membership. [Review re-newal requirements as listed in the Introduction of this instructor guide, page 1-4.]

5. Keeping PADI informed of your current address so that you will receive important mailings, and so you can connect with the appropriate PADI Office for service.

V. How to Succeed in This Program

A. Success in this program comes through applying your-self to the assignments and exercises consistently and as directed by your instructor. Like any learning pro-cess, you get out of this course what you put into it.

B. Candidates usually find that the following suggestions benefit their learning at this level:

1. Read each appropriate PADI Divemaster Manual chapter, watch the PADI Divemaster Video and com-plete the Knowledge Reviews enough ahead of schedule to do so without rushing. Write in your books as you study – make notes, highlight impor-tant concepts to review, etc.

2. Start independent study and projects as soon as they’re assigned. Take advantage of all study media available – video, multimedia products, manuals, etc. Each type has different advantages in learning;

the more you use, the more effective your learning.

3. Don’t limit yourself. If you’re interested in some-thing, find out all you can about it, even if it’s be-yond the course requirements.

4. Practice outside scheduled sessions with classmates.

This is useful with physics problems, demonstration skill practice, rescue and other skills.

5. If you’re having trouble mastering or understanding something, let the instructor know as soon as pos-sible.

6. Help your fellow candidates and let them help you.

You learn by helping and being helped.

[Note to instructor: The professional edition of the PADI Divemaster Video provides you with suggestions and techniques for conducting the program.]

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Welcome to Welcome to

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Your PADI

In document Dive Master Questionaire (Page 28-34)