Posted by Eric Frasco on October 18, 2000 at 09:14:22:
In Reply to: Re: PADI DM reqs posted by Jason on October 18, 2000 at 02:19:40:
Jason:
I agree with Ken, he answered your question in the way that a professional would (and should) handle the situation.
In short, the 20 dive requirement is an ENTRY requirement. Before he is allowed to complete the course, he must have quite a few more dives under his weight belt.
In all PADI courses, the instructor has the obligation to inform the student that he is not meeting requirements.
If the student has twenty dives, he can sign up for the DM class. But if the instructor evaluates the candidate and feels that he does not have the skills necessary, then the instructor should either: 1) require additional skill development before participating in the divemaster class, or 2) refund the student's money and send him on his way.
As far as "scaring the shit out of" other people, part of the skills that the instructor imparts to the divemaster student is how to be a professional. If a student is intimidating to other divers, I would consider that unprofessional behavior and a reason for not allowing him/her to complete the divemaster course. If you are intimidated by a DM or a DM candidate, discuss the situation with his instructor or the shop that employs the DM (be objective and courteous or they may just write you off as a whiner - cite specific details and dates they occurred).
Finally, you may not be aware of this fact, but PADI recently changed the training requirements for DM's. DM's can now only be trained at PADI Instructor Development Clinics - IDC's- which is a shop that has a Course Director running the training operations. In the past, any PADI instructor could train a DM. But DM's now have more responsibilities than they did in the past and therefore must pass evaluation at a higher level.
So - Yes, the shop can refuse admittance, but the instructor/shop should be perfectly clear as to the reason why. If they aren't, shop around and find an organization that is up front with you. You will appreciate it in the long run.
-Eric-