Northwest Dive Club

Well today I was notified that my DiveCon Certification was completed and posted by SSI!

I am stoked!

From one Dive Con to another, congrats! Although I retired my status about 4 years ago...

I have no idea what a Dive Con is but congrats anyhow!!

Linedog wrote:I have no idea what a Dive Con is but congrats anyhow!!

Thank you.

Think Assistant Instructor that can teach some specialty courses.

Congrats!!!!!

Congratulations!

That's an awesome achievement..... you can have so much fun with that.... yay!

Bravo!

Looking back, what was the most challenging element to obtaining this? (I love asking this, it's different for everyone!)

lavachickie wrote:Bravo!

Looking back, what was the most challenging element to obtaining this? (I love asking this, it's different for everyone!)

I would say the most challenging was also the most rewarding. To me it was the time commitment. We have 4 kids at home plus our business so, the time away from home was challenging. That being said, I really enjoy being at the shop. I enjoy learning and I enjoy helping people learn. My favorite thing is seeing when the "light bulb" goes on, in other people's eyes, and they realize how awesome diving can be. I don't care if it is when they see a group of Sand Lances dart out of the sand when we approach or the first time they see a huge Ling Cod or Sea Star. To me, it is pure joy to know I had a part in this experience.

I hope that doesn't sound corny.

Paladin4Christ wrote:

Linedog wrote:I have no idea what a Dive Con is but congrats anyhow!!

Thank you.

Think Assistant Instructor that can teach some specialty courses.

I have always wondered why SSI does this. You are not an instructor so you cannot teach o/w but you can teach specialty courses. Why is this? I have seen Dive Cons teaching Drysuit, Deep, Night, Nav but they cannot teach o/w. All my SSI specialty courses have been taught by Dive Cons and all my PADI specialty courses have been taught by instructors. Seems strange to me.

spc751 wrote:

Paladin4Christ wrote:

Linedog wrote:I have no idea what a Dive Con is but congrats anyhow!!

Thank you.

Think Assistant Instructor that can teach some specialty courses.

I have always wondered why SSI does this. You are not an instructor so you cannot teach o/w but you can teach specialty courses. Why is this? I have seen Dive Cons teaching Drysuit, Deep, Night, Nav but they cannot teach o/w. All my SSI specialty courses have been taught by Dive Cons and all my PADI specialty courses have been taught by instructors. Seems strange to me.

The Dive Control Specialist is a combination of divemaster and assistant instructor. A SSI Dive Con cannot teach any classes that involve in water skills without the direct supervision of an instructor except for scuba skills update (refreshers).

BillZ wrote:

spc751 wrote:

Paladin4Christ wrote:

Linedog wrote:I have no idea what a Dive Con is but congrats anyhow!!

Thank you.

Think Assistant Instructor that can teach some specialty courses.

I have always wondered why SSI does this. You are not an instructor so you cannot teach o/w but you can teach specialty courses. Why is this? I have seen Dive Cons teaching Drysuit, Deep, Night, Nav but they cannot teach o/w. All my SSI specialty courses have been taught by Dive Cons and all my PADI specialty courses have been taught by instructors. Seems strange to me.

The Dive Control Specialist is a combination of divemaster and assistant instructor. A SSI Dive Con cannot teach any classes that involve in water skills without the direct supervision of an instructor except for scuba skills update (refreshers).

A DiveCon can teach a limited number of specialties, with Boat Diving and Navigation being pretty much the only "fun" courses. The rest are things like underwater photography and fish identification however, I just do not see someone coming into a dive shop and forking out $100+ to learn how to take underwater photos or to identify a fish....especially with all the experts in these fields willing to lend the experience!

That being said a DiveCon can practice all skills in the pool under indirect supervision, after it has been taught by an instructor. Basically I think the DiveCon is just a stepping stone to instructor with an OJT element prior to taking the instructor course.

Paladin4Christ wrote:A DiveCon can teach a limited number of specialties, with Boat Diving and Navigation being pretty much the only "fun" courses. The rest are things like underwater photography and fish identification however, I just do not see someone coming into a dive shop and forking out $100+ to learn how to take underwater photos or to identify a fish....especially with all the experts in these fields willing to lend the experience!

That being said a DiveCon can practice all skills in the pool under indirect supervision, after it has been taught by an instructor. Basically I think the DiveCon is just a stepping stone to instructor with an OJT element prior to taking the instructor course.

Not too mention all the heavy work a DiveCon has to do. Our DiveCon's for OW were worked like crazy. I would offer to help carry tanks and gear but they would politely refuse the help.