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Post by taskmaster on May 25, 2006 15:53:51 GMT -5
Hi all, am new OWSI Instructor(just what the world needs, eh). Am wondering whats gonna be the best bang for my buck to take the MSDT course or the EFRI course.
With MSDT ill be able to teach 5 specialties, vs the EFRI which we get about 1 to 2 rescue/efr courses per month in the shop.
Am thinking start with MSDT course, and when/if the $$ comes in take the EFRI course.
What do you guys think, you are wiser than I in these matters.
Thanks
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Post by pir8 on May 25, 2006 21:50:21 GMT -5
I would recomend doing MSDT first. Of course it depends on your market. You might be able to cut a deal with your CD to get more than 5 specialties. I think I ended up with 9 when I did my prep class. Just cost a few bucks more. We all sat in on the same lectures and did the dives so got the extra specialties.
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Post by Argo on May 26, 2006 0:31:01 GMT -5
Hi M8,
well of course the MSDT is the choice. Do the EFRI later.....
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Post by sharkaware on May 26, 2006 4:54:39 GMT -5
Hi M8,
That depends where you gone work later, yes spec. looklike to bring more bucks but some DC today insist of EFRI otherwise you can't teach rescue........
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Post by manta on May 26, 2006 4:55:37 GMT -5
I haven't bothered to apply for MSDT yet. The shop I currently work for teaches NO specialties, and I saw no need at the time to spend the extra $$. When I change shops I will. I got the EFRI from the other shop, as it was being offered. There's much more use where I am for EFR anyway, with all the USCG Captain's classes (2 competing schools).
If you're going to use it, then by all means go for it.....
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Post by Divermon2 on May 27, 2006 20:48:12 GMT -5
I would definitely do the EFRI. Most center require it and to complete Rescue course, students require it or equivalent !st Aid/CPR course. And the course is not dive specific so it can be used to teach anywhere.
If the center you're working for requires you to teach certain specialities than they may assist in you getting them - ie help with payment.
Also, hard to know which specialities to go for as it depends on where in the world you'll be teaching.
Where I'm working now, the local police dept are staring up a Search and Rescue (Recovery) team and want a group of their police divers to do the S&R course - I don't have that speciality but it's worthwhile for the center owner to pay for my instructor application fee and he gets the business etc...
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Post by adiver on May 30, 2006 14:15:46 GMT -5
I would say definitely do the specialty training, although I would also say that you dont necessarily need your MSDT ticket. For me, the bit I enjoy teaching most are the specialties such as wreck diver, nitrox or video. This will allow you to do so. Teaching Open Water or DSD for me is like having a frontal lobe labotamy but maybe you feel different. You dont necessarily need 5 specialties and send off for your MSDT, 2 or 3 specialties can really help, although you will get taken more seriously on a job application if you have MSDT too. Or, just wait til you have certified 25 divers and send off for the MSDT yourself. But definitely get a couple of specialtied under your belt.
I think that nitrox is the most taught course after ow, according to PADI. Finally, I would also say that after diving professionally on and off for 8 years and certifiying nearly 250 students, not having my EFR instructor ticket has not held me back. It has always been my view that this course would not be one I would enjoy teaching (the phrase "watching paint dry" always comes to mind when it comes time to update my 1st aid cert.) so I have avoided certifying as an efr instructor. I prefer to play to my strenghts and not teach what I dont enjoy, beneficial to me and my students.
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Post by BubbleGuy on May 31, 2006 3:07:30 GMT -5
OK I think everyone has a valid point...but IMHO (Im my humble opinion) try and find a way to do both....
Maybe pay up front for EFR and pay as you go for MSDT. You can't teach rescue w/o EFR which means you can't roll them into your divemaster program so you don't get paid more for them.
As for specialties, if you're in a tourist area do Nitrox, Boat, Naturalist, and whatever is popular in your area so you can market it and get a return on your investment. Don't forget about PPB which you can already teach. Wreck and Search & Recovery are cool to teach, but if you have tourists as your main customers it will be a hard sell since it's multiple days and normally more expensive due to logistics.
You need to find a balance between your love of diving / teaching and the realization that this is first and foremost a business....Something that some OWSI's can't come to terms with and come away with a bad taste in their mouths after the IE...
Just my two cents/pence worth.
Cheers and Safe Diving!
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