DPlan - Ascent / Descent Rates

You may specify Ascent and Descent Rates for both deep and shallow segments of a dive, along with a "split" depth in feet. Rates may be set between 10 and 100 feet per minute; no negative numbers. Un-checking the boxes disables Ascent / Descent modeling. This is not a good idea but is sometimes useful for comparing with old square-profile schedules and softwares. By default, only the first big descent is shown in the profile, the rest are suppressed from the display. If you want to see everything, check 'show'.


divemaster

Moving on to the professional level, the lowest professional rating is Divemaster. I would hardly recommend doing this unless you are really interested in turning Pro - Divemaster is the longest and most arduous rating of all to get. The Divemaster course is like graduate school - a year or more of indentured servitude. On the other hand, pitching in with classes and other activities can be a lot of fun. Divemasters are the sergeants and mules of the diving world and carry out much of the tour-guiding, tank-filling, and grunt work at resorts and on dive boats. Beyond Divemaster, there is Assistant Instructor, which is basically gold-plated Divemaster, and then increasing levels of Instructor.