The PADI Divemaster course involves higher level learning that begins at the Rescue Diver course and expands into the Divemaster course. The Divemaster course expands the problem solving skills, and extends it from accident management and prevention scenarios to supervisory situations with student divers and certified divers. Divemaster problem solving may include more than safety-related issues, and include handling customer service, business and operational challenges.

This course also addresses attitudes and judgement. Attitudes are emotional influences that shape individual choices ranging from professional behavior, role modeling, personal health and following safe diving practices, to very basic values, such as honesty. Judgment applies attitudes, experience, theoretical knowledge, deduction and intuition to problem solving and making decisions based on variables, sometimes under circumstances that aren’t “black or white.”

Who is a PADI Divemaster?

As the entry to professional levels in diver training, the PADI Divemaster course plays a pivotal role. As a dive professional you can strongly influence the safety and fun divers enjoy during training and diving. At the same time, this is a great way of gaining professional experience to move on to an Assistant Instructor and Open Water Scuba Instructor. The dive community expects several characteristics of a Divemaster. These include:

1. *Exemplary diving skills
   

2. *Rescue skills
   

3. *Professional-level knowledge of dive theory
   

4. *Competence as a certified assistant
   

5. *Dive management and supervision abilities
   

Course Prerequisites

1. *Be certified as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization.
   

2. *Be certified as a PADI Rescue Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization.
   

3. *Have completed and logged at least 20 dives as documented by the individual’s personal log book.
   

4. *Be at least 18 years old at the start of the Divemaster training.
   

5. *Medical clearance for diving signed by a physician, current within the previous 12 months.
   

6. *Proof of CPR & First Aid training within the last 24 months.
   

Certification Requirements

1. *Proof of 60 logged dives documenting experience in night diving, deep diving and underwater navigation.
   

2. *Read and agree to abide by the PADI Membership and License Agreement.
   

3. *Have current CPR & First Aid training within the last 24 months.
   

Required Equipment

Each divemaster candidate must be equipped with the proper equipment for the diving environment. This includes, but is not limited to:

1. *Fins
   

2. *Mask
   

3. *Snorkel
   

4. *Cylinder
   

5. *Regulator
   

6. *Alternate Air Source
   

7. *BCD with Low Pressure Inflator
   

8. *Weights with a Quick Release System
   

9. *Appropriate Exposure Suit
   

10. *Timing Device
    

11. *Depth Gauge
    

12. *Compass
    

13. *Knife or Dive Tool
    

14. *Audible Emergency Surface Signaling Device (whistle, air horn, etc.)
    

Required Materials

Each candidate must have, in their possession, a personal set of materials for study and use during the course and for reference afterward. Candidates must have a current version of these required materials:

1. *PADI Divemaster Manual
   

2. *All 3 Versions of the RDP – Wheel, Table, eRDP
   

3. *The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving
   

4. *Diving Knowledge Workbook
   

5. *Divemaster Slates
   

6. *Instructor Guides for programs PADI Divemasters may conduct: Discover Scuba Diving, Discover Snorkeling/Skin Diver Course, Scuba Review/Discover Local Diving
   

Recommended Materials

You may find these and other PADI materials useful during your course:

1. *PADI Instructor Manual
   

2. *Divemaster Video
   

3. *Underwater Navigator Manual and Underwater Navigation Video
   

4. *Deep Diver Manual and Deep Diving Video
   

5. *Rescue Diver Manual and Video
   

6. *Discover the Underwater World Video
   

7. *Scuba Tune-Up Guidebook
   

8. *The Business of Diving
   

9. *Dive Roster Slate
   

10. *The Law and the Diving Professional
    

11. *The Best of the Undersea Journal
    

12. *Peak Performance Buoyancy Video
    

13. *Open Water Diver Multimedia
    

14. *Skill Evaluation Slate
    

15. *Log Book
    

16. *Any other training materials for courses leading up to the Divemaster course
    

Course Overview

This course is divided into 3 modules:

Knowledge Development – establishes the foundation candidates need as professional-level divers. Candidates meet the performance requirements for this module through a combination of independent study, classroom session and written exams. As part of this module, candidates are required to complete an Emergency Assistance Plan.

Waterskills & Stamina – develops candidate skill to the role model level appropriate for demonstrating to student divers. This portion evaluates basic swimming skills with a 400 meter swim, a 15 minute tread, an 800 meter snorkel swim and 100 meter inert diver tow. There is also a diver rescue development and assessment and a skill evaluation on the 20 basic scuba skills.

Practical Application – candidates put into practice skills typical of a divemaster. There are 3 required training exercises: map making, underwater problem solving and a divemaster conducted program. Following the training, there is either an internship or 4 practical training exercises.

Course Tuition

$350 - Includes all training modules and certification. You are responsible for your own materials and equipment.

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