PADI Divemasters are an invaluable member of any diving centre and are utilised to assist with student divers in training or to guide dives for certified divers. They are role models for other divers, as such possess excellent diving knowledge, demonstrate good judgement and are enthusiastic and encouraging in their approach to all other divers, especially those in a training environment. They are also involved in leading and managing diving activities and as such are expected to follow established and responsible diving practices, supported by PADI. Guided by a PADI Instructor, the PADI Divemaster course will help you to develop all of these attributes and responsibilities, whilst dealing with real students.
This course is one of the most rewarding, challenging and enjoyable of all the PADI courses and is your first step on the PADI professional ladder.
Divemaster Pre-Requisites
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver qualification, PADI Rescue Diver qualification or equivalent certification from another training agency
PADI Emergency First Response (EFR) course
Logged 40 Open Water dives and logged an additional 60 Open Water dives by the end of the course.
Minimum age is 18, and a full medical needs to be submitted, signed by a licensed diving physician within the last 12 months.
What will I do?
The PADI Divemaster Course is made up of knowledge development and theory presentations, confined pool sessions, stamina exercises and open water dives as part of an internship.
Knowledge Development is a key aspect to the PADI Divemaster course, not only for you to learn new and additional information but to utilise this theory as the basis for improving good judgement, problem solving abilities and to improve your expertise and professionalism. It consists of twelve topics and is based on independent study using a wide range of materials. Home study is backed up by theory presentations to ensure mastery learning of the core topics:
Confined Water Dives - Stamina assessments in the form of timed swims:
400m unaided swim
800m snorkel and fin swim
100m tired diver tow
15 minute tread water
Skill development - demonstrate the core twenty PADI Open Water skills to PADI Instructor demonstration criteria.
Rescue skill development - maintain the valuable skills learnt during rescue training and to be able to demonstrate these skills in five confined water sessions.
PADI Divemaster Conducted course - with the support of a PADI Instructor, plan, manage and run a PADI course that they will be able to undertake as a fully qualified PADI Divemaster.
Problem solving - set a task to assess their ability to cope with unanticipated problems underwater.
Open Water - assist with student divers in training in an open water environment and take part in the PADI Open Water course in addition to a PADI Continuing education course.
Mapping exercise - produce a map of a local dive site, including main features such as entry/exit points, distances, depth, points of interest and points of hazard.
Supervising certified divers - guiding certified divers around a local dive site, include the planning, preparation, dive brief, conduct and debrief of the dive.
Emergency assistance plan - produce an emergency assistance plan for a dive site to be appointed, a vital reference for divers, lay people and emergency services if an accident occurs at the dive site.
Course Duration
Dependent upon logistics and student performance.
What’s included?
PADI Certification fee.
What next?
As a PADI Divemaster you are open to the opportunity to work in the dive industry either here in the UK or in a dive centre abroad. Now that all of the theory work has been studied and committed to memory, why not take the next step on the professional ladder and enrol on the PADI Assistant Instructor or PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor courses.
How much does it cost?
Divemaster course costs
£550 per person
Plus Required Training Materials
PADI Divemaster Manual
PADI Instructor Manual
PADI Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving
PADI Diving Knowledge Workbook
PADI ERDPML
PADI Instructor manual is also highly recommended.
Plus PADI Divemaster Fee
The role of a PADI Divemaster
Supervising certified divers
Assisting with student divers in training
Dive theory introduction
Physics
Physiology
Equipment
Decompression theory and the PADI RDP
PADI Divemaster conducted programs
The business of diving
Risk management
Furthering your diving career