PADI Dive Master course

Looking for the first step in working with scuba as a career? Your adventure into the professional levels of recreational scuba diving begins with the PADI Divemaster program. Working closely with a PADI Instructor, in this program you expand your dive knowledge and hone your skills to the professional level. PADI Divemaster training develops your leadership abilities, qualifying you to supervise dive activities and assist instructors with student divers. PADI Divemaster is the prerequisite certification for both the PADI Assistant Instructor and PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor certifications.

What You Learn

During the PADI Divemaster program, you learn dive leadership skills through both classroom and independent study. You complete water skills and stamina exercises, as well as training exercises that stretch your ability to organize and solve problems as well as help others improve their scuba. You put this knowledge into action through a structured internship or series of practical training exercises.

What You Can Teach

After becoming certified as a PADI Divemaster you will be authorized to:

• Supervise both training and non-training-related activities by planning, organizing and directing dives
• Assist a PADI Instructor during the training sessions for any PADI Diver course
• Conduct the PADI Skin Diver course and PADI Discover Snorkeling program
• Conduct the PADI Discover Local Diving experience
• Conduct the PADI Scuba Review program
• If qualified as a Discover Scuba Diving Leader, independently conduct the PADI Discover Scuba Diving program.
• Earn the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Specialty Instructor rating to be able to teach the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer specialty.
• Independently guide Open Water Diver course students on the tour portion of Open Water Diver Course Training Dives 2, 3 and 4 at a ratio of two student divers per certified divemaster.
• Accompany Open Water Diver students under the indirect supervision of a PADI Instructor during:
  • surface swims to and from the entry/exit point and during navigational exercises
  • when the instructor conducts a skill, such as an ascent or descent, a Divemaster can remain with other student divers (with an individual student or buddy team)
• Accompany student divers during Adventure Dives or Specialty training dives under the indirect supervision of a PADI Instructor.
• Conduct the PADI Seal Team Skin Diver Specialist AquaMission
• Conduct subsequent dives under an instructor’s indirect supervision for Discover Scuba Diving participants after participants have satisfactorily completed the first dive with a PADI Instructor.
• Teach Emergency First Response courses after successfully completing an Emergency First Response Instructor course

The Learning Materials You Need

The PADI Divemaster crewpak includes everything you’ll need to start the PADI Divemaster program.

The complete set of materials includes:

• The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving - a comprehensive overview of diving physics, physiology, and equipment.
• Divemaster slates
• PADI Divemaster Manual
• PADI Instructor Manual
• Scuba Tune-Up Guidebook
• DSD Cue Card

Prerequisites

To take this course, you must be:

• 18 years old
• PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
• PADI Rescue Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
• Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (or qualifying first aid and CPR training from another organization) course completion within the past 24 months.
• Have at least 20 dives to begin the course and 60 for certification
• Be fit for diving and submit a Medical Statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months.

PADI Assistant Instructor

As a PADI Assistant Instructor, you not only gain additional experience as a PADI Professional scuba diver, but you also start learning the PADI System of diver education. You can act as an instructional scuba assistant and assume limited teaching responsibilities. It’s a great way to gain experience in order to become a scuba instructor!

The PADI Assistant Instructor Course can be conducted by all Five Star Dive Shops and Resorts and Five Star Instructor Development Centers and Resorts.  To find the one closest to you, please visit our Dive Shop Locator.

The PADI Assistant Instructor course is the first portion of the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) and when followed by the Open Water Scuba Instructor course (OWSI) and successful performance at the Instructor Examination (IE), leads to certification as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.

The Fun Part

Get mentored while gaining hands-on experience teaching students.

What You Learn

You build upon your abilities to organize and supervise scuba diving activities, while concentrating on developing teaching skills.

You learn through:

• Knowledge development through self-study, quizzes, lectures and presentations
• Confined water skill review and assessment, workshops and presentations
• Open water workshops, rescue assessment and candidate presentations

The PADI Assistant Instructor Course consists of these sections:

• Module 1: Academic Training
  • PADI Discover Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Programs
  • Developing Knowledge Development Presentations
  • Teaching Project AWARE and Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialties
  • Teaching in Confined Water
  • Conducting Open Water Training Presentations
• Module 2: Independent Study
  • Knowledge Development
• Module 3: Practical Application
  • Confined Water and Open Water Teaching Presentations
  • Standards Exam
  • Dive Rescue Skills Assessment

What You Can Teach

In addition to the responsibilities and duties you already have as a PADI Divemaster, as a PADI Assistant Instructor you can:

• Teach academic presentations under the indirect supervision of a PADI Intructor 
• During confined water dives, present initial skills training under the direct
• supervision of a PADI Instructor 
• Evaluate Open Water Diver surface skills under the indirect supervision of a PADI Instructor 
• Teach and certify  PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty Divers under the direction of a PADI Instructor
• Teach Project AWARE Specialty courses
• Teach the AWARE Coral Reef Conservation specialty course
• Conduct PADI Discover Scuba Diving experiences in a pool or confined water
• Conduct PADI Seal TeamAquaMissions
• Teach PADI Digital Underwater Photographer specialty courses under the direction of a PADI Instructor after earning the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Specialty Instructor rating

The Learning Materials You Need

The PADI IDC crewpak includes all the materials needed to prepare for a PADI Assistant Instructor or Open Water Scuba Instructor course. The 23-item pack includes:

• Instructor cue cards for PADI’s core courses (OW, AOW, Rescue and Divemaster)
• IDC Candidate Workbook and related reference materials,
• Lesson planning slates for confined and open water
• Quiz and exam booklets for the core courses
• Specialty outlines for Project AWARE
• PADI Instructor Manual.

Prerequisites

You must:

• Be a PADI Divemaster or qualifying certification from another certification organization
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have 60 logged dives, including night, deep, and navigation dives
• Have been a certified diver for at least 6 months
• Have CPR and First Aid Training within the last 24 months
• Be fit for diving and submit a Medical Statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months
• Want a fun and exciting career!