Divemaster

Purpose

As the entry to professional levels in diver training, the Divemaster plays a pivotal role within the diver community. Divemasters assist instructors with training student divers. They supervise diving activities for certified divers, snorkelers and skin divers. Obviously, YOU as an entry-level professionals can strongly influence the safety and fun divers enjoy during training and diving. At the same time, many Divemasters look ahead, gaining professional experience they will apply as PADI Assistant Instructors and Open Water Scuba Instructors.

Prerequisites

To qualify to enter the Divemaster course, an individual must:

• Be certified as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization. A qualifying certification is defined as proof of certification beyond entry level, and proof of 20 or more logged dives documenting experience in deep diving and underwater navigation.
• Be certified as a PADI Rescue Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization. A qualifying certification is defined as proof of certification in diving rescue from a training organization other than PADI. If the candidate enters with a qualifying certification, then the candidate must submit proof of CPR and first aid training within the past 24 months. If the candidate demonstrates poor or inadequate performance during the diver rescue assessment, then the candidate must complete a PADI Rescue Diver course.
• Have completed and logged at least 60 dives as documented by the individual's personal log book.
• Be at least 18 years old at the start of PADI Divemaster training.
• Submit, to the instructor, medical clearance for diving signed by a physician, attesting to fitness to dive. The medical clearance must be current within the previous 12 months. The physician signing the form cannot be the individual

Duration

Approximately 3 months comprising of weekly theory class, practical and internship with the Instructor.

Course Limits

Student to Instructor Ratio ( Living Seas ) not to exceed 6 to 1 during any in-water training and should be adjusted downward to account for bad conditions.

Course Content

The PADI Divemaster course is a performance-based program, so course duration depends on class size, logistics, and divemaster candidate performance characteristics. The recommended 50 course hours is based on a class of six candidates learning through a combination of independent study, classroom, confined water and open water sessions.

The PADI Divemaster course is divided into three modules: the Knowledge Development Module, the Waterskills and Stamina Module, and the Practical Application Module. The Knowledge Development Module establishes the foundation candidates need as professional-level divers and for continuing on to the PADI Assistant Instructor and Instructor levels. They apply much of what they learn in this module during the Waterskills and Stamina Module and the Practical Application Module. Candidates meet the performance requirements for this module through a combination of independent study, classroom sessions and evaluation by written exams. As part of this module, candidates are also required to complete an Emergency Assistance Plan.

The Waterskills and Stamina Module develops candidate skill to the role model level appropriate for demonstrating to student divers, and to prepare for higher training levels. The Stamina Assessment and Development portion evaluates basic swimming skills, with opportunity for the Instructor to develop those candidates who need to improve. During the Diver Rescue Assessment and Development phase, the Instructor assesses candidate rescues of a simulated unresponsive, nonbreathing diver. The goal is to refine their skills beyond the Rescue Diver level.

In the Confined Waterskill Assessment and Development, you evaluate and develop to demonstration quality the 20 basic scuba skills from the PADI Skill Evaluation. In the Practical Application Module, candidates put into practice skills typical of a divemaster. There are three Required Training Exercises, followed by either an internship with specific internship criteria or four Practical Training Exercises. The Required Training Exercises include map making, underwater problem solving, and a divemaster conducted program.

The internship and Practical Training Exercises allow candidates to practice and develop divemaster skills with real or simulated student divers, and with real or simulated supervised divers, under the instructor's supervision.

Required Training Materials

• PADI Divemaster Manual*
• RDP - all three versions (Wheel, table and eRDP including associated Instructions for Use booklets)
• The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving
• Diving Knowledge Workbook
• Divemaster Slates
• Instructor Guides for programs Divemasters may conduct:
  1. Discover Scuba Diving
  2. Discover Snorkeling/Skin Diver Course
  3. Scuba Review/Discover Local Diving

Academic Topics

• The role and characteristics of a PADI Divemaster
• Supervising diving activities for certified divers
• Assisting with student divers in training
• Dive theory introduction
• Physics
• Physiology
• Equipment
• Decompression theory and dive tables
• Divemaster conducted programs
• Risk management
• Business of diving
• Furthering your dive career

Land Drills & Topics

• Dive Briefing

Required Dive Skills & Drills

• Dive Mapping
• Equipment Exchange

Equipment Requirements

• Buoyancy Control Device
• Regulator with 1 main and 1 backup 2 nd Stage, 1 1 st Stage
• Exposure suit suitable for local open water conditions
• Mask
• Fins
• Weight belt if needed
• One cutting tool
• Surface Marker Buoy with Finger Spool with at least 20 metres of line.
• Dive Computer / Wrist Mounted Depth Gauge
• Amphibious Notebook