PADI Divemaster Course
What can PADI Divemasters do?
PADI Divemasters are highly sought after dive professionals, who
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Work at local dive centers, on live-aboard dive boats, yachts and at exotic resort locations
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Assist PADI Instructors with students in training
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Lead PADI Scuba Divers on guided dive tours
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Teach and certify PADI Skin Divers
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Teach PADI Discover Snorkeling programs
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Conduct PADI Scuba Review programs for certified divers
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Lead certified divers on Discover Local Diving experiences
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After successful completion of an Emergency First Response Instructor course, teach Emergency First Response programs
What you learn
Through knowledge development sessions, waterskills exercises and workshops, and hands-on practical assessment, you develop the skills to organize and direct a variety of scuba diving activities. Topics and practical workshops include:
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The role and characteristics of the PADI Divemaster
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Supervising dive activities
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Assisting with student divers
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Conducting a scuba review and skin diver course
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Assisting with Discover Scuba Diving and leading Discover Local Diving programs
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Divemaster conducted programs and specialized skills
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Conducting dive briefings
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Awareness of the dive environment
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Dive setup and management
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Mapping an open water site
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Diver safety and risk management
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Organizing a search and recovery project and a deep dive
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Business of diving and your career
Prerequisites
In order to enroll in PADI Divemaster course, you'll need to be or have
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PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent
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PADI Rescue Diver or equivalent
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at least 18 years old
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Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past 24 months.
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A medical statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months.
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At least 40 logged dives to begin the course and 60 dives to earn the certification.
Note that qualifying certifications from other diver training organization may apply.
The PADI Divemaster course teaches you to be a leader and take charge of dive activities. It is the first professional rating in the PADI system.
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What you do
PADI Divemaster course consists of academic study, pool work and open water training. You'll
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complete independent study
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participate in classroom workshops
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perform all scuba dive skills in Skills Evaluation up to professional demonstration quality standards
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complete waterskills exercises
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participate in-water workshops both in pool and open water
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complete a mapping project
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complete the diver rescue assessment in open water
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complete practical assements both in pool and open water
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pass the PADI Divemaster Exam
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pass the Dive Theory Exam
Academic Study
As with all PADI courses you'll do most of the academic study as self-study. There are typically 6-7 classroom sessions that cover the topics presented in your Divemaster manual. They are more discussion sessions than lectures.
In addition, the candidates are required to independently study dive theory topics including dive physics, physiology, RDP use - both table and the electronic Multilevel Recreational Dive Planner (eRDPML). diving equipment, general diving skills and environment from The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving.
You can also complete the academic requirements online. This is a good option if attending classroom sessions is difficult for you. PADI has two eLearning programs for Divemaster candidates that may benefit you:
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Divemaster Course
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Dive Theory
The eLearning programs are payable directly to PADI. PADI charges AUD270 for the Divemaster eLearning program and AUD148 for the Dive Theory program (prices as of January 2018). This is a Premium Option, so sorry, no deductions from the course fees. The eLearning programs are optional: you can complete everything 'the old fashion way' studying from the books and attending classroom sessions.
Confined Water (Pool) sessions
There are five to six pool sessions during which you'll do skills practice, watermanship evaluations, workshops and practical assessment - running Scuba Review program, assisting with Open Water students, etc.
Open Water training
The number of dives vary. The open water training consists of a mapping project, search&recovery scenario, deep dive scenario, skills practice, work shops and practical assessments - leading certified divers, assisting in Open Water and continuing education courses.
PADI Divemasters are dive leaders demonstrating people skills and good judgment along with a strong working knowledge of dive environments and activities.
Mapping Project: during your Divemaster Course you will map a dive site as one of the open water exercises.
Professional quality skills: you will hone your dive skills to professional demonstration quality.
Equipment
As a dive professional, divemasters and divemaster candidates are expected to have their own dive equiment. You’ll need basic scuba equipment, including a dive computer, compass, dive knife, and at least two surface signaling devices. Rental equipment is available at extra charge.
Materials
The easiest way to obtain all required materials is the PADI Divemaster Cre-Pak.
The PADI Divemaster Crew-Pak includes:
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PADI Divemaster Manual
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Divemaster Slates
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PADI Instructor Manual
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The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving
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eRDPML (electronic Recreational Diver Planner Multilevel)
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Scuba Tune-Up Workbook
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Professional Training Log
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Discover Scuba Diving Instructor Cue Cards
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Decal
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Brochures and other course documentation
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DM Hologram & information sheet
You'll also need the RDP Table, which you might have from your Open Water course. Diving Knowledge Workbook to go with The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving (or Dive Theory online) is strongly recommended.
All required materials except the RDP table are included in the Divemaster Crew-Pak. Please contact us for the current prices.
How long does it take?
That varies - in Hong Kong where people are usually only available for dive training weekends and sporadically in the evenings, the Divemaster course takes quite a while.
The course includes several practical applications both in swimming pool and open water. If we have a group of Divemaster candidates, some of these can be run as simulated exercises. Group courses span over a period of 6-8 weeks with sessions running weekday evenings and weekends.
If you are the only candidate doing the course, all practical applications will be run in real diving situations with real students and divers. This option usually takes longer - sometimes several months - especially if you are doing the course out of season as the students and other divers needed for the practical applications may not be available whenever you are.
How much does it cost?
Course fee HKD7,000 per person
The course fee includes tuition, pool and boat fees, tanks & weights used during the course. Course materials and certification fee are not included in the course price.
After a successful completion of all course requirements, we'll send your Divemaster Application to PADI. PADI charges a Divemaster Application fee which includes the PADI membership for the current year. This is payable directly to PADI at the time of your application.