All PADI courses allow for flexibility, requiring adaptation to the local environment and the unique needs of each student. As a result, no two Divemaster internships are identical. However, there are a standardized set of requirements that must be fulfilled, irrespective of the individual, location, or timing of the internship.

This are the standards set by PADI that each divemaster candidate must fulfill:

Complete knowledge development segments including Knowledge Reviews in the PADI Divemaster Manual or through Divemaster Online, and pass the Divemaster Final Exam.

• There are 9 Chapters and Knowledge Reviews.
• The Divemaster Exam is split into 2 parts, each 60 questions

Create an Emergency Assistance Plan for designated dive site

• Describe an emergency situation and write a detailed plan on how to respond

Complete water-skills exercises

• 400 meter Swim
• 800 meter Snorkel
• 15 minute tread
• 100 meter Tired diver tow
• Equipment exchange underwater

Complete a diver rescue assessment

• Respond to an unresponsive, nonbreathing diver, including these steps:
• Enter the water, locate and surface a submerged diver who is about 25 metres/yards away
• Turn the diver face up and establish buoyancy
• Remove the diver’s mask and regulator, open the airway and check for breathing
• Call for help
• Give two initial rescue breaths, and continue with an effective rescue breath every five seconds with no or very few interruptions
• Tow the diver to safety while protecting the airway, continuing rescue breathing
• Remove both sets of equipment (Equipment handlers allowed)
• Exit the water with the diver

Complete the dive skills workshop and assessment

• Demonstrate all scuba and skin diving skills, scoring at least a 3 on each skill, and scoring at least 82 points total, with at least one underwater skill to a 5.
  • Equipment assembly, adjustment, preparation, donning and disassembly
  • Predive safety check (BWRAF)
  • Deep-water entry
  • Buoyancy check at surface
  • Snorkel-regulator/regulator-snorkel exchange
  • Five-point descent, using buoyancy control to stop descent without contacting the bottom
  • Regulator recovery and clearing
  • Mask removal, replacement and clearing
  • Air depletion exercise and alternate air source use (stationary)
  • Alternate air source-assisted ascent
  • Free flowing regulator breathing
  • Neutral buoyancy, rise and fall – using low pressure inflation
  • Five-point ascent
  • Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent
  • Orally inflate BCD to hover for at least 60 seconds
  • Underwater swim without a mask
  • Remove and replace weight system underwater
  • Remove and replace scuba unit underwater
  • Remove and replace scuba unit on the surface
  • Remove and replace weight system on the surface
  • Head-first surface dive, snorkel out of mouth
  • Disconnect low-pressure inflator
  • Re-secure a loose cylinder band
  • Perform an emergency weight drop

Complete practical application skills

• Skill 1 — Dive Site Set Up and Management
  • Have divemaster candidates in buddy teams or individually set up a dive site and manage predive preparation, including:
  • Choosing a location appropriate for divers to assemble equipment.
  • Preparing emergency equipment, such as a first aid kit and oxygen unit.
  • Greeting divers as they arrive at the site/boat and providing direction. For example – where to place equipment, location of nearest facilities, etc.
  • Organizing a dive roster and reviewing check in and check out procedures with divers.
  • Preparing and setting a float/dive flag if diving from shore, or ensuring the descent line and dive flag are ready, as appropriate, when diving from a boat.
  • Choosing an appropriate vantage point from which to monitor the dive.
  • Being accessible to answer diver questions and prepared to assist divers both before and after the dive.
• Skill 2 — Mapping Project
  • Have divemaster candidates in buddy teams survey an open water dive site and create a detailed map of the site showing (as applicable to the site) underwater relief, important points of interest, any relevant environmental notes, recommended entry/exit areas, local facilities, and potential hazards.
• Skill 3 — Dive Briefing
  • Have each divemaster candidate conduct a dive briefing for a familiar dive site covering all 10 points as listed below and on the Divemaster Slates. Encourage candidates to use their Mapping Project dive site map, if possible
  • Dive site name
  • Site description
  • Your role and how divers can recognize you underwater, if appropriate.
  • Entry and exit techniques
  • Dive procedures
  • Emergency procedures
  • Signal review specific to the dive
  • Roster and buddy check
  • Environmental orientation
  • Predive safety check
• Skill 4 — Search and Recovery Scenario
  • Set up various search and recovery scenarios that allow divemaster candidates to complete the following:
  • Demonstrate a methodical search of an area to find a small submerged object.
  • Demonstrate a methodical search of an area to find submerged object not more than 10 kilograms/25 pounds negatively buoyant.
  • Tie the following knots correctly underwater: the bowline, two half-hitches and a sheet bend.
  • Demonstrate how to safely rig and bring to the surface an object not more than 10 kilograms/25 pounds negatively buoyant using an appropriate lifting device.
• Skill 5 — Deep Dive Scenario
  • Conduct a deep dive in which each divemaster candidate completes the following:
  • With a buddy before the dive, prepare emergency breathing equipment, and position it at the safety stop depth.
  • Descend using a reference line, wall or sloping bottom as a visual guide only, while staying with a buddy and controlling the descent rate.
  • Navigate with a compass at least 20 kick cycles away from and back to the reference line or designated spot.
  • Use a depth gauge and timing device, or a dive computer to monitor an ascent rate no faster than 18 metres/60 feet per minute while using a reference line, wall or sloping bottom as a visual guide only.
  • Perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5 metres/15 feet before surfacing without holding on to a reference line for positioning.

Complete divemaster-conducted programs workshops

• Workshop 1: ReActivate Program
  • Access ReActivate program standards in the PADI Instructor Manual.
  • State ReActivate knowledge assessment options.
  • Demonstrate the prescriptive ReActivate method for determining skills to practice.
  • Recognize and correct problems during skill practice.
• Workshop 2: Skin Diver Course and Snorkeling Supervision (conduct in either confined water or open water)
  • Give the Skin Diver course briefing or a snorkeling tour briefing.
  • Conduct a Skin Diver course confined water or open water dive; or lead a snorkel tour, demonstrating control and supervision.
  • Recognize and correct problems during the skin dive or snorkel tour.
• Workshop 3: Discover Scuba Diving Program in Confined Water
  • Access Discover Scuba Diving program standards in the PADI Instructor Manual, and explain a divemaster’s role as an assistant during a confined water experience.
  • Locate the Discover Scuba Diving Leader Internship Requirements in the PADI Instructor Manual, and explain how a divemaster qualifies as a Discover Scuba Diving Leader
  • Demonstrate proper positioning relative to the participants as directed by the instructor.
  • Recognize and correct problems during the experience.
• Workshop 4: Discover Scuba Diving Program – Additional Open Water Dive
  • State the ratio and supervision requirements for an additional dive (subsequent to an initial dive with an instructor) for Discover Scuba Diving participants conducted by a PADI Divemaster.
  • Give a dive briefing appropriate for Discover Scuba Diving participants for an additional open water dive.
  • Lead the dive, demonstrating proper control and required supervision.
  • Recognize and correct problems during the dive.
• Workshop 5: Discover Local Diving in Open Water
  • Access Discover Local Diving program standards in the PADI Instructor Manual.
  • Assess dive site conditions, and plan the dive.
  • Give a Discover Local Diving briefing.
  • Lead a dive, demonstrating control and supervision.
  • Recognize and correct problems during the dive.
  • Demonstrate how to deploy a surface marker.

Complete practical assessments

• Practical Assessment 1 — Open Water Diver Students in Confined Water
  • Organize predive equipment setup by student divers.
  • Coordinate student diver flow during training.
  • Supervise student divers not receiving the immediate attention of the instructor during training.
  • Help a student diver overcome a learning difficulty.
  • Respond to, or prevent, student diver problems as they occur.
  • Demonstrate a skill for student divers.
• Practical Assessment 2 — Open Water Diver Students in Open Water
  • Assess an open water training site; report to the instructor recommendations as to site suitability for training entry-level divers.
  • Organize predive equipment setup by student divers.
  • Assist in the preparation of the site.
  • Coordinate student diver flow during training.
  • Supervise student divers not receiving the immediate attention of the instructor during training.
  • Respond to, or prevent, student diver problems as they occur.
  • Lead student divers on an underwater tour (ratio 2:1).
• Practical Assessment 3 — Continuing Education Student Divers in Open Water
  • Coordinate student diver flow during training.
  • Escort continuing education student divers (under the indirect supervision of the instructor) during training; report performance and learning difficulties to instructor.
  • Help a continuing education student diver overcome a learning difficulty.
  • Respond to, or prevent, student diver problems as they occur.
• Practical Assessment 4 — Certified Divers in Open Water
  • Conduct environmental and diver assessments, taking appropriate supervisory steps based on the assessments.
  • Give a predive briefing appropriate to the dive site.
  • Account for buddy teams entering and leaving the water.
  • Respond to, or prevent diver problems appropriately.

Meet the professionalism criteria

• Verify that divemaster candidates score at least a 3 in each category below by the end of Practical Application.
• Level of active, positive participation in the training sessions.
• Ability to serve as a mentor to student divers.
• Willingness to follow directions.
• Positive attitude and demeanor toward student divers, certified divers and staff.
• Positive attitude and practice towards caring for the environment.
• General understanding of a divemaster’s role.
• Appearance.

To become a professional diver, it’s important to have a strong foundation of knowledge in recreational diving. The theory portion of the PADI Divemaster course involves independent study using the Divemaster manual, which is complemented by the helpful Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving. As part of the course, you’ll also need to read and complete knowledge reviews on various chapters.

Knowledge development covers the following topics:

Chapter One: The role and characteristics of the PADI Divemaster

Chapter Two: Supervising Diving Activities

Chapter Three: Assisting with Student Divers

Chapter Four: Diver Safety and Risk Management

Chapter Five: Dive Master Conducted Programs

Chapter Six: Specialized Skills and Activities

Chapter Seven: The business of Diving and Your career.

Chapter Eight: Awareness of the Dive Environment

Chapter Nine: Dive Theory Review.

Don’t stress if it feels overwhelming. You have ample time to go through each chapter at your own pace. Typically, we recommend reading three chapters per week. Once you finish reading all nine chapters and answering the knowledge reviews in the PADI Divemaster manual, your mentoring instructor will review the topics with you during more in depth classroom session, to ensure you fully understand the material.

To complete the theory portion of the divemaster training, you will take two multiple-choice exams. Don’t worry, they are quite straightforward. Once you pass the exams, you’ll be ready to apply that knowledge in real-life scenarios and further enhance your diving skills.

To sign up for this course you must

• be at least 18 years old
• have a Rescue Diver certification (PADI or other agency)
• have Emergency First Responder Primary and Secondary Care training certificate (within 24 months) OR you complete this training along the course directly with us
• medical statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months and be in reasonable physical health
• be comfortable in the water, have good swimming skills
• 40 logged dives (Remember if you don’t have the required amount of dives you can still sign up for our internship and get them in no time and withougt additional cost!)