Want to be a Divemaster?????

Hi all - first off, what is a Divemaster? A Divemaster is the first step in the PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) professional rating. As a Divemaster you can assist with classes, lead scuba dives and trips, teach scuba refreshers and Discover Scuba in the pool and you can teach Skin Diving and Snorkeling. And besides all of that, it is FUN!!!!!

Why do people become a Divemaster? A lot of reasons, but the most common ones I see are that somebody wants to turn their hobby/passion into something with more of a purpose. They are looking for reasons and opportunities to go diving. They want to make money while diving. They want to go on free trips. They want to be part of the cool kids :-). They want to know more about diving and reach for the highest certifications. They want to see and work with people getting trained to see diving through their eyes (there is nothing like taking a new student on their first open water dive).

I mentioned money above. Basically successful Divemasters are in demand. Being in demand equals money in the Divemaster's pocket. The more the Divemaster works and markets themselves and creates cool trips, the more that they make. Now, we aren't talking retire to a house on Siesta Key rich, but good Divemasters make more than enough to cover their expenses, buy a new set of gear every year and still have money in their pocket. <\DIGRESSION>

What does it take? First, the prerequisites are certified as a Rescue Diver (or equivalent from another agency), logged 20 dives, 18 years or older and have a doctor sign off on your medical form. A few other things you'll want to have: your own gear (although the store you work with may want you in another brand if they don't sell the type of gear you are using), good study habits and a really good attitude going in that you are going to make this a fun experience.

The actually training is very straight forward. There are a series of lectures that take a total of about 10-14 hours. They cover a variety of topics, Supervising Certified and non-Certified Divers, Physics and Physiology of Diving, Dive Equipment, Divemaster Conducted Programs, Decompression Thoery and the RDP and the Environment. There is a self study book that accompanies the Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving (which by the way makes a great Christmas gift).

The Divemaster in trianing will need to map a dive site, demonstrate the highest quality rescue skills in open water, show that they can perform Divemaster conducted programs and have a good overall attitude towards learning, the students/customers and show a desire to improve.

There is a physical test portion as well, consisting of a 400 yard swim, 800 mask/fins/snorkel swim, 15 minute tread water and a 100 yard inert diver tow in open water. Most people have no problem with these requirements.

Finally, there is the internship portion of the program. I like to use the first option, which places the Divemaster-to-be into the water with real students and customers. By pre-briefing the dive, letting them lead the divers and work with students, Divemaster candidates improve their diving skills, understand how to work with people in diving situations, build their confidence and encounter problems for the first time with an instructor there to help guide them through the process of solving them. The relationship to the instructor is more of mentor/mentee. It is funny since everytime I run a Divemaster course, I learn something new and cool. For me, the Divemaster course has made me a much better instructor.

There is one other option for completing Divemaster and that is to do the "practical" method where we create fake students and customers for the Divemaster to work with. This is a good option for those that need to get their Divemaster in a hurry, but won't give them experience dealing with real students and customers.

That completes the Divemaster course, however, I also believe that as an instructor, I need to round out the Divemasters with more training, so I add on Nitrox Gas Blender, Fill Station Operator, Deep Diver and Underwater Navigator as well to help them through the first part of the their diving career. Why add these things? Think about what you expect form a Divemaster in open water. I would expect them to be knowledgeable, ready and willing to rescue me or somebody else and have a good understanding of the limits of diving and their local area.

Let me know if you have any questions. Greg