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Master Scuba Diver Rating

All PADI Master Scuba Divers are recognised and ranked as having reached the highest level in recreational scuba diving.

As a result, the education system acknowledges Master Divers for receiving a significant amount of experience and training in various dive environments.

About the PADI Master Scuba Diver Course

PADI® Master Divers make up a small minority in an elite group (less than 2%) - respected by everyone in the diving community.

People will know you completed a variety of scuba diving courses and certifications to earn your exclusive Master Scuba Diver rating.

Let's dive in a bit deeper;

The all-action journey begins when you complete the Open Water Diver certification.

Next, as long as you are at least twelve (12) years old, you need to get PADI Advanced Open Water Diver and PADI Rescue Diver certifications.

As you continue your diving adventures, you can get the MSD rating when you have at least fifty (50) logged dives and you have earned five (5) PADI Specialty Diver certifications (e.g. Deep Diver, Nitrox, Wreck Diver).

Important: The 'Professional Association of Diving Instructors' is not the only scuba certification. You can check if equivalent diving certifications (e.g. achieved through BSAC, CMAS, SSI) will qualify instead.

Master Scuba Diver in Thailand

The team at Private Scuba Pattaya customises prices based on the individual needs of each student. Thus, the total cost of attaining the Master Scuba Diver rating will depend on:

The number of courses that we need to conduct.
Which PADI Specialties you choose.
How many more logged dives you need to meet the criteria.

So, depending on the student's diving experience and prior certifications, the course will be scheduled to suit their situation. But, you can only achieve the elite rating when you have met all of the course requirements.

A good example:

You already have Rescue Diver certification and twenty logged dives when you start the training. In this example, you would need to pay for five (5) specialties and up to thirty (30) more dives to complete the PADI Master Scuba Diver course requirements.

The course price, and how long it takes to become a PADI Master Scuba Diver, varies according to your experience and previous certifications.

In general, we suggest that it could take you somewhere between five (5) and ten (10) days of diving to complete the training.

Crew packs are available from scuba school and they include all the training materials. An instructor will guide you through the theoretical learning process and teach the skills in both confined and open water, as appropriate.

*There is No Fixed Price for PADI Master Scuba Diver Course

FAQ about PADI Master Scuba Divers

Why Should I Train to Be a Master Diver?

This level helps divers reach the peak of all student-based courses. You will be sharpening your in-water rescue skills and enhancing your specialty qualifications portfolio.

In a nutshell, Master Scuba Divers are getting close to the professional route. They will have already received superior preparation for careers in scuba diving.

Which is Higher Divemaster or Master Diver?

This section already highlighted how the qualification represents scuba divers with experience and superior knowledge.

Nonetheless, to summarise the answer, Master Scuba Divers have gone as far as they can as recreational divers. Whereas, you can consider getting certified as a PADI Divemaster as only the first level on the professional scuba diver ladder.

How Deep Can a Master Diver Go?

Certified Master Scuba Divers can dive to a maximum depth of thirty (30) metres (100 feet) if they are age fifteen or older. But, if you earned the Deep Diver Specialty the maximum depth is forty (40) metres (130 feet).

Note: Dive into our section about sea life and marine creatures for more information about aquatic animals you are likely to see on deep dives (with pictures).

How Should I Interact with Underwater Organisms?

Divers share a common responsibility to protect and conserve nature. As a result, passive interaction with aquatic animals helps to safeguard delicate and sensitive sea life.

Can a Master Diver Dive Alone?

The scuba diving buddy system is a safety rule that pairs two or more divers together. Moreover, the group should also perform the standardised pre-dive safety checks (BWRAF) before entering the water.

Nonetheless, PADI does consent to a type of 'solo diving' through the Self-Reliant Diver certification course, which is available in Pattaya, Thailand.

What are the Medical Requirements for Scuba Diving?

A certain level of well-being and general fitness is needed to carry out scuba activities. Thus, you may need to get written approval from a physician before you go diving.

You can download the online version of the Diver Medical Participant Questionnaire to check if your current medical status will require a physician's approval.

Note: You should not ask dive staff (e.g. divemasters, instructors) for medical advice and clearance to go diving. Instead, you can contact the Divers Alert Network (DAN) if you have questions about your medical fitness to dive.

What Comes after Master Scuba Diver?

This is the highest "non-professional" elite rating for recreational divers. The achievement denotes a very accomplished and experienced diver with at least fifty logged dives, five PADI specialties, and underwater rescue skills.

The course will vary according to your current diving experience level and your choice of specialist training needed to meet the requirements.

So, you may be wondering what comes after PADI Master Scuba Diver? The next step for most divers is to start the PADI Divemaster training.

The principle role of a divemaster is one that supervises scuba diving activities and assists instructors with their scuba classes.

Note: Another section has information about Divemaster Internships and how the discount packages and development process can save you money in Thailand.

Related Information and Help Guides

Note: The short video presented by PADI highlights some of the key reasons to join the best of the best in recreational scuba. Click here to contact Private Scuba in Pattaya, Thailand.