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Divemaster Certification in Pattaya

There are many reasons why divers decide to 'Go Pro' and travel. But, getting paid to dive and sharing the rewards of scuba diving with others ranks among the most popular.

The information in this section explains how long it takes, what you need to do, and how much it costs to complete the Divemaster training course in Pattaya, Thailand.

Becoming a PADI Professional 'Dive Master'

The Divemaster rating represents the first rung on the ladder for divers who want to teach scuba diving for a living.

But, it's not about being a boss! It's about having all the attributes that help other divers get the most out of diving.

Simply put, a Divemaster is all of the following... and a lot more too:

An instructor's assistant (e.g. organiser, supervisor).
Dive guide (e.g. for certified Open Water Divers).
Mentor - a professional role model for others to emulate.

Certified Divemasters have expanded diving theory knowledge beyond the basics. They have exemplary dive skills and they display a strong passion to mix with other divers.

It's a Life-Changing Moment

It may be cliché, but based on personal experiences I can confirm that PADI professionals live a life different from many others.

Once you start the PADI Divemaster course (the most popular of all professional-level certifications), you will have taken the first step to becoming a dive pro.

You will develop strong leadership abilities. Then, you will be helping to transform the lives of divers you meet and lead the way in ocean conservation.

Divemastering Yourself as an Eco-Influencer

The words and actions of all divemasters carry weight. Why? Because divers, non-divers, and youngsters see them as ambassadors for the 'Blue Planet' (aka the underwater world).

So, what are some of the best ways to promote yourself as an 'Eco-Conscious Influencer'? One of the most popular is to organise a beach and underwater cleanup. But, you could also:

Become a Project AWARE specialist and help to unite scuba divers with other water enthusiasts about ocean protection.
Share underwater imagery (e.g. visual symbolism using photos and video footage) on a website or with local photography clubs.
Teach children about the most pressing problems facing vulnerable environments and the importance of coral reef conservation at a local school.

You'll work with an instructor to hone your scuba skills and then learn how to anticipate common diver problems - and how to fix them.

Wait - there's more...

Getting a job as a PADI Divemaster means you'll have many roles. You will organise, and help to supervise, many of the daily diving activities and classroom sessions. But most of all, dive masters are best at leading guided dives and working on diving liveaboards.

What Can Divers Do with a Divemaster Certification?

As long as there is safe water to explore, PADI® Divemasters can work there. Even so, you will find most of them working at the best scuba diving destinations that our Blue Planet has to offer.

A typical working day for a dive master will include a submersion with sea life animals and nature. As a result, the opportunity to make new friends and enjoy scuba diving adventures together is the main attraction.

It gets better:

How can you top that? Easy... they also get paid for sharing their passion and fervour for scuba diving with others who have common interests.

In a nutshell, having the divemaster certification will open up the door to getting different kinds of paid diving jobs almost anywhere in the world.

Note: Last time we checked, there were well over six thousand PADI® Dive Centers, Resorts, and Liveaboards worldwide to choose from.

PADI Divemaster Course Requirements

A combination of classroom-based tuition and several assignments of independent study make up the Divemaster program. The main objective will be to enhance your skills in diving knowledge and leadership.

Other parts of the course will increase your ability to organise scuba activities and to solve diver related problems, such as making sure the dive equipment is safe and comfortable.

Thus, while helping student divers improve their scuba, as a divemaster candidate you will also be experiencing:

Stamina challenges
Water skills evaluations
Training exercises

Most of the schooling is 'hands-on' mentorship type of tuition. So, you will be working alongside a PADI Instructor - or in some cases several different instructors to complete various assignments. The PADI® Divemaster program will qualify you to:

Assist instructors with student divers (including PADI Assistant Instructors).
Supervise certain scuba activities (see below).
Meet the prerequisite certification for enrolling in higher level qualifications.

The course schedule for dive master training varies. It will depend on how much previous experience you have and how many extra certifications you need to meet the entry requirements.

As a general rule of thumb, it takes most candidates around three (3) weeks of training to complete all of the PADI Divemaster course assignments.

Note: You can complete the course tasks through one of the structured divemaster internships or through a series of practical training exercises.

What's Needed to Enrol as a Divemaster Trainee?

There are several requirements that you will need to meet before you can enrol in the PADI® Divemaster course, including:

Being at least eighteen (18) years of age.
Being certified as an Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver.
Completed the Rescue Diver Certification.
Have at least forty (40) logged dives.
Having a current CPR and First Aid Certification (within the past 2 years).
Have current diving medical clearance from a physician.

Important: You might be able to use qualifying certifications from other diver training organisations (e.g. BSAC, CMAS, NAUI, SSA, SSI) if they meet the standards required to start PADI Divemaster training.

Divemaster Duties and Diving Activities

So now you may be wondering what exactly can a Divemaster do after getting certified? In most cases, they will play an assisting role with a qualified instructor - in the water and during classroom sessions.

One common duty for a divemaster after certification is leading certified scuba divers as a guide during underwater diving adventures.

If you end up working at a dive shop, you may also spend much of your day filling air tanks, cleaning the gear, and helping with roster calls.

PADI Divemaster Course in Pattaya, Thailand Other activities that divemasters can do, may include:

Assisting PADI Instructors with training and non-training diving activities.
Leading divers to understand a local dive environment (e.g. on Discover Local Diving resort programs).
Accompanying certified PADI® Scuba Divers and Open Water Divers on scuba adventure dives.
Assisting PADI Instructors while they conduct Discover Scuba Diving® (DSD) programs (e.g. the introductory experience for beginners).
Helping certified divers to review and refresh their scuba skills through the PADI ReActivate® program (e.g. for divers who have been inactive from diving).
Teach snorkeling and skin diving techniques through the PADI Discover Snorkeling and Advanced Snorkeler programs.

After completing the Discover Scuba Diving leadership training, PADI Divemasters can conduct DSD Experiences for beginners in a swimming pool or confined water.

They can also lead divers who have successfully completed a DSD experience on further guided dives. But, each participant must have already made the first DSD dive with an instructor. All DSD participants must:

Be under the indirect supervision of an instructor.
Complete divemaster-supervised dives within fourteen (14) days of the original Discover Scuba Diving experience.
Not exceed the maximum ratio of participants to Divemaster (e.g. maximum 2:1 ratio).

Courses that Certified Divemasters Can Teach

Another question you may be asking is what courses can PADI Divemasters teach after they have completed their training assignments. After paying PADI membership fees, they will be qualified to teach:

Discover Snorkeling Programs
The PADI Advanced Snorkeling program (including the PADI Seal Team Skin Diver Specialist AquaMission)
PADI ReActivate™ scuba diving refresher

Extra training means you may also get qualified to teach other courses, such as:

PADI Freediver™
Emergency First Response® first aid and CPR
PADI Mermaid™

Another way to earn extra income, such as when bad weather stops you being in the water, is to teach the so-called 'dry' specialties.

Divemasters can get certified by a PADI Course Director to teach any of the following:

Price for PADI® Divemaster Course in Pattaya, Thailand 38,900 THB*

Important: *All prices are subject to change without prior notice and assume all prerequisites have been met to start the course. The price does not include any specialised training manuals, PADI® membership fees, or scuba equipment required to meet the diving assignments. All deposits are considered non-refundable.

Frequently Asked Questions about Divemasters

How Old Do You Have to Be to Be a Divemaster?

It's fair to say that some teenage divers will be excited about becoming a PADI Divemaster soon after their eighteenth birthday.

Here's the thing:

Once you get to fifteen (15) years of age you can enroll in the PADI Junior Divemaster program if you have a minimum of twenty (20) logged dives and you already hold the PADI youth certification for:

Pro Tip: As a Junior Divemaster candidate you will be completing a large part of the standard Divemaster course. But, you will need to complete some additional training when you reach eighteen to get certified as PADI Divemaster.

How Long Does it Take to Become a PADI Divemaster?

In fact, several factors will influence the exact length of the dive master course, including the dive center you choose and how much time you have.

In general, completion of the PADI Divemaster course should take around fifty (50) hours for most divers who already have the Rescue Diver certification.

Nonetheless, you can speed up the process by completing the scuba diving theory eLearning™ sessions in advance (e.g. if you have a short time frame).

Important: You should allocate a little extra time if you plan on completing additional internship training to become PADI DSD Leader.

Which Dive Center is Best for Divemaster Training?

That's a tough question to answer! Generally speaking, you should be asking any prospective trainer how much experience they have and what facilities they have to offer you.

Please check out our FAQ of scuba diving and take a look through our customer testimonials to get some idea of what you need to know before making a decision about PADI Divemaster training in Thailand.

Can a Divemaster 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 check (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.

Is Interacting with Underwater Organisms Bad?

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.

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.

After You Become a Professional Dive Master

The 'mentor' relationship between a trainer and the divemaster in training (DMT) is likened to that of the professor and the apprentice.

A bond of genuine trust and confidence develops as the divemaster course progresses and serves as role model behaviour for the dive students to emulate.

When you become a PADI Divemaster you are ready to enter into the professional level of leadership and management. You have sharp rescue skills, enhanced specialty qualifications, and at least sixty (60) dives logged.

Diving in a bit deeper...

Divemasters have reached the first level in scuba professionalism. Furthermore, they have completed the ideal preparation for becoming an instructor's assistant.

You will have been subjected to thorough scuba diving tests and performance evaluation before earning the coveted status.

Although the course can actually be completed in just over a week of training, the divemaster internship is the preferred method for certification. Interns can spend many months shadowing an instructor with:

The dives and theory lessons in the classroom.
Dive skills practice in the swimming pool.
Escorting and assisting divers taking scuba courses.

Divemaster interns also prove to be extremely popular with dive schools because they fill an "unenviable" role of being the general "gofer" (similar to a builder's labourer).

Even so, this practical application is extremely important for any trainee to experience. It could prove to be a strong foundation if you progress into the next level of scuba professionals, the OWSI.

Note: PADI Divemasters can get a job working at some of the best dive sites around the world - including liveaboard diving trips in Thailand.

Related Information and Help Guides

The short video [3:13 seconds] presented by PADI outlines what to expect during your Divemaster course training.

Note: Check the Free Introduction to PADI Divemaster course or contact a PADI® Instructor Development Center (IDC) for further information about becoming a PADI Professional. Click here to contact Scuba Steve in Thailand for a personal reply.