When you are ready to find a Divemaster course, you’ll also be at the starting point of a fulfilling PADI Professional career – whether you want to guide excited divers in their first underwater adventures or jump into specialist fields, such as stunt diving or search and recovery.
As well as leveling up your knowledge and practical skills, the PADI Divemaster course gives you hands-on leadership experience and a taste of what it’s like to work in the dive industry. Embarking on any professional course is a big commitment that means giving a lot of time and energy to a single dive shop, so the one you choose can make all the difference to your journey.
This step-by-step guide will help you find a Divemaster course, compare the options and choose the right dive shop for you.
Step 1: Decide How To Complete Your Divemaster
The PADI Divemaster course requirements take around 50 hours to complete, and you can typically choose to achieve your certification in one of the following two ways.
1. Intensive Course
This option allows you to fit your Divemaster course into a relatively short period – even just a few weeks. Although it’s a focused and streamlined way to earn the certification, it can be the most expensive route.
Choose this if you:
- Are seeking a fast-track path to becoming a PADI Pro
- Have other commitments, like family, work or school
- Want to develop your skills without dive shop responsibilities
2. Internship
Usually spread over one to six months, an internship enriches the Divemaster program with the Divemaster lifestyle. While training to become a Divemaster, you’ll assist the dive shop with day-to-day work (from prepping dive gear to supporting instructors), often making this a more budget-friendly option.
Choose this for:
- An authentic learning experience with real students
- Long-term mentorship from PADI Instructors
- The chance to gain additional dive shop expertise
Step 2: Choose Your Location
Where you do your Divemaster course (or indeed, any PADI Professional course) is as important as how. Staying local may be practical if you have commitments at home, but many aspiring Divemasters see travel as part of their adventure. To find a Divemaster course in the best place for you, also consider choices such as:
- Warm or cold water diving?
- Liveaboard or shore diving?
- Remote islands or bustling cities?
If you’re planning a scuba career abroad, completing your course in your intended destination will also give you a head start on getting to know the local area and dive sites. However, be sure to consider visa requirements, possible language barriers and whether the location offers a lifestyle you’ll enjoy topside as well as underwater.
Step 3: Find a Divemaster Course
Now you’ve decided how and where, you can find a Divemaster course and create your shortlist of dive shops by:
- Using the PADI Dive Shop Locator, you can narrow your search by using the “Professional Activities and Events” tab or searching by course.
- Searching online or asking fellow divers for recommendations
- Browsing the PADI Jobs Board for internships and other career opportunities
Step 4: Narrow Down Your Shortlist
You can get a general idea about a dive shop’s reputation by reading online reviews and social media, chatting with past students and verifying instructors with PADI Pro Chek™. Beyond the basics for choosing a great dive operator, the best Divemaster courses are down to personal preference. Here are some things to look out for when evaluating your options for any professional course.
Teaching Style
All dive shops must follow set standards for any PADI recreational or professional program, including the PADI Divemaster course, but their teaching styles can differ greatly. For instance, some embrace a laid-back, social vibe, while others have a more business-like routine. If you’re doing an internship, check how much flexibility you’ll have with your free time and how that compares with your expectations.
To find a good match, chat with your potential instructors in person or by video call to see which dive shop appeals the most.
Also, find out how many other candidates will share your Divemaster course. Generally, smaller groups are more personalized, allowing more time to practice and get one-to-one feedback.
Facilities and Dive Sites
As with choosing a dive shop for other courses or trips, you might check if the one you choose for your Divemaster course offers equipment, gas facilities and dive boats. In addition, consider the dive sites they visit. As a future PADI Pro, having access to a wider range of dive environments will bolster your confidence, skills and experience in different scuba scenarios. You’ll also want to ensure they cater to your personal interests, such as macro photography, wreck exploration or technical diving.
Divemaster Course Cost
As with any PADI course, individual dive shops set their own prices, which can vary quite a bit. Don’t be tempted by the lowest price alone. Instead, look at the overall quality and package, and compare if the Divemaster course price includes extras, such as:
- Certification fees
- Equipment rental
- Food and accommodation
- Transport
- Insurance
- Additional dives, courses or workshops
For internship opportunities, you’ll also want to weigh up how many hours you’ll be working to make sure the price reflects an exchange you’re happy with.
Conservation Opportunities
To add even more purpose to your professional development, find a Divemaster course with a PADI Eco Center. These are dive shops with an above-average dedication to sustainability and conservation.
Whether you’re helping with Dive Against Debris® dives, learning to teach PADI AWARE® courses or inspiring kids with the wonders of the ocean, the opportunities you might find with a PADI Eco Center mean your Divemaster course can go hand-in-hand with the protection and restoration of our blue planet and the wellbeing of the communities that rely on it.
Career Goals
If you have long-term plans to advance your PADI Pro career, then check if the dive shop is a PADI Instructor Development Center or PADI Career Development Center. If so, they’ll be equipped to support you with other professional courses beyond the PADI Divemaster level.
Find a PADI Divemaster Course (and Other Professional Courses)
Wherever you are on your professional journey, choosing the right dive shop that aligns with your goals and expectations will set you up for a rewarding ocean career. Ready to find a Divemaster course or take the next step as a PADI Instructor? Start your search today using the PADI Dive Shop Locator or browse available internships on the PADI Jobs Board.
