Are you interested in creating a career out of diving? Becoming a PADI Pro™ is the first step to unlocking the underwater realm of getting paid to dive.
The first step on the ladder is the PADI Divemaster course. To take things further, you can take the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) in order to become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.
If you’ve got an undeniable passion for the underwater world but are unsure where to start, how long it takes, how difficult the courses are and more, this article is for you. We’ll cover frequently asked questions that will help you on your journey to becoming a PADI Pro and getting your dream career started!
PADI Pro Breakdown
Becoming a PADI Professional opens the door to sharing your love for the underwater world with others, whether through teaching, guiding, or advocating for ocean conservation. But what does it mean to be a PADI Pro…
What is a PADI Pro?
First, it’s important to understand the differences between recreational diving and professional diving. Recreational divers dive for the adventure and underwater exploration. Professional divers love these things, too, but they are also specially trained to teach and guide others in their underwater adventures.
How Do I Become a PADI Pro?
To become a PADI Pro, you must first complete the PADI Divemaster course which will hone your scuba diving skills and prepare you to assist scuba instructors and supervise diving activities. Next, you can go on to become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI), to build on your Divemaster knowledge and develop your teaching skills. An OWSI can teach all of the core PADI courses up to the Divemaster rating. OWSI’s can also earn PADI Specialty Instructor ratings, such as Wreck Diving Instructor, to expand their course offerings.
A PADI Pro is someone who has extensively developed their underwater skills, leadership abilities, teaching abilities, and role of responsibility among the diving community. Undertaking a PADI Professional course is the crucial step in crafting a successful career in diving!
Is PADI a Professional Certification?
PADI offers both recreational and professional dive certifications, with over 30,000,000 divers and counting. PADI professional scuba certifications are globally recognized; you can travel the world and do what you love or share your dive knowledge locally. As a PADI Divemaster or PADI Instructor, you’ll learn how to lead scuba dives and help others with their dive education.
What’s the Difference Between a PADI Master Scuba Diver, Divemaster, and Instructor?
Let’s start with Master Scuba Diver, as this is the odd one out here. This is not a professional level certification, but a recognition that you’ve done enough specialty courses at a recreational level to demonstrate that you are an experience diver who really cares about your training. Although Master Scuba Diver is an elite level to reach, achieving this is not the same as being qualified to teach scuba diving.
Next, we have Divemaster, which is the first of the PADI professional qualifications. If you’re looking to become an Instructor, this is the first step you will need to take. PADI Divemasters are not qualified to teach, however, they are qualified to act as dive guides, and to assist Instructors – you can read more about this further down the page.
A PADI Instructor is fully qualified to teach scuba diving, at a range of levels. For example, a PADI open water instructor may have taught your Open Water course, Advanced Open Water course, Rescue Diver course, or any number of specialty courses.
PADI Divemaster FAQs
Many people have questions specific to the PADI Divemaster course, which is the first professional-level certification. We’ll run through those FAQs below.
What Can PADI Divemasters Do?
PADI Divemasters can take on a number of dive-related responsibilities. They are certified to:
- Assist certified PADI Instructors with training and non-training diving activities
- Guide certified scuba divers on fun dives
- Lead Discover Local Diving programs
- Assist with Discover Scuba Diving® programs
- Teach the PADI ReActivate®, Discover Snorkeling and PADI Advanced Snorkeler courses
- Teach some PADI Specialty courses – Emergency Oxygen Provider, Equipment Specialist, Coral Reef Conservation, PADI AWARE Specialty
How Long Does it Take to Become a Divemaster?
After earning the PADI Rescue Diver certification and logging 40 dives, you can undertake the PADI Divemaster course. You will also need to have also completed CPR and First Aid training within the past 24 months. The length of the Divemaster course varies based on the time it takes you to complete the water skills workshops, knowledge development sessions and practical sessions, as well as the time it takes to achieve 60 logged dives.
If you’re at least 18 years old and meet the prerequisites, it’s possible to become a PADI Divemaster in 2 very intense weeks. Most Divemaster candidates complete their training over 3 weeks to 6 months – dependent largely on where and how you choose to do your training.
How Difficult is the PADI Divemaster Course?
The PADI Divemaster course is a challenge. It’s the first step up the PADI Pro ladder and requires determination. However, with the right mindset and discipline, the course is completely manageable. The intensity of knowledge and skill development is rewarding and thrilling. Plus, you’ll have the support of your PADI Instructor for the entirety of your course. Your instructor will be there to guide you and share advice and tips.
Additionally, after completing the Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, and Rescue Diver Course, you will have a wealth of knowledge for your Divemaster course.
What Does a Divemaster Do?
PADI Divemasters typically assist dive instructors with classes and lead certified divers on underwater adventures. If they work at a dive shop, Divemasters often fill scuba tanks, load scuba gear, check-in divers and help with other essential tasks. Divemasters may also:
- Assist PADI Instructors with training and non-training diving activities
- Lead Discover Local Diving programs
- Accompany certified PADI Scuba Divers and Open Water Divers on dives
- Assist PADI Instructors with Discover Scuba Diving® (DSD) programs
- Help scuba divers refresh their skills with the PADI ReActivate® program
- Teach Discover Snorkeling and PADI Advanced Snorkeler
What if I Don’t Want to Work as a Divemaster?
Although Divemasters can work in the industry at dive shops and resorts, the course is also an excellent choice to further your knowledge and skills if you simply love diving! You’ll gain extensive knowledge of the underwater world, safety procedures, diving skills, and more. Combined, these skills can increase your underwater confidence, make you an excellent dive buddy and allow you to help others while diving for fun.
PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) FAQs
Ready to learn more about becoming a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor? Keep reading!
What Can PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors Do?
A candidate that has successfully completed the Instructor Development Course (IDC) and the Instructor Examination (IE), is certified to teach the following PADI courses:
- Open Water Diver
- Advanced Open Water Diver
- Rescue Diver
- Divemaster
- Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty
- PADI AWARE courses
Instructors can go on to achieve additional PADI Specialty Instructor ratings to expand their course offerings. These specialties include wreck diving, cave diving, drysuit diving, drift diving and many more.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Scuba Instructor?
After having been certified as a Divemaster, if you have been a certified diver for at least six months, you can enroll in the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) and Instructor Examination (IE) to gain your Open Water Scuba Instructor certification. The IDC is a minimum of six days days (or more) and includes the Assistant Instructor course (AI) and the OWSI program. Then, the Instructor Examination takes place. The entire PADI OWSI course generally takes 10 to 14 days to complete, but we recommend reaching out to the PADI Instructor Development Center of your choice in order to discuss schedule specifics.
How Much Do Scuba Instructors Make?
PADI Professionals work all over the world in a variety of jobs. How much you earn as a PADI dive instructor depends on where and what you are teaching.
For example:
- You might live and work on a liveaboard boat (where meals are included, and you also have a place to live).
- At a local dive shop, you might get paid extra for selling scuba gear or repairing scuba equipment.
- Experienced scuba instructors with a boat captain’s license can make very good money working on a superyacht and teaching private scuba lessons.
- It’s also important to consider the personal benefits of completing Divemaster or dive instructor training. One of the most common comments from PADI Pros is how their training helped them succeed in the “real world”.
How Hard Is It To Become a PADI Dive Instructor?
One of the main reasons why the majority of dive instructors are PADI Instructors is the high-quality instructional curriculum designed to accommodate students at various levels with different learning styles. PADI Instructor Trainers (Course Directors) are some of the dive industry’s most experienced and elite scuba instructors.
Parts of the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) will be easy for some and challenging for others. The PADI Divemaster course is the first step to becoming a PADI professional. After 6 months with this certification and 60 logged dives you can enroll on a PADI IDC. 100 logged dives are needed for the Instructor Examination. Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training is also required within the past 24 months.
FAQs About Scuba Diving Jobs
As a PADI Pro, you can work all over the world, turning your passion for diving into a career. Whether it’s leading dives on remote islands, teaching at busy resorts, or joining research expeditions, becoming a PADI Pro can open doors to unique career opportunities!
What Is the Highest Paying Scuba Diving Job?
Scuba diving jobs offer fantastic travel opportunities and a great way of life. They can also pay well. If making money doing what you love sounds like a dream job to you, it’s time to become a professional diver. Here are some high paying jobs for scuba divers.
- Military Diving & Police Diving
- Oil Rig Diving
- HAZMAT Diving
- Inland Commercial Diving
- Scientific Diving
- Underwater Construction
- Aquatic Performing Arts
- Safety Diver for Film & Television
How Do I Find a Scuba Diving Job?
Check out the PADI job board, which is updated every day and includes a range of jobs from all over the world.
Become a PADI Pro
There are lots of resources available for aspiring PADI Pros – why not start by downloading the “Become a PADI Pro” brochure, check out the requirements for becoming a Divemaster, or contact your local dive shop for more information on what they can offer?
Interested in Becoming a PADI Pro?
Now that many of your questions are hopefully answered, you may be thinking – where do I start? The first step is contacting your local dive shop to book your course! Alternatively, you might explore taking a PADI Professional course at a dive shop while traveling abroad.
