Are you ready to take your scuba diving skills to the next level? The Master Scuba DiverTM Challenge is here to ignite your passion for diving and reward you for your dedication. After a huge success last year, we’re running the contest again from January 1 to December 31, 2026. This Challenge offers an incredible opportunity for divers to earn the prestigious PADI Master Scuba Diver (MSD) rating and win a Galápagos liveaboard trip for two aboard the M/Y Galaxy Diver 2.
What Is the Master Scuba Diver Rating?
The Master Scuba Diver rating is the pinnacle of recreational scuba diving, awarded to the most accomplished and experienced divers. It represents a diver’s dedication, skill, and commitment to the underwater world. Less than 2% of divers ever achieve this elite status, making it a truly exceptional accomplishment.
To become a Master Scuba Diver, you must:
- Hold a Rescue Diver certification (and have completed all the pre-requisites for that certification)
- Complete 5 Specialty Diver courses
- Log 50 dives
The MSD Challenge is designed to help you on your journey to this prestigious rating by encouraging you to take more courses and gain more diving experience.
How To Enter the Master Scuba Diver Challenge
Participating in the MSD Challenge is easy! Here’s how you can get started:
- Visit the MSD Challenge Entry Page: Click here and fill in the entry form.
- Share Your Passion: Tell us why you want to be a Master Scuba Diver in a paragraph or two.
- Earn Extra Entries: After filling in the form and securing your initial entry, you can earn more entries to the contest by completing qualifying PADI courses or joining PADI Club. Here’s how you can boost your chances:
- Earn the PADI Master Scuba Diver rating = 10 extra entries
- Become a PADI Rescue Diver = 5 extra entries
- Complete your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification = 3 extra entries
- Take a PADI Specialty Diver course = 2 extra entries
- Finish the PADI Open Water Diver course = 1 extra entry
- Join PADI ClubTM = 5 extra entries
- Purchase a PADI Certification Card = 2 entries
- Take the Save the Ocean Pledge = 1 entry
The Prize: A Liveaboard Trip of a Lifetime for Two to the Galápagos! 🦎
We know your journey to becoming a Master Scuba Diver is its own reward, but we’re adding an incredible incentive to keep you motivated!
At the end of the contest, we’re giving away a trip for two to the Galápagos Islands, including a seven-night liveaboard trip aboard the M/Y Galaxy Diver 2 and round-trip airfare. This amazing prize is worth USD $18,000!
Imagine dropping into the legendary waters of the Galápagos, where hammerheads cruise by, marine iguanas feed underwater and every dive is a front-row seat to one of the most extraordinary ecosystems on Earth – all while enjoying the comfort and style of the M/Y Galaxy Diver 2.
Two runner-up winners will also receive one recreational PADI eLearning course of their choice.
About M/Y Galaxy Diver 2
This upgraded liveaboard has been designed for comfort and ease at sea, offering Starlink Wi-Fi, a spacious diving platform, a jacuzzi, spacious side-by-side cabins and a full range of onboard amenities. Galaxy Diver 2 operates with hydro jets, which enhance safety for divers through an enclosed system with no external propeller, while also providing smoother, more efficient performance at higher speeds.
This luxe liveaboard brings divers to the extraordinary dive sites of Darwin and Wolf, along with other remarkable locations across the Galápagos Islands. These sites open the door to an underwater world that feels almost untouched. The experienced team and modern dive equipment support a smooth and safe journey as you explore the diverse marine life that defines this reserve — sharks, whales, manta rays, turtles, penguins, sea lions and many more species in their natural environment.
A journey aboard the Galaxy Diver 2 invites you to connect with the ocean, dive at your own rhythm and enjoy a comfortable onboard experience from start to finish.
Take the Plunge – Join the MSD Challenge Today!
Becoming a Master Scuba Diver sets you apart as a diver committed to excellence and safety. It opens doors to more challenging dives, greater responsibility, and deeper knowledge of the underwater world. With every course you complete and every dive you log, you’re not just earning entries for the Master Scuba Diver Challenge, you’re building a foundation of skills and experiences that will serve you for a lifetime.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to advance your diving skills and win extraordinary prizes. Enter the MSD Challenge today, and continue your underwater adventure!
