Embarking on the life of a PADI Divemaster could be your first step towards a full-time career as a PADI Instructor or a way to earn some part-time income with an ocean view. It’s also a foundation for many other scuba jobs or research projects.
Whatever your goal, completing Divemaster training will improve your confidence above and below the water. It also means being a role model to others and helping to teach the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that make a great diver. But what exactly are the duties of a PADI Divemaster?
Keep reading to learn about the typical roles and responsibilities that come with the life of a PADI Divemaster.
Teaching and Diving
One of the most exciting things PADI Divemasters can do is help get other divers in the water and teach them how to protect the environment.
Assisting PADI Instructors
One of the key roles of a PADI Divemaster is supporting PADI Instructors while they conduct PADI courses. You might assist on a PADI Open Water Diver course one day and PADI Discover Scuba Diving sessions on another.
Under the Instructor’s supervision, your responsibilities could include:
- Keeping an eye on students throughout the day
- Helping to demonstrate (and refine) students’ skills
- Guiding PADI Open Water Diver students during surface swims, navigation exercises, or the tour portion of Open Water Dives 2, 3 or 4
- Looking after the group if the Instructor needs to ascend with someone
- Teaching advanced snorkeling skills during PADI Open Water Diver Confined Water Dives 2, 3, 4 or 5
- Assisting the Instructor during PADI Discover Scuba Diving experiences and taking participants on subsequent dives
- Accompanying certified divers on Adventure or Specialty dives
- Making sure students are safe and happy!
Conducting PADI programs as a Divemaster
As a PADI Divemaster, you’ll be qualified to guide certified divers around local dive sites. You’ll also be allowed to conduct several PADI programs without an Instructor’s supervision, including:
- PADI ReActivate
- PADI Discover Local Diving
- PADI Discover Snorkeling
- PADI Advanced Snorkeler (Skin Diver)
- PADI Seal Team AquaMission: Skin Diver Specialist
With further training, you can teach even more:
Complete the PADI Discover Scuba Diving Leader Internship to conduct PADI Discover Scuba Diving sessions independently (as long as open water dives are not required).
Complete PADI Specialty Instructor courses to teach PADI Digital Underwater Photographer and all PADI Specialty courses which do not require open water dives. This includes Emergency Oxygen Provider, Project AWARE Specialist, Coral Reef Conservation, and Equipment Specialist.
Become an Emergency First Response Instructor to teach EFR Primary Care (CPR) and Secondary Care (First Aid) courses.
All PADI Professionals have access to the PADI Instructor Manual. This details what you can do after completing your PADI Divemaster qualification and the standards you need to follow.
The Life of a PADI Divemaster on Land
The life of a PADI Divemaster doesn’t stop at the reef!
Before diving
An early start begins with preparing classrooms, boats, safety equipment, and scuba gear, before greeting customers and assisting with their paperwork and questions.
As a PADI Divemaster, you’ll be hands-on with dive planning and logistics, from setting up the pool and dive sites to monitoring weather and student attendance during the day.
You’ll also brief divers about local facilities and emergency procedures, as well as what to expect underwater (such as navigation, hazards, and marine life).
Surface intervals
Between dives is an excellent time to oversee the shop, catch up with office admin, or share social media updates about what you’ve seen on your dives. Plus, if you’ve got the skills and a good save-a-dive kit, you’ll inevitably be helping customers with broken or forgotten equipment so they don’t miss out on dives!
After diving
Before the day’s over, you’ll check that cylinders are filled, scuba gear has been rinsed, and plans are ready for the next day’s diving. Then, it’s time to join your colleagues and guests for the after-dive social!
Being a Role Model
Living the life of a PADI Divemaster also means being a dive leader and a PADI Professional. With this comes a particularly important duty: to be a role model and mentor for other divers. You’ll be expected to show responsible diving practices (such as completing pre-dive checks and safe ascents) and be polite and respectful towards others.
But the PADI Divemaster checklist doesn’t stop there. As someone other divers (especially new students) look up to, you’ll also be in a unique position to encourage others to seek adventure and save the ocean. Whether it’s advocating the Ocean Torchbearer initiative, teaching kids about coral reef conservation, or organizing clean-up dives, one of the biggest responsibilities of a PADI Divemaster is undoubtedly being an ambassador for our ocean planet.
Ready for the Life of a PADI Divemaster?
Ask any of these PADI Divemasters, and they’ll say there’s no ‘typical’ day in the life of a PADI Divemaster — and that’s what makes the job so rewarding:
So, is the PADI Divemaster course worth it? Absolutely! But don’t just take their word for it, see for yourself! Start your PADI Divemaster adventure today!
