Becoming a PADI Divemaster is the first professional step in recreational scuba diving and requires completing a structured training program that builds advanced diving skills, leadership abilities, and safety management experience. Just like teen student travel programs, it’s where leadership training begins.
Getting certified to become a PADI Divemaster is also where you learn to supervise scuba diving activities, assist instructors, guide divers, and build the dive knowledge and skills needed to work anywhere around the world, from local dive shops to faraway dive destinations and liveaboard dive boats.
This guide covers everything you need to know about Divemaster Training, including requirements, skills list, course outline, swim tests, training duration, cost, and how Divemaster training differs around the world.
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What Is a Divemaster?
A PADI Divemaster is a certified dive professional who leads and supervises recreational scuba diving. It is PADI’s highest non-instructor rating and focuses on leadership, safety, and guiding dive experiences.
A PADI Divemaster is trained to:
- Supervise scuba diving activities
- Lead certified divers on guided dives
- Assist PADI Instructors during training sessions
- Conduct select PADI programs (Skin Diver, and portions of DSD in limited settings)
- Support diver safety and risk management
- Guide Discover Local Diving experiences
- Lead mapping, search and recovery, and practical training exercises
In short: A Divemaster is a professional-level dive leader responsible for safe, well-organized, and enjoyable diving experiences.
PADI Divemaster Requirements
To begin PADI Divemaster Training, you must meet the following prerequisites:
Minimum Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18 years old |
| Certifications Required | PADI Advanced Open Water Diver + PADI Rescue Diver (or equivalents) |
| Experience | 40 logged dives to start, 60 for certification |
| Medical Clearance | Signed physician form within 12 months |
| Emergency First Response (EFR) | Completed within last 24 months |
| Good Swimming Skills | Must pass stamina exercises and water skills tests |
These prerequisites are globally standardized across the respected dive organizations (PADI, SSI, SDI/TDI), but this article focuses on the PADI Divemaster Program, the most widely recognized worldwide.
PADI Divemaster Course Outline
The PADI Divemaster Course includes three major components:
A. Knowledge Development
You’ll complete:
- Divemaster Manual or eLearning
- PADI Instructor Manual modules
- Exams covering dive theory
- Knowledge Reviews
- Dive planning and safety and risk management
- Leadership, briefings, and supervising student divers
Topics include:
- Physics
- Physiology
- RDP and decompression theory
- Equipment
- Skills and environment
- Dive planning
- Professional standards
B. Waterskills & Stamina Tests
You must complete several standardized physical requirements:
1. Stamina Exercises (Scored 1–5 points each)
- 400-meter swim
- 800-meter snorkel swim
- 100-meter tired diver tow
- 15-minute survival float
Many divers search for the “PADI Divemaster swim test scoring PDF.”
Here are the scoring basics:
| Exercise | 5 Points | 3 Points | 1 Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400m Swim | Excellent time | Mid-range | Minimum acceptable |
| 800m Snorkel | Excellent time | Mid-range | Minimum acceptable |
| 100m Tow | Excellent time | Mid-range | Minimum acceptable |
| 15-min Float | 2 min hands-out | Hands-out attempt | Completion |
A total combined score across all stamina tests determines pass/fail.
C. Practical Application
This is the core of Divemaster Training.
You will learn:
- Dive briefings
- Mapping a dive site
- Guiding dives for certified divers
- Supervising dive activities
- Search and recovery project
- Assisting on real courses:
- Open Water Diver
- Advanced Open Water
- Rescue Diver
- Discover Scuba Diving
- Discover Snorkeling
You’ll also complete:
- Divemaster-led programs
- Professional evaluations
- Skill demonstrations: the 24-skill circuit
