Advanced · Professional training
Divemaster
Divemaster is the first major step into professional-level SCUBA leadership. Develop the knowledge, judgment, watermanship, and practical experience needed to lead certified divers, support instructional activities, and take greater responsibility both above and below the water.
Lead Dives. Build Judgment. Become a Dive Professional.
Divemaster is the first major step into professional-level SCUBA leadership. Develop the knowledge, judgment, watermanship, and practical experience needed to lead certified divers, support instructional activities, and take greater responsibility both above and below the water.
Course Information
Professional Leadership Training
Divemaster training changes the focus of your diving. Instead of concentrating only on your own dive, you'll begin learning how to evaluate conditions, organize groups, anticipate problems, maintain accountability, and make decisions for the benefit of the divers you're leading.
The goal is not simply to become a more experienced diver. The goal is to develop the situational awareness, communication skills, judgment, and professionalism expected of a dive leader.
Candidates progressively take on more responsibility throughout the program as their knowledge and leadership ability develop.
What You'll Learn
Divemaster training builds on the knowledge and skills developed through Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, and continuing-education training.
Training includes areas such as:
- Dive planning and organization
- Dive-site evaluation and environmental assessment
- Pre-dive briefings and post-dive debriefings
- Group organization and diver accountability
- Leading certified divers
- Shore and boat diving procedures
- Underwater navigation
- Night and limited-visibility considerations
- Emergency planning and management
- Diver rescue and assistance
- Problem recognition and problem solving
- Diving physics and physiology
- Equipment knowledge and problem recognition
- Professional responsibility and risk management
- Assisting Instructors during training activities
How the Program Works
Divemaster is conducted as a professional-development program rather than a short certification course.
Training combines academics, watermanship, confined-water work, open-water diving, dive planning, briefings and debriefings, practical leadership assignments, and supervised experience working with other divers.
As the program progresses, candidates begin taking responsibility for portions of actual diving activities under the supervision of their Instructor. This may include evaluating a dive site, preparing a dive plan, organizing buddy teams, briefing divers, leading a dive, monitoring the group, and conducting the post-dive debriefing.
The exact academic, practical, and open-water requirements vary between NAUI and SDI and will be reviewed at the beginning of each scheduled program.
Watermanship & Professional Diving Skills
Divemaster candidates are expected to demonstrate strong personal diving ability and water comfort before they can safely assume responsibility for others.
During the program, candidates complete agency-required watermanship, rescue, and diving-skill evaluations. Training may include:
- Distance swimming and surface watermanship
- Mask, fin, and snorkel swimming
- SCUBA equipment handling
- Emergency air-sharing procedures
- Diver assists and rescue techniques
- Recovery of an unresponsive diver
- Underwater navigation
- Buoyancy and trim
- Professional-quality demonstration of fundamental diving skills
- Problem solving while maintaining control of the diving activity
The specific performance requirements differ between NAUI and SDI, but candidates should arrive comfortable in the water and confident in their fundamental recreational diving skills.
Working with Divers & Instructors
A major part of Divemaster development is learning how to work with people, not simply how to perform diving skills.
Candidates gain experience organizing and supervising certified divers and may assist qualified Instructors during training activities. This helps develop communication, positioning, awareness, student observation, and the ability to recognize when another diver needs assistance.
Specific programs a certified Divemaster may independently conduct vary by training agency and may require additional qualifications or active professional status.
Equipment for the Program
Divemaster is professional-level training, and candidates should have their own complete SCUBA equipment and be thoroughly familiar with its use.
Equipment must be appropriate for the diving environment and maintained in proper working condition. Your Instructor will review your equipment configuration and discuss any additional equipment needed for professional diving activities.
Candidates should also expect to use common dive-leadership accessories such as a dive computer, surface marker buoy and spool, signaling devices, cutting tools, lights when appropriate, and other equipment required for the specific diving activity.
Schedule
Available dates
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Frequently asked questions
Will my Divemaster certification be NAUI or SDI?
Underwater World can conduct Divemaster training through either NAUI or SDI.
The certification agency will be identified with each scheduled program. Both are internationally recognized professional diving certifications, and the core objective remains the same: developing a capable and responsible professional dive leader.
What are the prerequisites?
Divemaster candidates must be experienced certified divers and meet the professional-training prerequisites established by the agency being used for the course.
In general, candidates should expect to have:
- Advanced-level certification or equivalent
- Rescue Diver certification or equivalent
- Current CPR and First Aid training
- Current Emergency Oxygen Provider training
- Significant logged open-water diving experience
- Medical approval for professional-level dive training
Underwater World will review your certifications, logged dives, and diving experience before enrollment in a specific program.
How many logged dives do I need?
Logged-dive requirements differ between NAUI and SDI and also include requirements that must be completed before final certification.
Before registration, Underwater World will review your logged diving experience and confirm that you meet the requirements for the agency associated with the scheduled program.
More importantly, professional readiness is not determined by a number alone. Candidates should have meaningful experience across different sites, depths, conditions, and types of diving.
Do I need to own my SCUBA equipment?
Yes. Divemaster candidates should own a complete SCUBA equipment system, understand how it operates, and be comfortable diving with it.
Your Instructor will review your equipment before and during the program and discuss any additional equipment appropriate for professional diving.
Is Divemaster the same as an Instructor?
No. Divemaster is a professional dive-leadership certification, but it does not make someone a SCUBA Instructor.
Divemasters can lead appropriate activities for certified divers and assist qualified Instructors. Divers who want to independently teach full SCUBA certification courses must continue through the appropriate Instructor-training pathway.
How long does Divemaster training take?
Divemaster is intentionally spread across multiple academic, confined-water, open-water, and practical leadership sessions.
The exact schedule varies based on the agency, candidate experience, dive-site availability, weather, and the amount of time each candidate needs to consistently demonstrate professional-level performance.
The goal is not to finish the program as quickly as possible. The goal is to leave the program prepared to function safely and confidently as a dive professional.
What comes after Divemaster?
Divemaster opens the door to working as a professional dive leader and gaining experience assisting with instructional activities.
Divers who want to continue into teaching can use that experience as part of their progression toward Instructor-level training through the appropriate certification agency.
When is the next Divemaster program?
The next Underwater World Divemaster schedule has not yet been released.
Join our Divemaster Interest List and we'll contact you when the next program's dates, certification agency, pricing, and registration information become available.