Professional levels · turn diving into work
Divemaster and instructor training: going pro
Divemaster and instructor training are where diving becomes a job. Divemasters guide certified divers and assist with classes; instructors teach and certify new divers. Here is what each step asks of you.
Divemaster and instructor training at a glance
Professional training sits at the top of the scuba certification ladder. The first professional rating is divemaster. From there, divers who want to teach go on to instructor training. Some agencies add a step in between, such as an assistant instructor or dive guide rating, and the exact requirements differ between agencies, so check the current standards of the agency you plan to work with.
The figures on this page reflect PADI's published requirements, which are the most widely used. Other agencies are similar but not identical.
Divemaster training
Prerequisites
- At least 18 years old
- Rescue Diver certification
- First aid and CPR training within the past 24 months
- A medical statement signed by a physician within the past 12 months
- At least 40 logged dives to start the course, and 60 to be certified
What the course covers
Divemaster training has three parts. The knowledge part covers dive theory in more depth than before: physics, physiology, equipment, decompression theory and the environment. The water skills part tests your own diving, including timed swims, a stamina exercise and demonstrations of every basic skill to a standard a student could copy. The practical part puts you to work: assisting instructors with real classes, mapping a dive site, giving dive briefings and leading certified divers.
Many people do divemaster training as an "internship" at a busy dive center over several weeks or months, which gives plenty of real experience. Others train part-time at a local center over a longer period.
What divemasters do
- Guide certified divers on fun dives
- Assist instructors during courses
- Run some programs on their own, such as refreshers, depending on agency rules
- Help with boat operations, equipment and customer care
Instructor training
Prerequisites
- At least 18 years old
- Divemaster, or an equivalent leadership rating from another agency
- Certified as a diver for at least six months
- At least 100 logged dives to attend the instructor examination
- Current first aid training, a medical statement from a physician, and in most cases first aid instructor training as well
The instructor development course and the exam
Instructor candidates complete an instructor development course (IDC), where they learn how to teach: presenting knowledge sessions, running confined water and open water training, managing risk and following the agency's standards to the letter. The course is taught by a course director.
At the end, candidates sit an instructor examination run by the agency itself, not by the people who trained them. It includes written exams on theory and standards, a teaching presentation, and confined and open water teaching scenarios. Passing makes you an instructor able to teach the entry-level courses, and you can add specialty instructor ratings afterward.
Professional membership: to work as a divemaster or instructor, you usually pay an annual membership fee to your agency and, in many countries, carry professional liability insurance. Factor both into your plans.
Is a diving career right for you?
Working in diving can be deeply rewarding: you spend your days in the water and introduce people to something they love. It is also physical, seasonal and often modestly paid, especially at first. Many professionals combine teaching with other skills, such as boat handling, equipment servicing or languages, to find steady work.
If you are considering it, try to spend time at a dive center before committing. Ask working instructors what a normal week looks like. And choose your training center carefully; our guide to choosing a dive school applies twice over when you are paying for professional training.
Professional training costs more than any recreational course and takes longer. Our page on scuba certification cost lists the items to ask about, from course fees to agency fees and equipment.