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PADI
becoming a certified padi divemaster
The PADI Divemaster Course is the first level of the PADI Professional rating. As a PADI Divemaster, you will hold the minimum rating for professional employment in the diving industry. Your qualification will allow you to supervise recreational diving activities (either boat or land-based), work as an instructional assistant on all PADI courses and is just one step away from a PADI Instructor rating.
Our 19-day course is a combination of theoretical classroom sessions along with practical application sessions, covering a variety of pool and open water PADI courses. Your course includes two, three-day liveaboard trips on board Pro Dive Cairns, where you will complete up to 20 dives (a mix of compulsory and recreational).
Please Note: some medical conditions may prevent you diving and you will be required to complete a waiver and medical statement prior to the trip. If you have recently/continue to suffer from an illness or condition that may affect your dive fitness, or currently taking any prescription medication, you will need to consult a doctor for a 'fit to dive' medical certificate.
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Compulsory Prerequisites
Compulsory Prerequisites - PADI rescue diver certifications or equivalent
- Dive medical
- Minimum age 18 years
- Minimum 40 logged dives (additional dives can be organised)
- Current senior first aid certification completed in the last 24 months
Tour Itinerary
Please note, the below itinerary is a guide only, and the order of sites may change. The skipper will always adapt the plan to the prevailing weather, tides and currents.
08:30Orientation - Pro Dive Cairns dive centre
Bus transfers to the Pro Dive Cairns training facility are available every day of the course. Transfers are complimentary from Cairns city accommodation. Costs apply for Northern Beaches transfers.
These two days are spent assisting an Instructor during the theory and pool sessions of a PADI Open Water Course. These sessions will serve as a re-introduction to the theory and skills of the Open Water Course for those candidates who have been away from a dive teaching environment for a long time.
Candidates are asked to observe all videos, attend all lectures and complete all Open Water Course quizzes and exams. During the practical sessions you should observe your instructor with regard to their control, positioning, skill demonstration and problem solving. These sessions are non-assessable.
17:30Conclusion of classes
8:30 Divemaster theory and introduction to skill demonstrations.
- Course overview
- Theory: The Role and Characteristics of a PADI Divemaster
- Theory: Assisting with student divers in training
- Skill circuit
- Equipment exchange
- Workshop 2: Skin Diver Course
- Theory: Supervising diving activities
- Theory: Divemaster conducted programs
- Theory: Diver safety and risk management
- Theory: Specialised skills and activities
- Theory: Awareness of the environment
17:30
Conclusion of Classes
08:30Theory and watermanship assessment
- Workshop 1: Reactivate program – Confined Water.
- Workshop 3: Discover Scuba Diving in confined water
- 800m continuous snorkel swim (times under 17min should be achievable)
- 400m continuous unaided swim (times under 10min should be achievable)
- 15min tread water (last 2min with hands out of water)
- Tired diver tow.
- Dive Theory (Divemaster Manual Chapter 9)
- Theory: Diving physics (refer to encyclopaedia of diving Chapter 1)
- Theory: Physiology (refer to encyclopaedia of diving Chapter 2)
- Theory: Equipment (refer to encyclopaedia of diving Chapter 3)
- Theory: The recreational dive planner
- Theory: The business of diving
8:00Practical
- Evaluated pool session with Open Water Course
08:00 Study/Review
09:00Classroom work - Pro Dive Cairns dive centre
- Exams 1 & exam review
After exams are complete, time will be given to review exams.
Exam & Exam Review to be completed as independent study at home.
12:30Practical session (evaluated pool session)
- Pool session Briefing and Setup
18:00Conclusion of classes
- Evaluated pool session with Open Water Course (Day 1)
07:45 Practical
- Pool session review/evaluation
- Evaluated pool session with Open water course (Day 2)
12:00 Lunch and Shop visit
14:00Study and review
18:00Conclusion of classes
3 Days on-board Pro Dive Cairns Liveaboard
These days will be spent on the outer reef onboard our 3 day 2 night liveaboard trip. In this section of the course you will complete 5 evaluated training dives: assisting an Instructor with both Open Water and Advanced courses on the boat. During your 3 day 2 night trip you will also be evaluated on your Rescue skills and on other nonteaching Divemaster duties. You will also have a dive site designated for your mapping exercise.
Divemaster Boat Training Schedule - TRIP 1
BOAT DAY 1:
Dive 1 Evaluated training dive with Open Water students (open water training dive 1). Rescue evaluation.
Dive 2 Evaluated training dive with Open Water students (open water training dive 2)
Dive 3 Evaluated training dive with ADVANCED COURSE NAVIGATION DIVE
Dive 4 Non-evaluated training dive with ADVANCED COURSE NIGHT DIVE
BOAT DAY 2:
Dive 1 Evaluated training dive with Open Water students (open water training dive 3)
Dive 2 Evaluated training dive with Open Water students (open water training dive 4)
After lunch start on mapping exercise for Gordon’s Mooring
Dive 3 Workshop 4: Discover Scuba Diving Program – additional open water dive
Dive 4 Non-evaluated training dive with newly certified divers.
BOAT DAY 3:
Dive 1 Skill 5 - Deep dive scenario
Dive 2 Free dive (make up dive if necessary)
Dive 3 Skill 1 - Dive site set up and management, deck duties/surface supervision. DMT (under supervision) should be helping with back deck duties (ie logging divers in/out, filling tanks and other general duties that happen on this last dive to prepare the boat for departure from the reef).
Time off to study for exams
09:00 Exams 1 & exam review
- After exams are complete, time will be given to review exams.
Exam & Exam Review to be completed as independent study at home.
11:00Practical
- Pool session Briefing and Setup
12:00Lunch Break
12:30Practical
Evaluated pool session
- Evaluated pool session with Open Water Course (Day 1)
08:30
Practical
- Pool session review/evaluation
- Evaluated pool session with Open Water Course (Day 2)
12:00 Lunch and shop visit
Study and review
To be completed as independent study at home in the afternoon
3 Days on-board Pro Dive Cairns Liveaboard
During your final 3 day 2 night trip you will be evaluated again on both teaching and non-teaching Divemaster duties to complete your course requirements.
Divemaster Boat Training Schedule - TRIP 2
BOAT DAY 1:
Dive 1 Evaluated training dive with Open Water students (open water training dive 1)
Dive 2 Evaluated training dive with Open water students (open water training dive 2)
Dive 3 Non-evaluated training dive with ADVANCED or OPEN WATER COURSE
Dive 4 Supervised guiding of night divers.
BOAT DAY 2:
Dive 1 Evaluated training dive with Open Water students (open water training dive 3)
Dive 2 Evaluated training dive with Open Water students (open water training dive 4)
After lunch continue on the mapping exercise for Gordon’s Mooring
Dive 3 Skill 4 - Search and Recovery scenario & knot tying
Dive 4 Non-evaluated training dive with newly certified divers
BOAT DAY 3:
Dive 1 Free dive - this dive can be used for any other scheduled training dives or makeup dives
Dive 2 Skill 3 - Dive briefing
Workshop 5: Discover local diving
Dive 3 Skill 1 - Dive site set up and management, deck duties/surface supervision. DMT (under supervision) should be helping with back deck duties (ie logging divers in/out, filling tanks & other general duties that happen on this last dive to prepare the boat for departure from the reef)
Additional Information
- Clothing and swimwear
- Warm clothes for the evening
- 2 x towels (ocean/shower)
- Dive medical if required
(ask us if you are not sure) - Sun hat
- Marine safe sunscreen & toiletries
- Certification card (certified divers)
- Seasickness medication
- Shoes are not necessary
- Alcoholic beverages if you would like a drink in the evening
- Sleeping bags
- Pillows
- Extra luggage (luggage can be stored securely at our retail shop)
Your safety and comfort is our number one priority. Please let our experienced instructors know if you are worried, stressed or not feeling well at any point
We recommend that you do not fly within 24 hours of diving. The earliest you should fly is 12 pm (midday) on the day after your course concludes
The trip amount is fully refundable up until 24 hours before course commencement. The online learning portion of the course is non-refundable. There is no refund for any reason after this time. If you have booked through a travel agent cancellation fees may apply. We recommend that all customers have travel insurance.
The number of dives may vary subject to weather and/or other unforeseen circumstances.
A Government Environmental Management Charge, Port Departure Tax and administration fee are included in your total fare. The breakdown of cost is provided in the rates table.
Tripadvisor Reviews
Plymouth, UK
I can not rate this trip highly enough. Great staff, good food, fantastic diving. Safety is of a high level. I would especially like to say thank you to Carro (sorry if I have spelled her name wrong), who went with me on a one to one dive when I had a blip with my confidence. Thanks also to Leo, Dayton and all the other guys, who worked hard to make this trip so enjoyable.
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Brisbane, Australia
My partner and I booked the 4 day 3 night live aboard hoping to see Minke whales in late June 2022. Unfortunately we weren't able to go up to Ribbon Reefs as the wind and swell were too rough that was a little disappointing at first.Instead we went to Flynn and Milln reefs about 35miles east of Cairns and the dive spots were great! I was so pleasantly surprised at how comfortable I felt on the boat and the food was amazing.The crew worked their absolute backsides off to make sure we had everything we needed. Big shoutout to Jordan, Pedro, Leo, Caro, Martin and Tim. There was 24 divers on the boat and they got to know each of us, kept the boat clean and offered plenty of help with diving of course.Thanks guys for making my partner and my first live aboard experience such a great one! I would definetely go on another live aboard with this company again.
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Copenhagen, Denmark
We had the most incredible time at our three day tour to Great barrier reef. We were snorkling at different locations around great barrier reef and living on the boat. We came out to the reef where no other boats were at the time and we didn't feel like tourists at all. The staff, the other participants and the surrounding were great! The food was so delicious and we we're incredible spoiled the entire trip. We were snorkling in the night with reef sharks, during the day with so many pretty fishes, corals and with a big sea turtle. We couldn't ask for more - it has been so awesome and we will recommend it to everyone we know. Thanks to the staff and the other participants for an incredible experience! :-)
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Pro Dive Cairns Diving Trip Advisor
