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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
Complimentary bus transfer to the Pro Dive Cairns training facility - this service is available every day of the course.
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
14:00 Assist with Rescue Course - Pro Dive Cairns dive centre
Assist with the Rescue Course pool session if the course is running. If no Rescue Course is running, this day should be spent as a study day or on more practice with the second day Open Water students on Saturday’s course.
17:30
Conclusion of Classes
08:30Theory - Pro Dive Cairns dive centre
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
- 15min tread water (last 2min with hands out of water)
- Tired diver tow.
12:30Lunch
13:30
Theory - Pro Dive Cairns dive centre
- Theory: Supervising diving activities
- Theory: Divemaster conducted programs
- Theory: Diver safety and risk management
07:45Theory and watermanship - Pro Dive Cairns dive centre
Theory and watermanship assessment
- 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: Specialised skills and activities
- Theory: Awareness of the environment
- Theory: The business of diving
- 800m continuous snorkel swim (times under 17min should be achievable)
- 400m continuous unaided swim (times under 10min should be achievable)
- Workshop 2: Skin Diver Course
12:00 Conclusion of Classes
08:00 Classroom work - Pro Dive Cairns dive centre
- Workshop 1: Reactivate program – Confined Water.
- Workshop 3: Discover Scuba Diving in confined water
11:45 Practical
- Evaluated pool session with Open Water Course (Day 1)
18:00 Conclusion of classes
08:00Classroom work - Pro Dive Cairns dive centre
- Pool session review/evaluation
- Evaluated pool session with Open Water Course (Day 2)
- Pool session review/evaluation
11:45Practical
- Evaluated pool session with Open Water Course (Day 1)
18:00Conclusion of classes
07:45 Classroom work - Pro Dive Cairns dive centre
- Pool session review/evaluation
- Evaluated pool session with Open water course (Day 2)
14:00 Pool session review/evaluation
- Exams & exam review
After exams are complete, time will be given to review exams. Your Instructor will also conduct a review and evaluation of your pool session.
17:30Conclusion of classes
3 Days on-board Pro Dive Cairns Liveaboard
These days will be spent on the Outer Reef onboard our three day, two-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 three day, two-night trip you will also be evaluated on your Rescue skills and on other non-teaching Divemaster duties. You will also have a dive site designated for your mapping exercise.
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
08:00 Study/review
11:45 Practical
- Evaluated pool session with Open Water Course (Day 1)
18:00 Conclusion of classes
07:45
Practical
- Pool session review/evaluation
- Evaluated pool session with Open Water Course (Day 1)
12:00 Lunch and shop visit
14:00Exams and exam review
After examinations are complete time will be given to review exams and sit re-tests if necessary. Additional time after exam revision and re-tests should be used for completion of dive site mapping exercise.
3 Days on-board Pro Dive Cairns Liveaboard
During your final three day, two night trip you will be evaluated again on both teaching and non-teaching Divemaster duties to complete your course requirements.
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
You can cancel your Divemaster course for any reason up to the end of day 1 (7pm) of the course and receive a full refund of all money paid to Pro Dive Cairns. 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.
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
Went to Cairns to do 5 day dive course all went great PRO DIVE very professional master instructor Niki Maguire had a xlent teach method great delivery calm cool manner very enjoyable trip recommended to all .The Reef how magnificent eye opener Thanks Niki thanks...
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Tampa, Florida
We signed up for a 3 day / 2 night tour of the Great Barrier Reef. I was a newly certified diver and my dad a dive master with over 300 dives.
This is the safest dive boat that we've both ever been on. The...
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Sydney, Australia
I did the 5 day open water certification, including a 3 day liveaboard. The course was excellent (thanks Niki) and the staff on the boat were also top notch! Thanks Martha for the great food!
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Pro Dive Cairns Diving Trip Advisor
