Why I Became a Divemaster

After I got my diving certification, I dived most weekends and built on my experience and training. Eventually, I wanted to increase the challenge diving presented me. I enjoyed the social aspects of diving, so becoming a Divemaster fit the bill for an increased challenge while maintaining the social side of diving.

A Divemaster is a role that involves overseeing both the planning and supervision of recreational dives. It is used in many parts of the world as a qualification for a diver who supervises a group of divers, and as a dive guide. As well as being a generic term, 'Divemaster' is the title of the first professional diving qualification.

I worked part-time for a local dive shop on weekends, leading dives in and around Sydney for about 8 years before deciding to become a dive instructor. This experience made me an even better scuba diver, and extremely rewarding as I have worked with many timid new scuba divers some of whom went on to become enthusiastic divemaster’s in their own right.

Although while acting as a divemaster, I was involved in leading dives and taking local dive trips, as a divemaster, one's role is much broader than this.

What Can a Divemaster Do?

• Supervise both training and non-training-related activities by planning, organizing, and directing dives.
• Assist an instructor during confined and open water training.
• Guide Open Water Diver course students on the tour portion of the course
• Accompany Open Water Diver students during surface swims
• Accompany student divers during Adventure Dives or specialty course dives.
• Teach and certify PADI Skin Divers.
• Conduct the Discover Snorkelling program.
• Conduct subsequent dives for Discover Scuba Diving participants.
• Conduct the Discover Local Diving experience and lead local dives
• Conduct the Reactivate program for certified divers.

I found my time as a divemaster extremely rewarding and would recommend it to anyone who has a full-time job but wants to take their hobby of diving to another level.