Divemaster Training Program

Overview

As one of Australia’s largest Dive Centres and one of only four dive centres in the world to have certified more than 150,000 PADI students, you’ve come to the perfect place to kick-start your career in the dive industry! As a candidate in our Divemaster Training Program, you will gain valuable in-water experience that will prepare you in the best possible way for the PADI Divemaster Course and to become an official dive professional!

Graduates of our program are highly sought after and many of our former candidates are currently enjoying successful careers in the diving industry in some of the most beautiful locations around the world!

The PADI Divemaster course is the first professional level within the PADI system of diver education. It teaches you how to be an effective assistant during PADI courses and programs. While you can complete this course with us in a minimum of 8-10 days, you’ll also need a good level of boat knowledge and actual hands-on experience leading divers in order to start working in the dive industry.

This internship is for those divers who need more water time and logged dives to begin the Divemaster course. You will be immersed in the diving workforce and able to shadow PADI Divemasters and Instructors in their daily duties. The Divemaster Training Program is a fast-paced crash course into working in the dive industry in Cairns, and gives you your first work experience to list on your resume. This will make you stand out from other newly qualified Divemasters with no experience!

What does the Divemaster Training Program achieve?

  • Gives you large boat experience – you will receive a safety induction and practise boat emergency drills
  • Gives you unmatched experience dive and snorkel experience, all at our Outer Great Barrier reef dive sites!
  • Makes you a better diver and improves watermanship: practise diving in different weather conditions, currents and increase your experience underwater
  • Introduces you to Divemaster duties by shadowing existing staff on PADI dive courses and programs
  • Gives you valuable experience in deep diving and night diving
  • Gives you an overall vision of the dive industry in general!
  • Gives you diving experience to list on your resume and respected PADI Course Directors to list as your references

About the program

You will spend a total of 30 days with us in a fantastic, on-the-job training program. This 30 days can be on our live-aboard vessel / day boat trips or mixture of both. Days you wish to be aboard are flexible, however need to be agreed upon at the start date.

After 30 days you will start your 2-3 week Divemaster course. As a graduate of this program you will be considered without trial for the Instructor Training Program internship.

Divemaster Trainee Duties

During your 30 days on the program you will be in a pivotal customer service role, greeting and helping with guest management. Your role includes assisting the purser with drinks service as we welcome guests on board, helping with lunch service and keeping our water stations full. On the liveaboard vessel you will help keep the inside of the boat clean, including helping out at meal times.

When you have downtime between duties, you will have the chance to dive or snorkel in order to increase your in-water experience, achieve the minimum dive requirements to enter the Divemaster course, shadow PADI courses and programs and help with dive deck set up and management.

We cannot stress the value in obtaining this level of experience before you start your Divemaster course. Being immersed in the workings of a busy dive school will give you the skills and confidence to go out and work directly after you achieve your professional Divemaster rating!

Duration:

30 days, followed by 2-3 week Divemaster course

Availability:

Monthly

Upcoming Start Dates:

18th Mar 2024, 29th April 2024, 27th May 2024, 24th June 2024, 5th Aug 2024, 2nd Sept 2024, 30th Sept 2024, 4th Nov 2024, 2nd Dec 2024

Included:

  • PADI Divemaster courses training costs
  • Divemaster e-Learning
  • Divemaster Enhancement pack including Instructor manual, Divemaster hologram (required), eRDPml access code, Encyclopaedia of Recreational Diving, Scuba Tune up workbook, Professional training dive logbook, Discover Scuba diving instructor cue cards, PADI Pro Bag
  • Uniform (2 t-shirts, 1 pair shorts)
  • Food when on board vessels
  • Rental scuba equipment throughout the training program (not included during the Divemaster course)
  • Access to our dive library, classrooms and wifi during opening hours
  • Discounted rate on dive trips and 30% discount in our retail store
  • Access to pool (with a buddy) for dive skill demo practice

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Ready to get valuable in-water and industry experience and become a PADI Divemaster? Contact our Course Directors for more information including availability and scheduling.

Additional info

Prerequisites

  • Proof of Advanced and Rescue certifications (or equivalent)
  • Current Professional Dive Medical to Australian Standard AS2299
  • Current First Aid Certificate (i.e. EFR, DAN, Red Cross, St. John’s, HLTAID003) valid within 24 months of your course end date
  • Proof of personal Dive Injury/Evacuation Insurance (medicare or dive insurance)
  • Proof of vaccination
  • 25 dives logged – 40 required before the Divemaster Course start date
  • 1-2 day trial shift required before start date

You’ll also need to complete the following free course:

Additional costs

  • Accommodation – You will have to be able to support yourself financially during the program, as there is no salary or wages involved.
  • PADI Divemaster Application fee ($240 payable at the end of the DM course)
  • Any prerequisite costs
  • Scuba equipment during your Divemaster course (see next page for equipment deals)

Medical & Altitude Info

All scuba participants must meet medical questionnaire requirements. Some conditions or medications may prevent you from diving.

It is required by Queensland law that you must wait at least 24 hours after diving before going to altitude or flying – there is no guarantee that this requirement will prevent decompression sickness. There are no current guidelines regarding diving after flying.

Altitude is defined as 300m/1000ft above sea level. Certain other tourist attractions around Cairns and Tropical North Queensland involve travelling to altitude. These include the Atherton Tablelands and the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, so we recommend a gap between booking these experiences and any dive course or trip. Under normal circumstances, you should be out of the water on your last dive at 12pm (midday).