PADI Divemaster Course

Overview

Want to become a divemaster with world class training? There’s no better place to do it than in Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, and no one better to guide you than Divers Den!

The PADI Divemaster course is the first step in becoming a professional scuba diver, leading others as they experience their own underwater adventures. If you want to work at a dive company, this will give you the skills you need, like supervising diving activities, helping with diver training, giving safety briefings, mapping sites and polishing your rescue techniques.

Your course will begin with online theory learning at your own pace through PADI eLearning. The eLearning system includes interactive presentations, videos, audio, graphics and reading, with quizzes to help you review your progress.

Once you’ve completed the eLearning portion, we’ll be notified that you are ready for the practical phase (see schedule below). You’ll then complete practical tests, workshops and assignments with a PADI instructor at our Career Development Centre, and spend time in our heated dive pool refining your skills.

Your course will include a few days in the classroom and pool with our Master instructors and senior instructors, perfecting your skills and learning to run Divemaster-conducted PADI programs. You will then spend seven days at the Outer Great Barrier Reef, shadowing PADI courses and learning how to manage a dive environment.

During your training you’ll assist with Open Water and Advanced dive courses. You’ll supervise snorkellers, map a dive site, guide certified divers and take part in a Discover SCUBA workshop before taking your final exam.

During your liveaboard stay you’ll enjoy the comforts of our ‘floating hotel’ OceanQuest, staying in a twin share cabin with en suite bathroom and enjoying chef-prepared meals.

This course is an immersive experience in a fully operational dive company. You will learn from multiple dive professionals as you develop good judgement and your own sense of style as a PADI Divemaster.

Flexible starting dates are available upon request – please contact our career development staff directly before booking at gopro@diversden.com.au.

Duration:

Minimum 10 days

Availability:

Monthly

Course Outline:

Approximately 3 days Pool & Theory, 7 days on the Great Barrier Reef

Upcoming Course Start Dates:

See below for upcoming courses or search for future dates

Included:

  • PADI Divemaster eLearning
  • PADI laptop bag including Divemaster slates, eRDPML online code, Divemaster decal, scuba tune up workbook, Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving
  • Seven days at sea
  • Help selecting dive gear and in-store discounts
  • Lycra suits during summer months
  • Air fills and heated pool access during opening hours
  • Wifi and classroom access during opening hours
  • Access to dive library
  • All meals on board our vessels plus fresh chilled water, tea and coffee
  • En suite twin cabins on board OceanQuest
  • Discussion with PADI Course Directors about your dive career goals
  • Pre-assessment and priority access to our Instructor Training Program internship

Book Now

PADI Divemaster Course - 18th March 2024

Cost per person
$2,997
Divemaster

PADI Divemaster Course - 27th April 2024

Cost per person
$2,997
Divemaster

PADI Divemaster Course - 27th May 2024

Cost per person
$2,997
Divemaster

PADI Divemaster Course - 8th July 2024

Cost per person
$2,997
Divemaster

PADI Divemaster Course - 5th August 2024

Cost per person
$2,997
Divemaster

PADI Divemaster Course - 2nd September 2024

Cost per person
$2,997
Divemaster

PADI Divemaster Course - 30th September 2024

Cost per person
$2,997
Divemaster

PADI Divemaster Course - 4th November 2024

Cost per person
$2,997
Divemaster

PADI Divemaster Course - 2nd December 2024

Cost per person
$2,997
Divemaster

​Includes all equipment and tuition. Prices valid to 31 March 2025. Price is per person and includes all applicable fees, taxes and levies. 

Itinerary

Course Schedule

The basic course schedule will follow a Wednesday to Sunday week with Monday and Tuesdays off. Flexible course schedules are available, but must coincide with our minimum course requirements – feel free to discuss this with your course directors when booking.

Pool training will include; a skills circuit and perfecting skills to a demonstration quality, water skills evaluation in the form of a 400m swim, 800m snorkel test, 15-minute treading water and tired diver tow, all for timed periods. You will also conduct all programs that you will be able to conduct as a PADI divemaster with real or simulated students.

We will also have some classroom based knowledge development sessions, including discussion of emergency plans, dive mapping and a final written exams.

During your time on the Great Barrier Reef you’ll assist with qualified PADI Instructors as they conduct Open Water courses, Snorkel guiding, Advanced Open Water course (or continuing education) on our Great Barrier Reef day trip and or liveaboard vessels.

At the reef you will also complete a dive mapping project and gain experience in search and recovery, night and deep diving. We’ll undertake various other practical assessments and workshops out at the Great Barrier Reef to help you perfect your technique and ability conducting dive briefings and being a dive leader!

Additional info

Prerequisites

  • Minimum age 18 years
  • Current dive medical (AS4005.1 or AS2299) stating that you are fit to SCUBA dive signed by a physician within the previous 12 months
  • Certified PADI Rescue diver or hold equivalent certification from another dive training organisation
  • Completed an Emergency First Response (EFR) Primary and Secondary Care course (or other sanctioned first aid and CPR course) within the past 24 months
  • Proof you have completed at least 40 dives. You will need 60 dives before being able to complete the Divemaster course, which can be gained during training. Don’t have enough dives? Check out our Divemaster training program option.

Additional costs

  • PADI Application fee
  • Dive equipment
  • Australian Standard Dive Medical
  • Digital camera hire (optional)
  • Professional photos for purchase
  • Soft drinks, alcohol and snacks

Required Materials

  • Queensland Dive Medical (obtained from a local medical centre at own cost)
  • All PADI materials are included in the course cost. Access will be granted to the PADI eLearning platform when you pay a non-refundable deposit towards your Divemaster course covering material costs. eLearning must be completed PRIOR to course start date.
  • Please supply your own personal CPR pocket mask for COVID safety. These are available for purchase in store.

You will also need to complete the Final Exam as well as meet the professionalism criteria.

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).