I am now learning the ropes in a dive shop and working toward my Dive Master Certification.
Dive Master is the first level of being a PADI dive professional. There are many reasons divers become dive masters, the most prominent ones are:
1. To travel and make money
2. To get involved in marine research/conservation
3. To get closer to becoming an instructor
Dive Masters have many roles within a dive shop.
1. Assist with teaching diving courses
2. Guide and/or supervise dives
3. Give dive briefings before dives
4. Supervise training activities
5. Work on the boat as a deck hand
6. Fill tanks in the shop
7. Clean gear
8. Handling customers
Prerequisites for becoming a dive master:
1. Open water certified
2. Advanced open water certified
3. Rescue diver certified
4. EFR primary and secondary care certified
5. At least 40 logged dives at start of Dive Master Course
6. At least 60 dives at end of Dive Master Course.
Tests: to become a dive master you must complete and pass a combination of written tests, in water tests and in water scenarios.
In water tests:
1. Towing a “tired” diver 100m with both divers in full gear.
2. 400m swim in one go, no stopping and no swim aids (no fins, mask, snorkel wetsuit)
3. 800m swim using mask, snorkel and fins. This must be done in one go without stopping and without using arms or hands, legs only.
4. 15 minute tread with arms out of water last 3 minutes.
Note: all of these test have various time limits. You can receive up to 5 points for each swim. The grade is based off your time.
Scenarios and skills:
1. Surprise rescue scenario where you retrieve and save diver from surface
2. Surprise rescue scenario where you find and save diver under water.
3. Performing 24 open water skills at demonstration level. This is to make sure when assisting with classes you can properly demonstrate each skill.
Written tests:
You take two tests and 9 knowledge reviews for your Dive Master course. (Knowledge reviews are mini tests after each chapter in your dive master course book).
Test 1. This test is on everything you learned in your DM book and knowledge reviews.
Test 2. This is on the RDP (Recreational Dive Planner). The recreational dive planner is how divers used to plan their dives. The RDP table gives you all the information you need to calculate how long and what depth you can be under safely.
Today divers use dive computers (looks like a giant wrist watch). Each diver typically has their own computer which tells them how long they have been under at what depth, how many safety stops you need and if you are ascending too quickly.
In the end the Dive Master course is quite challenging and takes effort. It is definitely worth it if you have a passion for diving and want to do it at a professional level.