PADI Divemaster Course: Indepth Dive Centre Phuket

PADI Divemaster: your first Professional Scuba Diving Rating!

Now is your chance to turn your love of scuba diving into more than a hobby. As a certified PADI Divemaster you are able to be employed in the Dive Industry. Yes you can get PAID to go diving! And you would also be qualified to enter a PADI Instructor Development Course, which is most peoples next step.

What are you going to learn?

During your Indepth PADI Divemaster Course on Phuket you will learn how to run a dive boat. This means from getting the divers on the boat, organizing their equipment, giving Boat Briefings and Dive Site briefings. PADI Divemaster candidates learn how to safely guide certified divers on dives while giving them an awesome time underwater. After the trip you will need to make sure they are on the correct minibus back to their hotel.

Another part of the PADI Divemaster Course is learning how to how to assist a PADI Instructor on a variety of PADI Courses and programs. In addition to learning how to independently conduct certain programs. These include Discover Scuba Diving, Discover Local Diving, PADI ReActivate and The PADI Skin Diver Course. As a PADI Divemaster, you will be able to teach all of these PADI programs / courses yourself once you are certified.

Indepth is a PADI IDC & TecRec Dive Centre and authorized Poseidon Rebreather Dealer and Service Centre. As such you will have a Poseidon MKVI and Poseidon Se7en Rebreather Orientation on your PADI Divemaster Course. If participating in one of our longer PADI Divemaster programs you should be able to test dive the unit. You could also add the PADI Rebreather Course to your Indepth PADI Divemaster Package. Your Indepth PADI Divemaster Course will also include an Orientation to Tec Diving, given by our Director of Technical Diving!

We tailor each Indepth PADI Divemaster Internship Course to the individual PADI Divemaster Candidate's needs, wants and preferences. Therefore the information we are giving here applies to all PADI Divemaster Courses.

Please read the information below and then e-mail us with your thoughts. We can then prepare you tailor-made Indepth PADI Divemaster Internship / Course as there are many options. These include:

• Two week PADI Divemaster Course?
• One month PADI Divemaster Internship Course?
• Two month PADI Divemaster Internship with one month / 90 dives hands-on Boat diving experience?
  

Please Contact Us and let us know your experience to date. Very important is how many days or months you would have to take your PADI Divemaster Course?

After your PADI Divemaster Course are you looking to become a PADI Instructor? Would you be looking for work afterwards? Are you looking at working in Thailand, Asia or elsewhere in the world? If so please let us know as we have many, many contacts around the world.

The PADI Divemaster Course

This can be roughly be split into four sections. However note that these tend to run in an integrated format rather than one after the other.

• Knowledge Development: This is your PADI Divemaster Knowledge Reviews, Emergency Assistance Plan, Dive Theory and Final Exams.
• Waterskills Development: Also known as the PADI Divemaster Swim-Tests. The Watermanship Exercises (swim tests), Dive Rescue (review of some of the skills from the PADI Rescue Diver Course.) Also a Dive Skills Workshop (The PADI Skill Circuit) where you will learn how to demonstrate skills at the PADI Instructor level.
• Practical Application: PADI Divemaster Course Practical Skills such as Dive Site Set Up and Management. As well as The Mapping Project. There is also Deep Dive Scenario and Search and Recovery Scenario. And lastly Divemaster Conducted Programs Workshops. On these you will teach some programs like ReActivate, Discover Scuba Diving.
• Practical Assessments: This is where you will work with an Indepth PADI Instructor assisting them with Open Water Diver Students in Confined Water. As well as Open Water Diver Students in Open Water, Continuing Education Student Divers in Open Water. There is also a Certified Divers in Open Water Dive such as the PADI Wreck Specialty Diver Course, PADI Advanced Open Water Course and so on.

Knowledge Development

You can start your PADI Divemaster Course with Divemaster Online. The Knowledge Development part of the PADI Divemaster Course is done through a mixture of Independent Study and classroom presentations. As with most PADI courses you will first need to complete the Knowledge Reviews found at the end of each Chapter in the PADI Divemaster Manual. There is also the PADI Divemaster DVD which needs to be watched. The DVD has a number of things you will no doubt want to come back to later in your course. The PADI Skill Circuit is one part you will probably want to watch a few times during your PADI Divemaster Course. The PADI Divemaster DVD has demonstrations of all the 24 skills from the PADI Divemaster Skill Circuit.

Before certification you will need to complete the two part PADI Divemaster Exam scoring the usual 75% or higher on each. Your instructor will go through the exams with you reviewing anything you got wrong. As well as anything you want to know more about of course.

Indepth PADI Divemaster Dive Theory

Your Indepth PADI Divemaster Course will prepare you adequately for these Exams. We regularly conduct a 2 day indepth review of Dive Theory on our monthly PADI Instructor Courses. We encourage ALL our PADI Divemaster Candidates to attend as much as of any IDC with us that they can. Not only does this show you what your next step is. But you will also learn a lot from seeing what is being taught, even if you are only taking your PADI Divemaster Course!

If you haven’t done so already, you will learn to use the RDP Table and eRDPML during the Decompression Theory presentation. Most candidates already have an RDP Table from their PADI Open Water Course. The eRDPML comes with your PADI Divemaster Crewpack.

Also on the PADI Divemaster course you will individually prepare an Emergency Assistance Plan. This is the same as you did on your PADI Rescue Diver Course. Some of you may find this a little different if you did your PADI Rescue Diver Course in the USA or Australia for example. This is because Thailand does not have the same Emergency Services in place as the Western World.

On Phuket our scuba diving dive sites vary from the beach, to the King Cruiser Ship Wreck. This could be one and half hours away from Phuket. Depending on the time of year it could be for the world-famous Similan Islands. Remember this means 2-3 hours away by speedboat from the mainland and two hours’ drive North of Phuket. Phuket is where the nearest Recompression Chamber on the West Coast of Thailand is located.

Water skills Development:

PADI Divemaster Swim Tests

Here you will complete 5 water skills exercises earning a combined score of at least 15. However you will be pleased to know that there is no passing score for any single exercise. You are going to become a PADI Divemaster so don't be lazy! Please try and do your best to score a 5.0 on each.

Exercise 1: 400m Swim: swim 400 meters nonstop without swimming aids and using any stroke or combination of strokes.

Exercise 2: 15 minute Tread: tread water or float. Doesn't matter how you do it, however no swimming or floating aids wearing and for 15 minutes. In addition both of your hands need to be out of the water for the last two minutes.

Exercise 3: 800m swim: 800m face down using mask, snorkel, fins and without stopping or using flotation aids or your arms to swim.

Exercise 4: 100m Diver Tow: tow (or push) a diver for 100m at the surface without any assistance. Both divers must be wearing full scuba equipment.

Exercise 5: Equipment Exchange: otherwise known as the PADI Divemaster “Stress Test.” This is a confined water exercise where you demonstrate your ability to effectively respond to an unusual / unexpected situation underwater. You do this by exchanging scuba equipment (except exposure suits and weights) with a buddy while sharing a single regulator.

Diver Rescue

In this PADI Divemaster Course Exercise you will: Respond to an unresponsive, non-breathing diver including these steps:

• Enter the water, locate and surface a submerged diver who is about 25 meters/yards away
• Turn the diver face up and establish buoyancy.
• Remove the diver’s mask and regulator, open the airway and check for breathing.
• Call for help.
• Give two initial rescue breaths. Continue with an effective rescue breath every five seconds with no or very few interruptions.
• Tow the diver to safety while protecting the airway, continuing rescue breathing.
• Remove both sets of equipment (Equipment handlers allowed).
• Exit the water with the diver. Assistance allowed only when physical challenges or the environment.

PADI Divemaster Skill Circuit Dive and Skills Demonstration Workshop

In this part of the PADI Divemaster Course you will develop Instructor level demonstration dive skills. During the final evaluation each skill must score at least 3 points with a total of 82 points needed. You will also need at least one underwater skill scoring 5 points. PADI Divemaster Candidates must also practice and perform a role model Mask Removal and Replacement demonstration scoring at least a 4.0.

You will be practicing this is regularly throughout your Indepth PADI Divemaster Course. For example when you assisting your Instructor teaching student divers in the pool and also in PADI Divemaster Course workshops. Whenever possible we bring you into one of our PADI Instructor Development (IDC) Prep courses. This is so you can join the IDC Candidates in the pool and watch their demonstrations and practice your own. Also you get to hear our PADI Course Director giving feedback on soon to be PADI Instructors!

PADI Divemaster Practical Application

The Practical Application part of the PADI Divemaster Course makes up the largest part of the course. This gives our Indepth PADI Divemaster candidates the practical hands-on training needed to become a good PADI Divemaster.

PADI Divemaster Course: Practical Skills

Skill 1: Dive Site Set Up and Management

This skill prepares candidates to organize and manage the pre-dive preparation at the dive site. This is part of your job whether you are supervising certified divers or acting as an instructional assistant for a PADI Instructor teaching a course. As PADI Divemasters should always be involved in all the logistics and dive trip management. As mentioned this includes meeting customers when they arrive, looking after your customers throughout the day as any working PADI Divemaster would do.

Skill 2: Mapping Project

We usually give you a choice of which Phuket dive sites you would like to map as everyone has their favorites. On this dive you will plan, brief and perform a mapping survey and then make a detailed map of the dive site. As such this will need to include: underwater depths, corals, sand, rocks and points of interest. Also any relevant local environmental factors and potential hazards are especially important.

And don’t worry, the planning and the actual dive are much more important than the quality of your artwork! Although we do like to display the best ones in the classrooms, in the shop and on the boats.

Skill 3: Dive Briefing

Here you will conduct a dive briefing for a familiar dive site covering all 10 points listed on the Divemaster Slates. These include Dive Site description, Dive procedures, Safety procedures and entry and exit procedures. PADI Divemaster Candidates then lead a dive following the dive plan covered in the Dive Briefing. Remember to make sure your divers see the marine life you briefed them on and best features of the dive site. Phuket has some cool things like Sea Horses to show your divers!

This will be one of your daily jobs when working as PADI Divemaster or PADI Instructor, whether working on a Liveaboard or Day Trip boat.

Skill 4: Search and Recovery Scenario

Here you will go through various Search and Recovery Scenarios involving different Search Patterns. In fact they are similar to those you were taught on your PADI Rescue Course. On this exercise you will demonstrate a methodical search of an area to find various sized objects. We cover how to tie various knots including the Bowline, Two Half-hitches and Sheet bend. Also safely rig and bring to the surface an object not more than 10kg using an appropriate lifting device. We have several lift-bags that you can try.

Divemaster Candidates who have already completed the PADI Search & Recovery Diver Specialty Course may be credited with having completed this exercise. And if you have not yet done this PADI Specialty Diver Course yet, then this is an awesome opportunity too take it! So consider integrating it into your PADI Divemaster Course!

Skill 5: Deep Dive Scenario

As you know Deep Diving takes more dive planning and preparation than shallow dives. Therefore, this exercise provides you with some Deep Diving experience under supervision. This is to help prepare you for when you are working as a PADI Divemaster or Instructor supervising deep dives.

This is very important for PADI Divemasters and Instructors working on Phuket. Especially when working on a Similan Island or Burma Liveaboard. We will teach you how to prepare emergency breathing equipment, which we call a “Drop Tank.” Also practice descent and control techniques for deep dives including some compass navigation at depth. And another important thing; practicing safe controlled descents and ascents with and without a reference line.

We can conduct this dive at most of our Phuket Dive Sites. However Ko Dok Mai and the King Cruiser Shipwreck are two of our favorites!

Candidates who have a PADI Deep Specialty Diver certification may be credited with completing this exercise. This is an awesome chance for you to take the  PADI Deep Diver Specialty course. So if you don't have it already consider integrating the Specialty Diver Course into your Indepth PADI Divemaster package.

PADI Divemaster Conducted Program Workshops

The PADI Divemaster Conducted Programs workshops provide candidates with hands-on experience running some PADI Programs. These are all programs that you will be able to run yourself once you are certified as a PADI Divemaster.

Workshop 1

Reactivate in Confined Water. This workshop prepares you to independently conduct a PADI Reactivate program for certified scuba divers.

Workshop 2

Skin Diver Course and Snorkeling Supervision. We can focus this workshop on preparing you to teach the PADI Skin Diver course. Or on showing you how to lead snorkeling tours and supervise snorkelers. Phuket dive sites are excellent for either of these.

Workshop 3

Discover Scuba Diving Program in Confined Water. This workshop introduces you to teaching basic scuba diving skills to non-divers. We usually conduct this in one of two purpose built pools. However, this can also be run easily in confined water off one of Phuket spectacular beaches.

Workshop 4

Discover Scuba Diving Program Additional Open Water Dive. This takes the Discover Scuba Diving participants into Open Water. This will help you really understand the extra precautions and various supervisory roles needed by PADI Divemasters when working with non-certified divers.

Workshop 5

Discover Local Diving in Open Water. This is practice at evaluating dive site conditions and planning the dive based on the abilities of your divers and giving role-model Dive Briefing. You will also lead the dive, focusing on the scuba diving techniques or environmental features you briefed them on.

Practical Assessments

During this part you will work as a PADI Certified Assistant with your Instructor teaching student divers on various PADI Courses. If you are not able to work with real student divers, such as you are taking a 2 week PADI Divemaster Course or the course you want to assist on in not scheduled. Then we have an option for certified divers to role-play being your student divers. We will assign them with some real-life problems for you to deal with. This is in order to prepare PADI Divemasters for when they are certified and doing this by themselves for real. This is also how it is done on the IDC when teaching PADI Instructors.

Practical Assessment 1 - Open Water Diver Students in Confined Water

On this exercise you will assist an Instructor on a number of Open Water Course Confined Water Dives. This includes helping organise pre-dive equipment setup. And supervising student divers not under the direct supervision of the Instructor. As well as helping a student diver with any difficulties that might come up. And of course responding to or preventing problems should they occur. You will also hopefully get the chance to demonstrate some of the skills yourself. However this will depend on which course you are assisting with.

Practical Assessment 2 - Open Water Diver Students in Open Water

Here you will work with your Instructor in assessing an open water training site for suitability for training entry-level divers. Again, you will organise the equipment and prepare for the dive. This includes things like setting up descent lines and setting up a Drop-tank for a Deep Dive. You will also be looking after student divers not under the direct supervision of the instructor. This means responding and / or preventing problems, as well as leading student divers on the tour portion of the dive. This can be done once the skills have been assessed by the Course Instructor.

Practical Assessment 3 - Continuing Education Student Divers in Open Water

Now you will assist your PADI Instructor with some PADI Continuing Education Courses. Some of the popular ones on Phuket include the PADI Advanced Open Water Course or a PADI Specialty Diver Course or two. You will be helping with the logistics before, during and after the dive. PADI Divemasters are also able to independently lead continuing education student divers during their training dives. This includes giving them feedback, signing logbooks and giving your feedback to your instructor.

Practical Assessment 4 - Certified Divers in Open Water

On this dive you will be running your own dive for certified divers. Just as you would if you were working as a PADI Divemaster. This includes helping divers with setting up their dive equipment. At the dive site making environmental and diver assessments and giving the Dive Briefing, setting out the dive plan. You will also need to account for buddy teams entering and exiting the water. The Dive Roster is very important and needs to be kept up to date throughout the trip. All of this is exactly the same as you will be doing when working as a certified PADI Divemaster.

Professionalism

ALL PADI Divemaster Candidates are expected to display professionalism throughout the course. The areas of evaluation include; attitude, punctuality, appearance and interaction with others divers. Also your care for the environment, care of equipment and showing the positive attributes expected of a role-model PADI Dive Professional.

Although this appears to be a lot, and it is a lot, it is actually not nearly as much as it might look written here.

REMEMBER: We tailor each Indepth PADI Divemaster Course to the individual Divemaster Candidate needs, wants and preferences. PLEASE read through the information above and then e-mail us with your time frame. We can then prepare your personal tailor-made Indepth PADI Divemaster Internship / Course, as there are many options.

PADI Divemaster: Get PAID to dive! Your new life is only just beginning ...