To start your Divemaster trainee course you must be at least 18 years old and have 40 logged dives. You will already be certified either as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver and PADI Rescue Diver or the equivalent level from another dive organization. You must have completed EFR Primary and Secondary Care training (or similar) within 24 months.

If you haven’t quite got there yet, we can help you achieve these PADI standard requirements before you start your course.

The Divemaster program is designed to give you all the theory that you will need to be a dive professional.

Similar to other PADI courses, you will complete knowledge development sections; these can be done online through the PADI e-learning hub or from the Divemaster manual. You will also create an Emergency Action Plan, much like in your Rescue course (if you have undertaken that course with us we will be able to use the same plan), and also a final exam.

In the water, you will meet course performance requirements by completing water skill exercises and practical skills, a diver rescue assessment, dive skills and Divemaster-conducted programs workshops and assessments.

By the end of your course you will have logged at least 60 dives, however, most of our candidates celebrate their 100th dive with us, including night diving, deep diving and underwater navigation. Most Divemaster trainees leave with a number of specialties, demonstrating their skill in a variety of diving scenarios.

You will have a single mentor instructor to give you advice on becoming the best dive professional that you can be. From dive site setup to planning student curriculum, you will shadow and learn from our dive instructors to see how different styles can be adopted and learn how to think like a dive professional from day.

PADI Divemaster Programs – Bocas Dive Center

At Bocas Dive Center, we offer a variety of PADI Divemaster course options, which can be completed either as a standard course or as an extended internship. We can also assist with equipment and accommodation packages.

Our internship programs allow candidates to learn at a pace that best suits them. Some choose to complete the course part-time while working, while others fully integrate into daily operations at the dive center to gain a deeper understanding of the dive industry while reducing course costs.

During the internship, candidates may be involved in a wide range of activities, including:

• Equipment preparation, cleaning, and maintenance

• Front desk and customer reception

• Documentation and administrative support

• Audio-visual content creation

• Marketing support

• Ecological and conservation projects

The duration of the program is flexible, depending on your goals and availability. Some candidates complete the course in about a month, while others take longer. Training can be fully tailored to your needs.

Pricing

• PADI Divemaster Course:from $1,300 USD

• PADI Divemaster Internship:from $950 USD
  (includes over 150 hours of hands-on work at the dive center)

Prices may vary depending on the package selected, training duration, and optional extras such as accommodation or equipment.

For detailed pricing and availability, please email
‍ ‍gopro@bocasdivecenter.com

At Bocas Dive Center we strongly recommend that our Divemaster trainees have as much of their own equipment as possible so that they are comfortable with it and can maintain safety at all times. We offer both equipment hire and purchase packages.

PADI standards state that by the time you work as a dive professional you should have all standard dive equipment, plus a timing device (or computer), a compass, a knife/diver’s tool, two surface signaling devices (one audible and one visible).

Students benefit from a discounted rate when purchasing diving accessories at our in-house store.

At Bocas Dive Center we have a great team of international instructors. Their experience from diving around the world ensures that you are learning from the best. You will learn from either Leandro Mora, Staff Instructor or Kelly Paterson, Master Instructor. See our team page here.

Whether you are looking to earn some extra cash or change your career, turn your passion for diving into something that will change your world. There are many options open to you once you make the decision to become Divemaster.

Not everyone wants to just lead certified divers, some want to work on dive boats, whilst others want to introduce new divers to the wonder of Scuba diving through teaching as an instructor.

Employment

As a registered PADI Divemaster you will be able to access the PADI Pro website which contains an exclusive employment forum. Here you can advertise your skills and be matched with a dive organization anywhere you want to work the world.

At Bocas Dive Center, we offer practical advice when applying for dive related positions. Helping hone your new Scuba professional based CV to bring out transferable skills from past jobs and create engaging cover letters.

We also provide opportunities after graduation to allow you to become more comfortable with your newly acquired skills. You can shadow Instructors and Divemasters and have them shadow you as you take the lead for the first time, offering invaluable feedback and giving you extra confidence before taking your first role in your new career.

Open Water Scuba Instructor

Once qualified as a professional Divemaster, many enjoy the teaching aspect of their role and choose to progress to either Assistant Instructor or all the way to become an Open Water Scuba Instructor.

As a Scuba Instructor there are even more job opportunities around the world, both full and part time. Most of the foundational work has already been undertaken during your Divemaster course, so you feel ready to progress onto the Instructor Development Course (IDC).

Once you have 100 dives and a valid EFR certificate, this course teaches you how to pass on your skills and breakdown courses for others. The classroom based portion of the course looks at the PADI way of teaching and the business of diving; whilst the water sessions hones your demonstration quality skills and awareness in the water.

Bocas Dive Center refularly runs Instructor Development Courses - find out more here.

Bocas Dive Center is the only PADI 5* IDC center in Bocas Del Toro. Our facilities are the best on the island - the newest equipment, specially-designed spacious boats, air conditioned classrooms, and all year round dive sites.

This top of the line, quality dive shop is within the same building as our state-of-the-art boutique hotel to cater to divers so that they could be steps from their equipment, the dive school, and the sun loungers and swings over the warm Caribbean waters.

At BDC Go Pro we ensure that our students have plenty of time to practice their skills. All our professional dive staff have been where you are and are happy to offer advice, coaching or even just to be a mock student to help you gain more confidence.