What you need to know

What you need to get started

To start your Divemaster trainee course you must be at least 18 years old and have logged 40 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 organisation. You must have completed EFR Primary and Secondary Care training (or similar) within 24 months.

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

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.

What is involved?

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 one.