Go professional
Turn your love of diving into a career
Lead the dive. Teach the class. Our professional courses take you from guiding certified divers to certifying students of your own, with Dive Arizona instructors beside you at every step.
Not sure about going pro?
Going pro is a big step, and it is fine to want to know more first. Here is how the path works, so you can see where you stand today.
1
Divemaster
Learn to lead dives and assist instructors. You need to be 18 with Advanced Adventure and Rescue Diver certifications, current CPR, first aid, and oxygen provider training, and 40 logged dives.
2
Assistant Instructor
Start teaching alongside active SDI instructors. You need a Divemaster certification, current CPR, first aid, and oxygen provider training, and 60 logged dives, or 50 dives plus 25 hours of underwater time.
3
Open Water Instructor
Certify divers of your own. You need to have been certified for at least 6 months, hold a Divemaster or Assistant Instructor certification, have current CPR, first aid, and oxygen provider training, and log 100 dives.
Already a pro with another agency?
SDI accepts professional crossovers from PADI, NAUI, SSI, BSAC, CMAS, and many others. It is mostly self-paced eLearning plus a short crossover seminar, and in most cases there is no retesting.
Questions we hear a lot
How do I know if I am ready?
Call us at (480) 881-4013 and we will map out your path based on the dives and certifications you already have.
Where do I start if I am not certified yet?
Begin with Open Water in our core courses, then build up through Advanced Adventure and Rescue Diver. Those are the stepping stones to Divemaster.
Do I need my own gear?
For the Divemaster program, yes. It is a professional course, so you dive your own complete kit.