SDI Divemaster

Professional Rating · Go Pro · Diver to Dive Leader

Stop being a diver and start being a dive leader. The SDI Divemaster program is the first professional rating in SDI recreational diving. It qualifies you to guide certified divers, brief and manage groups in the water, and assist instructors, and it's the doorway to teaching. This is a serious step up: you'll need to be 18, hold Advanced Adventure and Rescue Diver certifications, carry current CPR, first aid, and oxygen provider training, and have at least 40 logged dives. Because it's a professional course, you'll dive your own complete kit.

Veterans can put their GI Bill toward their training, and families can use ESA or ClassWallet funds. See if you qualify.

Starting from

$1500.00

Availability: Contact us for booking information

Description
Additional Information

SDI Divemaster Program

Professional Rating · Go Pro · Diver to Dive Leader

This is where you stop being a diver and start being a dive leader. The SDI Divemaster program is the first professional rating in SDI recreational diving, and earning it means you're qualified to guide certified divers, brief and manage groups in the water, and assist instructors while they teach. It's a serious step up in responsibility and skill, and it's the doorway to becoming an instructor. If you've reached the point where you want to lead the dive instead of just enjoy it, this is the program.

What a Divemaster can do

The rating opens doors that a recreational certification can't:

Lead and guide certified recreational divers in conditions similar to your training
Plan, brief, and manage a dive group in the water
Assist an instructor during courses and student training
Take the first step toward the Instructor Development Course

What you'll master

Divemaster training goes well beyond diving skill into the knowledge a professional carries.

SDI standards, procedures, and the Divemaster code of ethics
Dive theory at a professional level: physics, physiology, and dive medicine
Dive planning and risk management for groups
How to plan and brief group dives, and lead them well

What you'll demonstrate

A professional rating comes with real physical and leadership standards you'll meet.

An 800-metre swim with mask, snorkel, and fins in under 17 minutes
Watermanship and stamina expected of a dive leader
Managing a dive group in the water, start to finish
Applying your rescue and emergency skills in a leadership role

Before you enroll

Divemaster is a professional program, so the prerequisites are real. You'll need all five:

To be at least 18 years old
An SDI Advanced Adventure Diver certification, with experience in the deep, navigation, night, and limited-visibility specialties
An SDI Rescue Diver certification, or equivalent
Current CPR, first aid, and oxygen provider certification
Proof of at least 40 logged dives at the time of enrollment

Not sure where you stand? Call us at (480) 881-4013 and we'll map out your path.

✓ What's included

The full SDI Divemaster program and professional-level instruction
The SDI Divemaster knowledge materials and workshops
In-water leadership training and skills assessment
Your SDI Divemaster professional certification on completion

What to bring

Your own complete dive kit (this is a professional course, so you dive your own gear)
BCD, regulator, dive computer, mask, fins, boots, snorkel, and exposure suit
A surface marker buoy, a reel, a whistle, and a cutting device
Your prerequisite certification cards and proof of 40 logged dives

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do once I'm a Divemaster?

You can lead and guide certified recreational divers in conditions similar to your training, plan and manage dive groups, and assist an instructor during courses. It's also the required first step toward becoming an SDI instructor.

What are the prerequisites?

You'll need all five: age 18, an SDI Advanced Adventure Diver certification with deep, navigation, night, and limited-visibility experience, an SDI Rescue Diver certification or equivalent, current CPR, first aid, and oxygen provider certification, and proof of at least 40 logged dives at enrollment.

Is there a swim test?

Yes. Divemaster carries professional watermanship standards, including an 800-metre swim with mask, snorkel, and fins completed in under 17 minutes, along with in-water leadership and stamina demonstrations.

What gear do I need?

Because this is a professional course, you provide your own complete dive kit: BCD, regulator, dive computer, mask, fins, boots, snorkel, exposure suit, a surface marker buoy, a reel, a whistle, and a cutting device. If you're missing anything, we can help you get set up before you start.

How long does the program take?

It varies by candidate. Divemaster is completed through knowledge development, workshops, and in-water training rather than a fixed weekend schedule, so we build the timeline around your experience and availability. Call us and we'll lay it out.

Is Divemaster the same as an instructor?

Not quite. Divemaster is the first professional rating and qualifies you to lead and assist. Becoming an instructor comes next, through the Instructor Development Course, which Divemaster is a prerequisite for.

Let's. Go. Diving.

Ready to lead the dive? If you meet the prerequisites, or want to build toward them, call the shop and we'll map out your path to pro.

📞 Call the shop (480) 881-4013

The first professional rating in SDI recreational diving. Prerequisites: age 18, SDI Advanced Adventure Diver, SDI Rescue Diver (or equivalent), current CPR/first aid/oxygen provider, and 40 logged dives.

By enrolling, you agree to our Terms & Conditions.