As a PADI Divemaster you are authorized to:

1. Independently guide Open Water Diver/Scuba Diver students on the tour portion of Open Water Diver course Training Dives 2 through 4, at a ratio of 2 student divers per certified divemaster.

2. Accompany Open Water Diver/Scuba Diver students under the indirect supervision of a PADI Instructor:
a. during surface swims to and from the entry/exit point.
b. during the navigational exercises.
c. with the group, either on the surface or underwater, while the instructor conducts a skill, such as an ascent, with an individual student diver or buddy team. 

3. Conduct any subsequent dives for Discover Scuba Diving participants, at a ratio of 2:1, if insured, after the participants have satisfactorily completed the first dive under the supervision of a PADI Instructor.

4. Conduct the PADI Discover Local Diving experience, (provided the divemaster meets insurance requirements).

5. Conduct the PADI Discover Snorkeling program, (provided the divemaster meets insurance requirements).

6. Conduct the PADI Scuba Review program for certified Open Water Divers, divers with higher certifications. Or for PADI Scuba Divers who want only to refresh their skills (provided the divemaster meets insurance requirements).

7. Accompany student divers during training dives for the PADI Adventures in Diving program, Specialty Diver courses, or the Rescue Diver course.

8. Generally supervise both training and nontraining-related activities by assisting divers and student divers in the planning, organizing and direction of dives.

9. Assist a Teaching status PADI Instructor in the open water training of divers. The allowable student diver-to-instructor ratio increases by four additional student divers for each certified, renewed PADI Divemaster for all PADI programs and courses, unless stated otherwise by that course/program’s standards. For the PADI Open Water Diver/Scuba Diver course, the allowable student diver-to-instructor ratio increases by two additional student divers for each certified, renewed PADI Divemaster, to a maximum of 12 student divers to one instructor.

10. Assist a Teaching status PADI Instructor in the confined water training of divers. Use of certified, renewed PADI Divemasters increases the allowable student diver-to-instructor ratio in confined water by four additional student divers per divemaster for all courses, unless stated otherwise by that course/program’s standards.

11. Teach and certify PADI Skin Divers independently (provided the divemaster meets insurance requirements). This includes conducting the PADI Seal Team AquaMission: Skin Diver Specialist following Skin Diver course standards.

12. Conduct the skin diving skills segment of the Open Water Diver Course during either Confined Water Dive Two, Three, Four or Five (provided the divemaster meets insurance requirements).

13. Teach Emergency First Response courses after successfully completing an Emergency First Response Instructor course.

14. Independently conduct Discover Scuba Diving (2003 revised program) in a pool or in confined open water to a maximum depth of 6 metres/20 feet if qualified as a Discover Scuba Diving Leader. Qualification includes completing an internship that consists of conducting four separate Discover Scuba Diving pool or confined water experiences under the direct supervision and guidance of a PADI Instructor. (See Discover Scuba Diving Leader Internship Completion Form in Appendix.)

15. Teach the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer specialty course under the direction of a PADI Instructor after earning the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Specialty Instructor rating (provided the divemaster meets insurance requirements). (See General Standards and Procedures – Specialty Instructor requirements.) Divemaster candidates (trainees) are authorized under the direct supervision of the instructor to:

1. Guide individuals who have completed all the requirements for the Scuba Diver or higher certification.
2. Accompany Open Water Diver/Scuba Diver student divers on the tour portion of Dives 2 through 4. 

Benefits and Renewal Requirements

PADI Divemasters are members of PADI. Membership provides benefits, including a subscription to The Undersea Journal, member pricing on selected PADI materials and services, and eligibility to purchase professional underwater liability insurance offered by PADI’s agents. (Other benefits vary based on local needs and requirements and the serving PADI Office). It is recommended that divemasters involved in training or supervising activities carry liability insurance. Requirements may vary from one PADI Office to another.

Renewal requirements for PADI Divemasters include submitting a completed renewal application along with dues annually. A PADI Divemaster whose membership has lapsed may also need to meet additional requirements designated by the PADI Training and Quality Management Department to regain Active status. The requirements may vary depending on how long since the divemaster’s last renewed membership, changes to the PADI System and Standards during that interval, and other factors.

When an individual becomes a PADI Divemaster, PADI assigns the person a PADI Member number. When the PADI Divemaster becomes a PADI Assistant Instructor or Instructor, the number remains the same, though the prefix/suffix changes to reflect the new level. 

Prerequisites

To qualify to enter the PADI Divemaster course, an individual must:

1. Be certified as a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization. A qualifying certification is defined as proof of certification beyond entry level, and proof of 20 or more logged dives documenting experience in deep diving and under water navigation.

2. Be certified as a PADI Rescue Diver or have a qualifying certification from another training organization. A qualifying certification is defined as proof of certification in diving rescue from a training organization other than PADI. If the candidate demonstrates poor or inadequate performance during the diver rescue assessment, then the candidate must complete a PADI Rescue Diver course.

3. Have completed and logged at least 20 dives as documented by the individual’s personal logbook.

4. Be at least 18 years old at the start of PADI Divemaster training.

5. Submit, to the instructor, medical clearance for diving signed by a physician, attesting to fitness to dive. The medical clearance must be current within the previous 12 months. The physician signing the form cannot be the individual.

6. Submit proof of Emergency First Response Primary Care (CPR) and Secondary Care (First Aid) training (or other qualifying CPR/first aid training) within the last 24 months.

Certification Requirements

At the time of certification, a PADI Divemaster candidates must:
1. Show proof of 60 logged dives documenting experience in night diving, deep diving and underwater navigation.
2. Read and agree to abide by the PADI Membership and License Agreement.
3. Have current CPR and first aid training within the last 24 months. 

Equipment

During open water scuba training, each divemaster candidate must be equipped with the proper equipment for the diving environment. This includes, but is not limited to: fins, mask, snorkel, cylinder, regulator, alternate air source, buoyancy control device (BCD) with low pressure inflator, backpack (if not integrated into the BCD), where weights are appropriate, a quick release weight system, appropriate exposure suit for the environment, timing device and depth gauge (or dive computer), compass, knife/dive tool (unless prohibited by local laws or regulations) and at least one audible emergency surface signaling device (whistle, air horn, etc).

Candidate Materials

Required

The PADI Dive Center, Resort, and/or Instructor conducting a PADI Divemaster Course must ensure that candidates have, in their possession, a personal set of materials for study and use during the course and for reference afterward; unless the materials are not available in a language understood by the candidate.

Candidates must have a current version of these required materials:

• PADI Divemaster Manual* ($22.35, Video $)
• RDP – all three versions (The Wheel ($15.50), Table and eRDP ($21.95) including associated Instructions for Use booklets)
• The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving $31.30 or DVD, $53.60
• Diving Knowledge Workbook, $14.30
• Divemaster Slates, $26.40
• Instructor Guides for programs (see below) 

PADI Divemasters may conduct:
a. Discover Scuba Diving, $5.95
b. Discover Snorkeling/Skin Diver Course, $5.95
c. Scuba Review/Discover Local Diving, $5.95

*Note: The PADI Divemaster Video must be viewed by candidates. 

Recommended Materials

The following lists materials recommended in training PADI Divemasters. You may find other PADI materials that aren’t listed useful as well.
1. PADI Instructor Manual (for use and reference during and after training)
$162.60 digital, $258.20 digital and paper value pack
2. PADI Divemaster Video - $22.35
3. PADI Underwater Navigator Manual and Underwater Navigation video (for navigation skill review and mapping assignment) - $55.90
4. PADI Deep Diver Manual and Deep Diving video (for deep diving knowledge development) - $39.70
5. PADI Rescue Diver Manual and Video (for rescue accident management knowledge development and training exercises) – DVD $20.30, Manual with Slate $26.35
6. Discover the Underwater World video (for divemaster conducted programs knowledge development),
7. Scuba Tune-up guidebook (for divemaster conducted programs knowledge development)
8. The Business of Diving (for business of diving knowledge development)
9. Dive Roster slate (for open water training exercises)
10. The Law and the Diving Professional (for risk management knowledge development)
11. The Best of the Undersea Journal (for risk management, business of diving knowledge development, open water and confined water training dives )
12. Peak Performance Buoyancy video
13. Open Water Diver Multimedia (RDP table and Wheel tutorial)
14. Skill Evaluation Slate (for confined waterskills evaluation and development)
15. PADI Log Book
16. All training materials for courses leading up to the PADI Divemaster level, including the manuals, videos, and multimedia products for the PADI Open Water Diver course, Adventures in Diving program and Rescue Diver course.