Mastery Matters -

Mastery Matters

Celebrating the New SDI Divemaster Course

Article by Cathryn Castle Garcia

Divemasters are the unsung heroes of many a safe, happy, adventure-filled dive vacation. They schlep our tanks, sort out our weighting needs, and see that we get safely in and out of the water. While we’re diving, they monitor our dive profiles while also navigating the dive site, pointing out miniscule marine creatures we’d surely miss if it wasn’t for their eagle-eyes. In between dives, they’re the ones handing out towels and keeping us hydrated (or coaching us to look at the horizon if seas are a bit rough and we think we might hurl). When I asked a veteran divemaster to sum up what it’s like, they said, “It’s kind of like being a bus driver, a tour guide, a best friend, a nurse, and a magician – all at once.” They added, “And I love it!”

Mastery Matters

As we celebrate the much-anticipated release of the new SDI Divemaster Manual and eLearning, I’d like to deep dive into just what it means to achieve mastery. The Oxford Dictionary offers a two-part definition of mastery: 1. Comprehensive knowledge or skill in a particular subject or activity; and 2. Control or superiority over someone or something.

Based on this definition, becoming an SDI Divemaster is a pretty big deal. It’s globally recognized by the Word Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC) as the foundation of professional skill development in the diving industry. Achieving mastery as a diver and earning the Divemaster certification is a considerable commitment. If you are considering gaining this level of experience and recognition, good for you. Let’s look at what’s involved.

Why Divemaster?

Before we get to the who and how of becoming trained as an SDI Divemaster, let’s examine a couple reasons why divers do it. This might be a gross over-generalization, but it seems there are two main reasons why divers continue to advance their training: 1. They intend to work as a professional scuba diver, or 2. They are passionate about diving and understand that obtaining pro-level training and experience will increase their scuba safety and enjoyment. Okay, there’s a third reason. It’s both 1 and 2 – a winning combination of passion and wanting to work in the scuba industry.

Who Can Be an SDI Divemaster?

SDI is a member of the WRSTC, an international association of scuba training agencies that establish and agree upon minimum requirements for scuba training. SDI adheres to all prerequisites agreed to by the WRSTC and often exceeds those minimums.

To enroll in an SDI Divemaster program, a candidate must meet the following prerequisites:

Minimum age of 18.
Certified SDI Advanced Adventure Diver or equivalent; advanced certification must include verifiable experience in deep, navigation, night, and limited visibility specialties.
Certified SDI Rescue Diver or equivalent.
Provide proof of current First Response Adult and Child Emergency Care Provider and Oxygen Administration Provider (where local law permits) certification or equivalent. *
Provide proof of at least 40 logged dives (Please refer to the Divemaster standard for the total number of dives/hours required for graduation)

* Note: First Response courses may be combined with the SDI Divemaster course by qualified instructors.

If you’re ready to up your game to Divemaster level, you’ll want to own a full set of dive gear, exposure protection, and accessories suitable for the diving conditions in which you’ll be doing your training. Here again, the staff at your local dive center can help. Some dive centers may offer gear at “pro” rates to DM trainees. It doesn’t hurt to ask.

How Does the Divemaster Course Work?

Because of the scope of the Divemaster certification program, there are many ways in which the program can be structured. To learn more, schedule an appointment with the staff at your local SDI dive center. They can help you assess your readiness and create a plan you will follow to complete the training.

Before you start the divemaster program in earnest, here’s an overview of what to expect.

For starters, you will be required to complete a medical exam and be approved for diving. You will also need to demonstrate basic watermanship skills including swimming a set distance without using snorkel gear (although swim goggles are permitted).

Why the medical and swim test? Because the role of a certified Divemaster is to help keep others safe, “safety first” begins with your own physical condition and comfort in the water. You’ll also be asked to sign a form that acknowledges the risks inherent with our sport.

Once that’s done, the course is a mixed bag of practical knowledge, scuba skill proficiency, planning and problem solving, and safety training. Scuba Diving International requires at least 40 hours of specialized training and evaluation, and a minimum of 50 verified, logged dives be obtained by the completion of the course. Again, the staff at your local dive center, and your instructor, can provide details of the course structure.

In terms of practical knowledge, you’ll revisit topics including diving physics and physiology, decompression theory and use of dive tables and computers, but this time you’ll be gaining dive supervisor-level knowledge. You’ll also drill down on diving equipment, the various environmental concerns associated with scuba diving, group control, dive planning, accident avoidance and management, dive supervising, and minimum training standards. Prior to completing the course, you will need to pass SDI’s eLearning Course. (An oral exam option is available in some instances.)

Scuba skill proficiency is another key component of the Divemaster program. You will be evaluated on your skills at the outset, so you’ll know what skills might need improving. During the course you will have the opportunity to practice your scuba skills so often they’ll become automatic. This is important because having expert-level comfort and skill in the water enables you stay safe while focusing on aiding lesser-experienced divers.

Next up, all the safety stuff. We’re talking first aid, CPR and diver rescue skills. The Diver Rescue course is a prerequisite (as mentioned above) and by the time you complete the Divemaster training requirements, you’ll be certified in First Aid and CPR. You can expect to participate in a variety of mock-emergencies scenarios, including surface assists, underwater searches, and simulated first aid/CPR drills. Hopefully, you’ll never need to rely on these skills, but in the unlikely event of an emergency, your Divemaster certification will come in handy.

The SDI Divemaster certification is more than a c-card. Your SDI Divemaster c-card will signify mastery of scuba safety and dive leadership skills. You will be globally recognized as a person capable of working as a scuba industry professional. What might have started out as a passion can now become a richly rewarding career.