Training as a Divemaster

As of December 1st, I have slowly but surely been completing training to become a divemaster (woohoo, finally!). The ultimate goal for myself is to become an instructor and travel to exotic areas of the world to teach and spread my love and passion for scuba diving. However, with each end goal, there are barriers to surpass and lessons to learn so that once you reach the end goal, you are as prepared and determined as you can possibly be. The barriers for me at the moment are passing the divemaster and assistant instructor course… But what do these courses entail, and why do I need these courses to become an instructor?

The roles of a divemaster are important and help build your experience under the water’s surface as well as build your communication experience, networking abilities, and gear familiarity. A divemaster is qualified to organize and conduct dives as the lead guide in areas in which the dive master is familiar in. In doing so, the divemaster must first research and actively dive areas to gain a dive profile reference. Then, in planning the dive, they must organize cost, transportation, gear rental, and other necessities needed. Once divers have signed up for the dive, the divemaster must conduct the dive briefing and debriefing, understand the skill level needed for the dive as well as the skill level for the diver they are guiding, proficiently communicate to divers underwater, and safely keep divers within their limits.

The role of an assistant instructor, which is the next step for myself in my diving career, lies more parallel with the teaching side of diving, and less of the guidance that a divemaster adheres with. The assistant instructor aides in teaching lectures for all styles of diving, not just open water courses, and demonstrates specific skills in the water. The training for this certification lies in improving your ability to communicate through teaching diving, as well as improve the quality of your skill demonstration. It is important to teach subjects and demonstrate skills right the first time, as the first-time students learn a topic or skill will imprint on their mind the most. This certification may seem redundant in some factors, however, the more practice opportunities you receive the more successful you will ultimately become as a full instructor!

After completing these final two certifications, comes the full instructor certification. This is my ultimate goal that I hope to complete by the end of this year. Although I am excited and want to get the full instructor, I am taking full opportunity of these two certifications, divemaster and assistant instructor, and learning as much as I can about teaching, demonstrating, and the safety of diving so that I can be a successful instructor. Here’s to successful next steps in my diving career!

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