Who this course is for:

• The advanced diver interested in working in the dive industry as a professional dive guide or moving on to become an instructor

Course prerequisites:

• Minimum age 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 CPR, first aid and oxygen provider (where local law permits)*
• Provided proof of at least 40 logged dives (see 3.11 for number of dives/hours required for graduation)

* Note: CPR, first aid, and oxygen provider courses may be combined with the IDC Program by qualified instructors

What you can expect to learn:

The SDI Divemaster Diver Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

• SDI standards and procedures
• History of SDI
• Code of ethics and professionalism of an SDI Divemaster
• Products and procedures
  • How to place an order
  • Yearly renewals
• Liability and insurance
  • Risk management
  • Waivers and releases
  • Filling out an accident report
• Knowledge Development
  • Equipment
  • Physics and physiology of diving
  • Medical problems related to diving
  • Use of dive computers and tables
  • Diving environment
  • Dive planning and dive management control
  • Problem solving
  • Underwater and surface communications
  • Diver assistance
  • Avoiding out of air and emergency situations
  • Recommended safe diving practices
  • Boat diving procedures
  • Shore/beach diving procedures
  • Night diving procedures
  • Accident management
  • Emergency procedures
• Leadership development
  • Planning group dives
  • Divemaster check lists and logs

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

• 800 metre swim with mask, snorkel, and fins non-stop without the use of arms in less than 17 minutes
• 400 metre swim on the surface, non-stop, any stroke, without the use of swimming aids, in less than 10 minutes; swim goggles permitted
• Scuba skills – minimum equipment: all equipment required for a SDI Dive Leader
  • In water, transport another diver in full scuba equipment at a quick pace for 4 minutes
  • Demonstrate a complete rescue scenario satisfactorily
  • Perform underwater skills with and without a mask
  • Swim on the surface, in full scuba equipment, using the snorkel, 100 metres
• Bring a diver, simulating unconsciousness, up from depth, not greater than 6 metres/20 feet; at the surface swim them 100 metres in less than 4 minutes
• Confined water skills:
  • Preparation and planning
  • Briefing and debriefing
  • Group control
  • Problem recognition and solving
  • Diving equipment assembly and disassembly
  • Equipment inspection
  • Entries/exits
  • Proper weighting and buoyancy control
  • Snorkel and regulator clearing
  • Regulator recovery
  • Controlled descents and ascents
  • Underwater swimming
  • Mask clearing
  • Buddy system techniques
  • Weight system removal and replacement
  • Out-of-air emergency alternatives
  • Equipment care and maintenance

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may:

• Assist an active SDI Instructor during approved diving courses provided the activities are similar to the graduate’s prior training
• Supervise and conduct dives for certified divers, provided the activities are similar to the graduate’s prior experience and training

SDI Divemaster Diver minimum requirements:

• Satisfactorily complete the SDI Divemaster written examination, or online version with a minimum score of 80 percent and 100 percent remediation
• Complete all water requirements
• Demonstrate to an active SDI Instructor the ability to solve in-water and out-of-water diver problems
• Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
• Operate as a Divemaster in a wide variety of environments