The journey to becoming a PADI Divemaster in Roatan is life changing! It’s your chance to become a high caliber dive professional, while getting a taste of island life. Not too mention, you’ll be also be making friendships that last a lifetime.
This is such a pivotal point in a dive professional’s life. So, you want to make sure that you find the right dive center to train with. Specifically, you want to find somewhere you feel comfortable being yourself. And somewhere that has a group of experienced instructors who you can relate to, learn from and have fun while doing so.
Sun Divers divemaster trainees (or DMTs) learn how we deliver on our customer promise of good vibes and great dives. More importantly, you become an exceptionally skilled divemaster with keen focus on safety. Read on to learn more about our PADI Divemaster course options and see if our internship-style approach sounds right for you.
PADI Divemaster Internship Details
A Day in the Life of a DMT
PADI Divemaster Laurie Janisson shares her experience as a DMT with Sun Divers. Check out what you can expect when you become a PADI pro with us.
Our Approach to the PADI Divemaster Internship
Our PADI Divemaster internship is typically 6 days a week for 6 weeks. During this time you’ll be a part of our team, shadowing and learning from our experienced PADI instructors and interacting with our customers.
Personalized to You: We call our PADI Divemaster training an internship, and it’s personalized to help you meet your professional training objectives. Whether you want to go on to become an employed divemaster, PADI instructor or to just be the most competent diver you can possibly be.
Quality Not Quantity: We cap our internship at 2 Divemaster Trainees (DMTs) at a time. This ensures that you’re getting ample opportunities for hands-on experience, individual instruction and exposure to all aspects of dive center operations.
Real World Experience: You will gain real-world experience assisting with certified divers on fun dives and with students on all PADI courses. Because of this approach, you’ll get to interact with real customers in a real diving environment, not just role playing with other DMTs. And you’ll learn what it’s like to work for a concierge-style dive center.
Mentors Ensure Success: During your PADI divemaster internship, you will have the opportunity to be paired with a mentor who will be your certifying instructor, and more importantly your personal guide through the program. Additionally, you will dive with each member of our friendly, experienced team of dive instructors. Each instructor will have their own style and we encourage our staff to show DMT’s the different ways to approach diving. There isn’t a ‘this is how it’s done’ mentality, but more of a ‘this is what works for me’ attitude.
PADI Divemaster Course Upgrades
At Sun Divers, we do more than just check off your certification requirements. With our standard PADI divemaster program, you will not only fulfill the PADI divemaster course requirements, but you will also receive additional training that truly prepares you for professional employment.
Additionally, we offer upgrades to the PADI Divemaster program that allow you to deepen your expertise in multiple areas related to diving.
The Eco Divemaster Upgrade
One of our core values is to always be what we call “eco-active”. This means we take real action in conservation efforts on both a local and global scale. We have curated an Eco Divemaster program with our partners at the Roatan Marine Park (RMP) and Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA) that will provide you with experience in citizen science and conservation. You will leave this program feeling proud of the personal role you have played in protecting Roatan’s precious marine ecosystem. Furthermore, you’ll have important hands-on experience in conservation activities that you can take with you anywhere in the world.
What’s Included
- RMP Coral Restoration Ambassador Certification –
- RMP Invasive Species Workshop & Lionfish Hunting License
- Volunteer with BICA’s Mangrove Reforestation Project
- Coral Spawning Monitoring (seasonally available)
- PADI Aware Specialty
Upgrade Costs: Additional $305 (cost includes donations made to the RMP and BICA)
Total DMT Internship Duration: 7 weeks
Elite Divemaster Upgrade
Become the best of the best with our Elite Divemaster program. You will undoubtedly be prepared for your professional path thanks to the 5 PADI specialty courses you’ll complete in addition to the PADI divemaster requirements.
You will also learn from the best with 4 masterclass sessions taught by our lead instructor Ricky Wesley, aka the Scuba Sensei. Ricky has over 20 years of experience as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and Divemaster. Many customers and dive professionals alike have credited him with being one of the ‘best in the world.’ And he most certainly is one of the most experienced instructors on the island.
What’s Included
- 4 PADI Specialty Courses: Nitrox, Deep Diver, Underwater Navigator and Peak Performance Buoyancy
- 4 Masterclass Sessions with Sun Divers’ ‘Scuba Sensei’
Upgrade Costs: $634 – includes 20% off of specialty courses
Total DMT Internship Duration: 8 weeks
Sun Divers DMT Perks
When you choose Sun Divers for your PADI divemaster training, you’ll enjoy these exclusive benefits:
Free Fun Diving for Life
Upon becoming a certified divemaster with Sun Divers, you’ll be rewarded with a lifetime of free diving with us. Ask us how this special lifetime benefit works.
Read More »20% off SCUBAPRO
As a DMT you receive our employee perk of 20% off all SCUBAPRO equipment and merchandise.
Read More »20% off Stream2Sea
Get 20$% off Stream2SeaProtect yourself and the reef with sun care products that are tested to be truly reef safe.
Read More »20% off PADI Specialty Courses
Our PADI divemaster training goes beyond the book with additional training modules that take you beyond the course requirements.
Read More »Sweet Sun Divers Swag
Every PADI divemaster trainee receives a gift pack of Sun Divers branded goodies to commemorate your time as part of our team.
Read More »PADI Divemaster FAQs
What are the PADI Divemaster requirements?
The PADI Divemaster requirements are that you are 18 years of age, have 40 logged dives at the start of your course, are PADI Rescue Diver certified, have a current EFR certification and a completed PADI Medical Questionnaire signed by a physician. Rescue Diver and CPR/First Aid certifications from other recognized agencies are also accepted. Upon certification, you are required to have 60 logged dives which you should achieve during your divemaster training.
How long is the PADI Divemaster course?
The length of the PADI Divemaster course varies amongst training centers. However, we believe that if you want to pursue a career as a PADI professional you should receive a minimum 6 weeks of training, 6 days per week. This is the length of time that is necessary to gain adequate exposure and experience to the various scenarios that professional divemasters face on the job. Additionally, showing up for your divemaster training 6 days per week gives you a sense of the work schedule typical in the dive industry.
How much does a PADI Divemaster course cost?
The cost for the PADI Divemaster course will vary amongst training centers, but you should anticipate paying anywhere from $800 – $1,000 USD depending upon the length of the training and caliber of the dive center. In addition to the PADI Divemaster training costs, you will also have to pay PADI for the eLearning crew pack and also your annual membership fees.
Does the PADI Divemaster certification expire?
Your PADI Divemaster certification does not expire, but if you have not maintained your active status as a PADI Divemaster you might need to reactivate. Getting your professional status with PADI back to active is easy. You can simply log into your PADI Pro account and renew your membership. You’ll then want to make sure that you view the latest Member Update Webinar and Training Bulletins.
What physical tests are required for a PADI Divemaster certification?
To achieve your PADI Divemaster rating, you must complete the following 5 waterskills. These are scored and there is a minimum score requirement. While these might seem challenging, don’t let them deter you! Most of these are completed toward the end of your divemaster training, after you’ve received ample training and conditioning.
- Swim 400 metres/yards nonstop, without swimming aids and using any stroke or combination of strokes.
- Tread water, drown-proof, bob or float using no aids and wearing only a swimsuit for 15 minutes, with hands (not arms) out of the water during the last two minutes.
- Swim 800 metres/yards face down, using mask, snorkel and fins, nonstop, without flotation aids and without using arms to swim.
- Tow (or push) a diver for 100 metres/yards nonstop, at the surface, without assistance – both divers equipped in full scuba equipment.
- In confined water, demonstrate the ability to effectively respond to an unusual circumstance underwater by exchanging all scuba equipment (except exposure suits and weight belts) with a buddy while neutrally buoyant.
What is the Divemaster Snorkel Test?
The ‘Snorkel Test’ is a rite of passage that celebrates a divemaster candidate’s completion of the certification program. This tradition is celebrated in many different ways. The tradition is not without controversy due to its involvement of alcohol consumed through a snorkel worn by the participant: the “test” part of the event.
At Sun Divers, we believe becoming a divemaster is an accomplishment worth celebrating, but that the celebration should be one that is responsible and respectful. We tailor your snorkel test to how you wish to mark this important milestone, including the option to celebrate with an alcohol-free sunset cruise on one of our boats.
Standard Divemaster Internship
Eco Divemaster Internship
Elite Divemaster Internship
What You'll Learn
- Daily shop operations & customer service
- How to construct and conduct dive briefings
- Dive site mapping & leading
- How to properly demonstrate dive skills
- Emergency prevention & management
- Instructor level theory
- Additional training workshops included for all divemaster internships
What's Included:
6 weeks of instruction and diving. Additional weeks are included for DMT upgrades
What You Achieve:
Divemaster certification making you employable as a dive guide worldwide
Requisites:
18 years or older, 40 logged dives, PADI Rescue Diver certification or equivalent from a recognized agency, current EFR certification or equivalent from a recognized CPR/First Aid program and completed PADI Medical Questionnaire.
