The first professional level in recreational diving. Lead guided dives, assist instructors, and open doors to dive work worldwide — in 4 to 6 weeks.
Three phases, one clear outcome. Here's what the path from advanced diver to working professional actually looks like.
You can begin as soon as you have your Advanced Open Water and Rescue certifications and at least 40 logged dives. If you're short, a few fun dives or an AOW and Rescue course can get you ready in just a few days on Koh Tao.
Before you arriveYour Divemaster training combines in-water skills, theory classes, practical assessments and real dive leading. You'll assist instructors on real courses, run your own skill circuits and log plenty of dives.
Weeks 1–5Pass your final assessments, complete your log requirements and receive your Divemaster certification. You're now ready to be a working dive professional.
Week 5–6The Divemaster course covers water skills, dive theory, rescue protocols, equipment management and the practical experience of leading real divers underwater.
Compare Agencies →Or equivalent certification from PADI, SSI, RAID or another recognised agency
Basic first aid training — often completed in the first week
60 required to certify — the remaining 20 are logged during training
No upper age limit
A realistic breakdown of what happens during a 5-week Divemaster course on Koh Tao.
Swim tests, snorkel circuits, timed surface swims and rescue scenarios.
Deep dives into physics, physiology, decompression theory, dive tables and the RDP.
You assist instructors on Open Water courses, conduct discover scuba dives and start running your own skills circuits.
Lead certified diver groups on guided dives around Koh Tao's dive sites.
Final water skills assessment, knowledge reviews and log verification.
The Divemaster certification is the gateway to professional diving work across the world.
PADI Divemaster is recognised globally. Thailand, the Maldives, Red Sea, Caribbean, Indonesia — dive centers worldwide hire certified DMs.
Lead guided dives, assist courses, run equipment stations and conduct discover scuba dives. A Divemaster is a working role, not a certificate that sits in a drawer.
Divemaster is the required prerequisite for the OWSI course. Most instructors on Koh Tao started exactly here.
As a professional, you log dives daily. A typical season on Koh Tao means 200+ dives per year — experience that compounds fast.
Working as a dive professional on an island like Koh Tao means accommodation, meals and dive gear are often part of the employment package.
Your PADI number is searchable by any dive center in the world. From the moment you certify, you're in the professional system.