F.A.Q. | Divemaster Courses Thailand

F.A.Q.

Prior to the course

What is the difference between Divemaster and Master Diver?

A PADI Divemaster is a certified dive professional eligible to lead certified divers on dive trips and to teach a limited selection of courses. A Divemaster is the first step on the ladder of professional diving. A Master Diver is the highest recreational, non-professional diving certification. While both qualifications are highly respectable in the diving community, a Master Diver has reached the highest recreational level, while a Divemaster is the beginning of a career.

Why would I want to become a Divemaster?

The divemaster life is filled with adventure, excitement, and satisfaction. Instead of spending your days in an office making presentations and writing emails, you’ll find yourself on a boat or underwater in a tropical paradise, day in and day out. Furthermore, there’s no greater satisfaction than the ability to show customers the beauty and tranquility of the underwater world. You’ll never want to go back to the office again!

I’m not even a certified open water diver, how can I get to the Divemaster level?

At Sairee Cottage Diving we offer a variety of Divemaster packages, including the “Zero to Hero” package that includes your Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and Rescue/Emergency first responder, and Divemaster course. Wherever you are in your training, we will get you on the path towards being a Divemaster.

What about visas?

You must organize a visa in your home country before you enter Thailand, or you will have to leave after 30 days and head to a neighboring country (Malaysia/Laos) to obtain one, which is annoying and expensive! Contact your nearest Thai embassy or consulate to apply for a double or triple entry TOURIST visa (educational visas are no longer valid for Scuba Diving Courses), which will give you plenty of time to complete your internship with us.

About the Course

What is the PADI Divemaster Course?

The PADI Divemaster course is the first step into the world of professional diving. As a certified Divemaster you’ll be responsible for the organization, logistics, safety, and enjoyment of customers during dive and snorkeling outings. Recreational divers will look to you as the professional for answers to questions about diving techniques, equipment, environment, and safety. They’ll expect you to have top-notch diving skills and to act as a role-model for aspiring recreational divers.

What are the prerequisites for the course?

To start the PADI Divemaster course you must have 40 logged dives, be 18 years of age, Rescue Diver certified, and pass a diving physical examination. If you do not have 40 logged dives already don’t worry – as a part of your Divemaster trainee course you’ll have access to a 100 free dives which you can use to get to the minimum 40.

How much time will I need?

At Sairee Cottage the typical Divemaster course is scheduled over a period of four weeks. An extra two weeks are allotted at the end of the course to accommodate for missed activities and additional on the job training. Expedited schedules are available depending on staff availability and season.

What equipment do I need to be a Divemaster?

During your training you won’t be expected to own a complete set of scuba equipment. However, certain items will be necessary for both personal comfort and diving safety. Equipment such as mask, snorkel, booties, rash-guards, and fins make diving more comfortable and more enjoyable and are highly recommended. Items like surface marker buoys, reels, slates, compasses, and whistle are required in order to stay safe while diving. Big ticket items such as dive computers, BCD’s, and regulators are provided by Sairee Cottage until your finish your course. As an additional benefit of diving with Sairee Cottage, we can get any piece of equipment you need at a discounted price.

Do I need to be athletic to be a Divemaster?

No! You don’t need to be an Olympic athlete to complete the course. The only athletic activity involved are the watermanship evaluations which included time swims as well as a survival float. You don’t need to be Michael Phelps to complete them with passing scores, so no worries!

Where is the best place to do my Divemaster course?

With Sairee Cottage Diving in Koh Tao, Thailand!

What is the schedule for the course? What is involved with the course?

The divemaster course is divided into three sections: theory and lectures, workshops, and waterwork, with activities from each section every week. The theory and lectures encompass diving physics, physiology, equipment, dive planning, and the ins-and-outs of the PADI instructional system. The workshops how to manage dive trips, deep and rescue scenarios, mapping and emergency action plan projects, skill circuit practice, as well as dive briefing workshops. The waterwork includes assisting instructors on PADI Open Water, Advanced, and Rescue courses, watermanship evaluations, and underwater stress tests.

How much studying will I have to do?

The theory and lectures do require studying and preparation, but not in an extreme amount. A candidate can expect to spend between 4 – 5 hours a week studying and preparing for that week’s academics. The majority of instruction is more hands on, in-water work.

Are the study materials all in English or can we get it in other languages?

While the course itself is taught in English, you do have access to the materials in a variety of languages for a small additional fee.

When can I start the course?

Whenever you want! While we do try and group trainees together in order to provide a team-orientated course, we can happily accommodate any start date. If you have questions about starting the course, please email info@saireecottagediving.com and we can plan for your arrival.

About Prices and Equipment

What is included with the Divemaster package deal?

The basic dive package includes Unlimited free dives during the course, the Divemaster course, all of your materials, extra skill circuits, extra extended Divemaster lectures, advanced risk management, eco programs, free t-shirts and mask straps and IDC preparation training if you want. We also have an equipment package that includes a full set of professional dive equipment. Please email us if you are interested.

What materials do I get with the course?

Your Divemaster materials include the Divemaster workbook, PADI Instructor’s Guide, the Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving, and the Scuba Skills Tune-up guidebook. Furthermore, you’ll receive your Nitrox and Oxygen Provider manuals as part of those included specialties.

What are the hidden costs?

There are no hidden costs associated with the course. Your package price covers all of your required materials and coursework. Some equipment is required (see above) which also works into the price. Lastly, there is a 202 Australian dollar certification fee payable directly to PADI once you complete the required coursework. You will get unlimited free dives during you Divemaster Package and 1 free Sail Rock Trip!

Can I work part-time to pay off the course?

We do not offer work-away internships.

About Accommodation and Transportation

What about accommodation during my Divemaster Course?

We offer accommodation in our dorm during your Divemaster training. This is shared, so a lot of fun and you meet new friends very quickly!

If you would like a bit more privacy then we recommend to rent long-term accommodation anywhere on Koh Tao. To get this we recommend to first book 2 nights with us in a basic bungalow (700 baht/night), then on arrival our Course Director will help you find long-term accommodation on Koh Tao. Prices starting from 6000 baht to 15000 baht per month depending on luxury.

If you would like to stay in the resort, then please have a look here for rooms. If you stay longer then a month we can offer you a 10% discount on these rooms. If you like this then please send us the room type, the check-in date and check-out date.

Please let us know what option you want?

And what about transport on the island?

Transport is optional – plenty of people just walk everywhere, or you can rent a bicycle or motorbike from any rental shop. Although there are taxi-jeeps, there are almost no cars on the island and motorbike is the main mode of transport.

After the Course

What can I do once I’m a certified?

Once you become a certified Divemaster you are eligible to lead certified divers on fun dive trips. You can also teach Scuba Review refresher courses for people who have been out of the water for an extended period of time and want to review their scuba skills in the pool before jumping back into open water. Furthermore, you can also opt to take the Discover Scuba Diving internship at no additional cost. This allows you to assist and teach portions of the Discover Scuba Dive for non-certified divers.

Can I make money as a Divemaster?

Of course! As a working Divemaster you’ll be paid to lead divers and teach refresher courses on a commission basis. Get paid to go diving!

Where can I find work as a divemaster?

At Sairee Cottage we only hire Divemasters who have completed their training with us. While no jobs are guaranteed upon graduation, if you show promise as a Divemaster you can definitely earn a spot in our ranks. If you don’t plan to stay on Koh Tao, there are Divemaster opportunities all around the world, including sought after spots in Australia, the Maldives, the South Pacific, and a multitude of other exotic locations around the world. One major benefit of becoming a PADI Professional is access to the PADI Careers forum where dive resorts the world round post hiring notices and seek out new employees.

What’s the quality of life as a Divemaster on Koh Tao?

As a dive master you’ll live and train on one of the top rated islands in the world. With beautiful beaches, secluded bays, amazing dive sites, great Thai and western restaurants and a booming night life, you can’t go wrong by coming here. Combine that with the fact that Koh Tao is a dedicated divers’ island and you know you’ll be surrounded by like-minded people from all around the world. Take a look at some of our previous Divemaster Trainee testimonials for more proof!

What is the next step?

Your diving career doesn’t have to stop with your qualification as a Divemaster. Sairee Cottage is a PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Center, which means you can carry your studies further and become an Assistant Instructor, Open Water Scuba Instructor, or even a Master Scuba Diver Trainer, all with Sairee Cottage Diving. If diving and teaching are your passion, we can help you all the way to the top.

Do you need more info or want to sign up now?

 

Email UsFill Up Contact Form