Divemaster thailand

Pre-requisites

To take the Divemaster course, you must be:

• At least 18 years old
• A PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
• A PADI Rescue Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)
• An Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (EFR) (or qualifying first aid and CPR training from another organization) course completion within the past 24 months.
• Have at least 40 logged dives
• Be fit for diving and submit a Medical Statement (PDF) signed by a physician within the last 12 months.

Certification Requirements

Divemaster candidates meet course performance requirements and:

• Complete knowledge development segments, Knowledge Reviews in the PADI Divemaster Manual or through the Divemaster Online, and pass the Divemaster Final Exam.
• Create an Emergency Assistance Plan for a designated dive site.
• Complete waterskills exercises.
• Complete a diver rescue assessment.
• Complete the dive skills (24 Skill Circuit).
• Complete practical application skills.
• Meet the professionalism criteria.

At time of certification, verify the diver has:

• Logged at least 60 scuba dives including experience in night diving, deep diving and underwater navigation.
• Completed EFR Primary and Secondary Care training within 24 months.
• Read and agreed to the PADI Membership and License Agreement.

Knowledge Development

During the PADI Divemaster Course you will increase your knowledge about diving by attending Knowledge Development presentations from your Instructor as well as doing self-study from the Divemaster Manual, Diving Encyclopedia and Diving Knowledge Workbook.

Topics covered in the presentations are:

1. The Role and Characteristics of a PADI Divemaster
2. Supervising General Diving Activities for Certified Divers
3. Assisting with Students in Training
4. Dive Theory Introduction
5. The Physics of Diving
6. The Physiology of Diving
7. Equipment
8. Decompression Theory and the RDP
9. Divemaster Conducted Programs
10. Risk Management
11. The Business of Diving
12. Furthering Your Dive Career

You will also be required to complete the PADI Divemaster Final exam which is composed of eight sections with multiple-choice questions:

1. Divemaster Conducted Programs
2. Supervising Certified Divers
3. Assisting with Student Divers in Training
4. Physics
5. Physiology
6. Equipment
7. Skills and the Environment
8. Decompression Theory and the Recreational Dive Planner (RDP)

You will also need to produce an Emergency Assistance Plan with information on how to manage an accident at a local dive site.

Confined Water Exercises

Waterskills Exercises

There are five exercises that evaluate your stamina and water skills that must be completed prior to certification:

1. Swim 400 metres without stopping using no swimming aids and any stroke or combination of strokes.
2. Stay afloat by treading water, floating etc. for 15 minutes, with hands (not arms) out of the water for the last two minutes.
3. Using a mask, fins and snorkel only, swim with your face in the water for 800 metres without stopping.
4. Wearing full scuba equipment, push or tow an inert diver in full scuba at the surface for 100 metres nonstop without assistance.
5. In confined water, demonstrate the ability to effectively exchange all scuba equipment with a buddy while sharing a single regulator second stage.

Diver Rescue

You must successfully demonstrate an effective simulated rescue of an unresponsive, non-breathing diver underwater.

Confined Water Skill Assessment

You must demonstrate the following 24 basic scuba skills so that each skill earns at least a 3, and scoring at least 82 points in total, with at least one underwater skill to a 5.

1. Equipment assembly, adjustment, preparation, donning and disassembly.
2. PADI Predive safety check (BWRAF).
3. Deep water entry.
4. Buoyancy check at the surface- attain neutral buoyancy.
5. Regulator-to-snorkel and snorkel-to-regulator exchange.
6. Proper five-point descent.
7. Regulator recovery and clearing.
8. Mask removal, replacement and clearing.
9. Air depletion exercise and alternate air source (AAS) use stationary for 30 seconds.
10. Alternate air source-assisted ascent.
11. Free-flow regulator breathing.
12. Neutral buoyancy (both low-pressure and oral inflation).
13. Proper five-point ascent.
14. Controlled emergency swimming ascent (CESA).
15. Hovering in midwater for 30 seconds.
16. Underwater swim without mask.
17. Remove and replace weight system underwater.
18. Remove and replace scuba unit underwater.
19. Remove and replace scuba unit on the surface.
20. Remove and replace weight system on the surface.
21. Vertical, head first skin dive.
22. Swim at least 15 metres underwater on a single breath while skin diving.
23. Snorkel clear using the blast method after ascending from a skin dive.
24. Snorkel clear using the displacement method after ascending from a skin dive.

Practical Application

There are five core skills that you will learn during this stage of the course and you will be scored by your Instructor on each one:

1. Dive Site Set Up and Management
   You will set up a dive site and manage predive preparation, including:
   • Choosing a location appropriate for divers to assemble equipment.
   • Preparing emergency equipment, such as a first aid kit and oxygen unit.
   • Greeting divers as they arrive at the site/boat and providing direction. For example – where to place equipment, location of nearest facilities, etc.
   • Organizing a dive roster and reviewing check in and check out procedures with divers.
   • Preparing and setting a float/dive flag if diving from shore, or ensuring the descent line and dive flag are ready, as appropriate, when diving from a boat.
   • Choosing an appropriate vantage point from which to monitor the dive.
   • Being accessible to answer diver questions and prepared to assist divers both before and after the dive.
2. Mapping Project
   You will survey an open water dive site and create a detailed map of the site showing (as applicable to the site) underwater relief, important points of interest, any relevant environmental notes, recommended entry/exit areas, local facilities, and potential hazards.
3. Dive Briefing
   You will conduct a dive briefing for a familiar dive site covering all 10 points as listed below and on the Divemaster Slates.
   1 Dive site name
   2. Site description
   3. Your role and how divers can recognize you underwater, if appropriate.
   4. Entry and exit techniques
   5. Dive procedures
   6. Emergency procedures
   7. Signal review specific to the dive
   8. Roster and buddy check
   9. Environmental orientation
   10. Predive safety check
4. Search and Recovery Scenario
   Through the use of various search and recovery scenarios, you will complete the following:
   • Demonstrate a methodical search of an area to find a small submerged object.
   • Demonstrate a methodical search of an area to find a submerged object not more than 10 kilograms/25 pounds negatively buoyant.
   • Tie the following knots correctly underwater: the bowline, two half-hitches and a sheet bend.
   • Demonstrate how to safely rig and bring to the surface an object not more than 10 kilograms/25 pounds negatively buoyant using an appropriate lifting device.
5. Deep Dive Scenario
   You will conduct a deep dive and complete the following:
   • Before the dive, prepare emergency breathing equipment, and position it at the safety stop depth.
   • Descend using a reference line, wall or sloping bottom as a visual guide only, while staying with a buddy and controlling the descent rate.
   • Navigate with a compass at least 20 kick cycles away from and back to the reference line or designated spot.
   • Use a depth gauge and timing device, or a dive computer to monitor an ascent rate no faster than 18 metres/60 feet per minute while using a reference line, wall or sloping bottom as a visual guide only.
   • Perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5 metres/15 feet before surfacing without holding on to a reference line for positioning.
   
   

During the Practical Applications of the Divemaster course, you will also be evaluated on your Professionalism and Leadership skills.

In particular, your Professionalism will be evaluated on the following categories:

1. Level of active, positive participation in the training sessions.
2. Ability to serve as a mentor to student divers.
3. Willingness to follow directions.
4. Positive attitude/demeanor toward student divers and staff.
5. Positive attitude/practice towards caring for the environment.
6. General understanding of a Divemaster’s role.
7. Appearance.