GoPro: become a PADI Divemaster.

Love scuba diving? As a professional PADI Divemaster, you get to do what you love - as a career. This rating is the first rung on the ladder as a professional diver, enabling you to work as a professional diver just about anywhere in the world.

As a divemaster, you not only get to dive a lot, but also experience the joy of seeing others have as much fun diving as you do. Scuba divers look up to divemasters as leaders who mentor and motivate others.

The PADI Divemaster course is a lot of fun and opens more doors to more places than you can dare to imagine. But make no mistake: it's only for those serious about becoming the best they can be and sharing that passion with others. There's a whole load of self study required and a LOT of hard work and dedication - in return for a hugely rewarding and usually life-changing experience, and the adventures of a lifetime yet to come...

PADI Divemasters are respected dive professionals who are aligned with the largest and most respected dive organization in the world – PADI.

As a divemaster, you'll be certified to assist PADI Instructors with students, conduct certain courses and lead guided dives. You won't get rich but you will get to dive in the most amazing places, meet fabulous people and do REALLY cool, fun things that others only dream of...

Travel the world or stay right at home, working as a professional Divemaster. You won't get rich but you will get to travel to, and dive in, the most amazing places, meet fabulous people and do REALLY cool, fun things :o)

Or become a DSD Leader and help people discover scuba diving for the very first time...

Or go on to train as a PADI Open Water Instructor and learn how to teach your passion to others. The pay sure ain't great but the rewards are unquantifiable...

The PADI Divemaster course teaches you to be a leader and take charge of dive activities. Through knowledge development sessions, waterskills exercises and workshops, and hands-on practical assessment, you develop the skills to organize and direct a variety of scuba diving activities.

Working closely with a PADI Instructor, you’ll fine-tune your dive skills, like perfecting the effortless hover, and refine your rescue skills so you anticipate and easily solve common problems. You’ll gain dive knowledge, management and supervision abilities so you become a role model to divers everywhere.

You'll also learn about all aspects of diving and develop leadership abilities you'll need to supervise dive activities, assist instructors with student divers and earn respect as a responsible dive professional.

And you'll complete water skills and stamina exercises in confined and open water and training exercises to improve your organizational and problem solving abilities.

Topics and practical workshops include:

• The role and characteristics of the PADI Divemaster
• Supervising dive activities and assisting with student divers
• Diver safety and risk management
• Divemaster conducted programs and specialized skills
• Business of diving and your career
• Awareness of the dive environment
• Dive setup and management
• Mapping an open water site
• Conducting dive briefings
• Organizing a search and recovery project and a deep dive
• Conducting a PADI Deep Diver, PADI Skin Diver course
• Assisting with Discover Scuba Diving and leading Discover Local Diving programs

If you’re not already PADI Deep Diver, PADI Enriched Air Nitroxr and Search and Recovery Diver Specialty diver, it’s a good time to take these along with your PADI Divemaster training, to help you meet all requirements and to broaden your experience and abilities.

You'll need to have your own full set of scuba equipment to start your PADI Divemaster course. If not, or you're not sure what works best for you yet, rent The Dive Bus equipment for a couple of fun dives before starting your Divemaster course, to check it out and see what’s right for you. Like it? Buy it, brand new from The Dive Bus retail shop or ex-rental.

Here's the equipment you'lI need and use during your PADI Divemaster course at The Dive Bus:

• BCD
• Regulator set
• Open heel fins
• Dive boots
• Wetsuit (3mm or 5mm full if you really feel the cold)
• Dive mask and snorkel
• Dive computer
• Compass (can be integrated with your dive computer)
• Dive reel & SMB
• Dive knife
• Audible Signal Device (for example, a whistle – often included on your BCD)
• Dive slates (provided in the PADI Divemaster Crew Pack)
• Dive flashlight (recommended)

Besides the obvious benefits of diving with equipment with which you're familiar and comfortable, owning your own dive equipment is a requirement for most dive centers (including The Dive Bus), if you go on to become a professional Divemaster.

If you choose to just continue diving recreationally, in addition to the above benefits, you'll save $$$s by not having to rent equipment whenever you dive. You'll also know that it's in great condition and be super-familiar with how it all works.

Just like your scuba equipment, all the dive accessories you'll need for the PADI Divemaster course (dive computer; knife; reel; SMB etc etc) are available at discounted prices for PADI Divemaster trainees, from The Dive Bus retail shop.

The non-sales-commissioned Dive Bus crew will give you as much advice, and as many tips as you want, about choosing equipment that's right for you.

Right now if you like! Take your pick from:

1. PADI eLearning Divemaster Online

Register for PADI Online – PADI’s eLearning option – to start now.

You can work through eight knowledge development sections using a web-based system that lets you learn at your own pace.

You also have access to an online version of the Divemaster Manual for reference during and after the course.

Also consider taking Dive Theory Online, another PADI eLearning® program, that takes you step-by-step through dive physics, physiology, skills, equipment and environment, plus a Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) review. By successfully completing Dive Theory Online, you can get credit for half of the Divemaster Final Exam. Your Dive Bus PADI Instructor will explain how this works when you meet to schedule knowledge review sessions along with your waterskills exercises, workshops and practical assessments.

2. The PADI Divemaster Manual

Another option is to study by reading the Divemaster Manual and watching the Divemaster Video (a book and DVD package).

Once you're booked your PADI Divemaster course at The Dive Bus, swing by as soon as you're in sunny Curacao and pick up your PADI Divemaster Crew-Pak, which also includes the PADI Instructor Manual and The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving, both of which you’ll become very familiar with during your PADI Divemaster course.

If you can’t wait until you get to Curacao, pick one up from your local PADI dive shop back home and get started whenever you like.

Whichever option you choose, you can be sure that you’ll review everything with your Dive Bus instructor with you, to ensure you’re comfortable and ready to go on and change your life forever..

As a PADI Divemaster trainee, you're responsible for making your accommodation arrangements, as everyone's requirements and budgets are different. There's a huge choice of accommodations available - here are some of our recommendations:

• Stagehuis, Seru Loraweg

  • Free pick up / drop off on your training days OR 40 minute walk /grab a bike or a bus / hitch a ride
  • Shared or single rooms in large, centrally located house
    • Shared or private bathroom
  • 1 bed apartment (max 2 people)
  • info@stagehuis.com

• Atlanta Beach Hotel

  • Various room types available
  • Breakfast included
  • Next to The Dive Bus, Marie Pampoen
  • atlantabeachhotel@gmail.com

• Pier Beach

  • Bed & Breakfast
  • 2 minute walk from The Dive Bus, Marie Pampoen
  • hotel@pier-beach.com

• Bed & Bike Hostel

  • Budget hostel, private or shared rooms / facilities
  • Bus, bike or walk from Pietermaai (downtown Willemstad)
  • info@bedandbikecuracao.com

Like all activities at The Dive Bus, the PADI Divemaster course is payable in full whenever you're ready to confirm your reservation. Additional expenditure, such as dive equipment, accessories, drinks etc, are payable weekly.

Click here for Booking Info .