A divemaster (DM) is a role that includes organising and leading recreational dives, particularly in a professional capacity, and is a qualification used in many parts of the world in recreational scuba diving for a diver who has supervisory responsibility for a group of divers and as a dive guide. As well as being a generic term, 'Divemaster' is the title of the first professional rating of many training agencies, such as PADI, SSI, SDI, NASE, except NAUI, which rates a NAUI Divemaster under a NAUI Instructor but above a NAUI Assistant Instructor. The divemaster certification is generally equivalent to the requirements of ISO 24801-3 Dive Leader.
The BSAC recognizes several agencies' divemaster certificates as equivalent to BSAC Dive Leader, but not to BSAC Advanced Diver. The converse may not be true.
The certification is a prerequisite for training as an instructor in recreational diving with the professional agencies except NAUI, where it is an optional step, because of the different position of the NAUI Divemaster in the NAUI hierarchy.
Role
The role of a divemaster may vary, but will generally include the following roles: Organizing, conducting and supervising recreational diving activities (but not training), both shore and boat based. Assisting instructors in conducting training programs and activities for certified divers. Generally supervising non-training related diving activities by planning, organizing and directing dives. assessing the hazards of a dive site and informing the divers of the hazards, briefing divers on the layout and points of interest of a dive site, suggesting routes for a dive at a specific site for autonomous divers, checking divers into and out of the water from a boat or shore entry point, leading a group of divers in the water as a tour guide. Within the limits of some agencies, divemasters may: act as instructional assistants to instructors. supervise participants in experience programs for uncertified divers. teach and certify skin divers and snorkellers. conduct scuba review programs for certified divers.
Responsibility and legal position
The legal duty of care of a divemaster to a client varies according to the legislation of the country, where it is often poorly defined. The use of waivers and/or assumption of risk forms that are intended to minimize legal accountability of divemasters is a common practice, but the validity of such waivers will vary with the legislation.
Equivalence of certification
The following certifications are recognised as meeting or exceeding the requirements of EN/ISO 24801-3:2014: ACUC Divemaster ANDI Divemaster BSAC Dive Leader CMAS 3-star Diver DMT NASE Divemaster IANTD Divemaster NASDS Dive Supervisor NAUI Divemaster PADI Divemaster ProTec Dive Master PSAI Divemaster SAA Dive Leader(?), Dive Supervisor SDI Divemaster SNSI Divemaster SSI Dive Guide
Equivalence in other fields of diving
Technical diving
In technical diving, divers are assumed to be competent and responsible for their own safety or the safety of the team of which they are members to the extent that is agreed by that team. It is not unusual for a technical team or expedition group to appoint one of their number as a team leader or surface dive marshall, but the surface marshall is often more of an administrative position, who will check divers into and out of the water, and the dive team leader is more the navigator, or the person in front of the group than someone making safety decisions for other divers. Most technical divers follow the principle that any diver may call an end to a dive at any time for any reason, and that the team will comply, following the previously agreed termination procedure.
NAUI has a Technical Support Leader course that is designed to train NAUI Divemasters and Assistant Instructors who are also technical divers in this role.
Professional diving
Professional divers generally work in teams which have one or more divers in the water and a supervisor on the surface, with one or more assistants for handling lifelines, umbilicals, communications, gas panels and other support equipment, and a who is responsible for assisting or rescuing the in-water divers in an emergency. In these circumstances the supervisor has a high and legally defined level of responsibility for the safety of the dive team and anyone else on site.
Employment opportunities and conditions
Divemasters have the ability to work in holiday destinations in many parts of the world. They may work in diving resorts, private yachts, cruise ships and dive centres – anywhere where there is a demand for organised recreational diving.