Remember when Matt did his PADI Divemaster course with Blue Corner Dive in Bali? Well I decided it was time for me to do the same, and what better place to do it than Playa del Carmen, Mexico?! With Matt super keen to get some work within the Dive Industry, I wasn’t so keen to teach, but super keen to take more photos. To become a professional underwater photographer, I would need my Divemaster so I wouldn’t count towards Instructor/Customer ratios.

Do your research!

After a lot of research, Matt and I chose ProDive International. ProDive is a  PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre, so definitely a reputable place to go. What a place to learn! The Caribbean water was warm, the beaches clean and the marine life plentiful! I was there during Bull Shark season, so daily dives with the beautiful creatures was on the cards.

Check where you’ll be diving

One of the highlights of doing my Divemaster with ProDive International was the variety. Not only was every dive site something a little different, but we also got to check out the local Cenotes and zoom across to Cozumel Island.

What will you learn as a PADI Divemaster?

Now I won’t go to far into what I learnt during my Divemaster, as Matt was pretty thorough in his blog post, but here are the key points;

Executing PADI scuba skills at a demonstration level

Dive equipment sizes, brands, and styles including basic maintenance and tank filling

PADI safety standards and the reasons they exist

How to read water conditions and plan dives appropriately according to other diver’s experience levels and certification

How to complete boat and dive site briefings

Compass and navigation skill

How to be a PADI professional and lead by example showing both good diving practices and environmental awareness

Search and recovery and using a lift bag

The real PADI Divemaster graduation…

Not without it’s own traditions, upon graduation the tequila free flowed long into the night – as well as an interesting set of dive themed games… not that you would know it from this picture!

So now it’s done and dusted and it’s time to get a professional level camera! Watch this space for some epic underwater photos!

Are you interested in going down the PADI Divemaster path? Or have you ever gone scuba diving in Playa del Carmen or Cozumel?