The Great Barrier Reef is a natural wonder of the world and is a declared World Heritage site. It encompasses 350,000 sq kilometres of the South Pacific Ocean and is made up of 2,900 individual reefs and 71 coral cays. Its ecosystem supports the greatest concentration of life on this planet including 1500 species of fish, 350 different corals, 4,000 species of molluscs and 10,000 species of sponges.

Water temperature ranges from 22° to 28°C (75° - 85°F) allowing comfortable diving all year round

Since 1983 Pro Dive Cairns has developed and maintained an international reputation as the premier dive company in Cairns. We offer the highest quality and best value live aboard trips to the outer Great Barrier Reef. Our 3 multi million dollar purpose built vessel provide unquestionably the very best outer reef live aboard experience in Cairns. Our 16 exclusive dive sites on four different reefs are some of the most spectacular dive locations on the reef. Our outstanding product quality, excellent safety standards, professional and friendly crew and "all inclusive" pricing policy guarantee you a truly memorable live aboard experience.

"Divemaster" is the first level of the PADI "professional" ratings and where your adventure as a dive professional begins. Scuba diving can be more than a recreational endeavour and through this course you can explore the professional potential. This rating will allow you to supervise recreational diving activities, act as an instructor's assistant and is the prerequisite to becoming a PADI Instructor.

The 18 day course is divided up into specific Divemaster training, assisting an instructor teaching an Open Water, Advanced and Rescue course (when available) and 2 x 3 day 2 night live aboard dive trips to the outer Great Barrier Reef. During these trips you will get up to 20 dives consisting of a combination of training and recreational dives.

This course will qualify you to supervise recreational diving activities, either boat or land based, and it also allows you to act as an assistant to the Instructor.

Please bring with you on day 1: Advanced and Rescue certifications, log book, swimwear and towel, voucher or money.

Dive Sites

• Milln Reef - perfect introduction to the outer reef, relaxed and varied, sleeping turtles
• Flynn Reef - excellent visibility, a photographic haven
• Gordons - intriguing coral mazes which end at "Clown Fish City"
• Coral Gardens - magnificent coral enlivened by a myriad of marine life
• Pellowe Reef - exclusive pristine dive destination (weather permitting)
• Thetford Reef - outlying bommies with swim throughs (weather permitting)
• Weather permitting, we never dive the same dive site more than twice.

Click here for a full course itinerary.

Inclusions

• PADI Divemaster manual, Encylopedia of Recreational diving, Diving knowledge workbook
• Passport photos if necessary
• Polo style T-shirt and name badge
• Accommodation transfers city and Northern Beaches
• "Reef Teach" Marine Biology presentation night before departure
• 20 Dives (weather permitting)
• Comprehensive dive insurance
• Two 3day 2night liveaboard trips to the outer reef in twin accommodation
• All meals whilst on board
• Bed linen
• All dive equipment
• Personal underwater dive computer
• Prescription masks if needed
• Long leg wetsuit
• All Reef Taxes

Extras

• If undertaking a PADI Dive Master course you are required to fill in the PADI medical statement and also undertake a compulsory medical assessment. If you are intending to work in the scuba diving industry you will undergo an AS 2299 medical and if you are NOT intending to work in the industry you will undergo AS 4005-1 medical.
• An AS4005.1 Dive Medical is required. Some medical conditions may preclude you from diving. Asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and pregnancy are the most common ones encountered. Children must be accompanied by parent or guardian during the medical assessment.
  

A Dive Medical will be arranged by Pro Dive on day 1 of your course - a fee of A$49.50 (inc GST) payable direct to the doctor. Australian Medical Standards are different to those overseas. A medical obtained in another country will most likley not be valid in Australia.

On successful completion of this course, you will be required to submit to PADI, together with your Divemaster paper work, PADI membership fees, PADI insurance if required, a Divemaster medical report, and 2 passport size photographs.

Before commencing your Divemaster Course, you must thoroughly read the PADI Divemaster Manual. You will also need to have a copy of all PADI manuals, which include the Open Water, Advanced and Rescue Diver Manuals, as well as the PADI Wheel for study purposes. Copies of these texts can be loaned from Pro Dive Cairns (A DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED for these texts)

You must be sure you are capable of completing all the swimming test requirements on days 1 and 4 of the course. You must also prepare to complete all the exams on the specified days. The course structure is a guide and can be changed within reason although any additional days required by you for re-sitting exams, etc, may incur an additional charge.

Assessment

To assist you with understanding what a Divemaster does and during the assessment process, you should attend the initial briefing given to the certified divers by the Divemaster at the beginning of each trip. Other than that briefing you should attend all Open water Diver briefings and debriefings with your instructor. Between dives involve yourself with deck duties i.e. Tank filling, logging divers in and out of the water etc.

Other training activities you need to cover on your trips are:

1) Radio operations:

1. Basic operation procedures and protocol
   
2. Procedures for May Day, Pan Pan and Security calls
   
2) O2 and Emergency Equipment:

1. Learn where O2 regulators and cylinders are stored on each boat
   
2. Launching procedures of life rafts
   
3. EPIRB operation
   
3) Small Boat operations:

1. Correct launching procedure
   
2. Basic Boat handling i.e. approaching diver, general driving and coming alongside boats.
   
4) Surface supervision and deck duties. As a Divemaster you need to be familiar with all the procedures involved in supervising divers such as logging in/out procedures, tank filling, surface supervision and general diver assistance.

Requirements

• PADI Rescue Diver Certification or equivilent with a minimum of 20 logged dives. In order to complete the certification, 60 logged dives will be needed. Pro Dive can help arrange extra dives if needed.
• Minimum age is 18 years, with no maximum age.

Please Note: In the interests of safety we recommend that you should not fly or go to any altitude over 300m within 24 hours after your last dive. All prices are in Australian Dollars.

Booking Procedure

You are strongly advised to pre-book your course as availability may be limited if you wait until your arrival to Cairns. You can pre-book and confirm your place on a course by faxing or emailing us with your preferred commencement date, and your credit card number and expiry date. Once your booking is complete we will send you confirmation by fax or email.

If you can also advise us of your accommodation in Cairns we can give you your pick up time, however if you unsure of your accommodation details you can contact us on arrival into Cairns and advise us then.

Cancellation

• Full refund up until 48 hours prior to departure.
• No refund if notified less than 48 hours prior to departure.

See Also

• Learn To Dive - 5 Day Course, 4 Day Course, 3 Day Ocean Referral Course, 2 Day Ocean Referral Course, 2 Day Pool Referral Course
  
  
• Continuing Education - Advanced Open Water Course, Rescue Diver Course
  
  
• Professional Training - Dive Master Course, Instructor Development Course, Specialty Courses