How To Become A Divemaster In Thailand

What you need to know about becoming a Divemaster in Thailand, from our experienced scuba diving writer!

How To Become A Divemaster In Thailand
Learn the ropes of being a Divemaster in Thailand!

If you’re the kind of person that goes stir-crazy after a few days lying on a deckchair, then PADI Divemaster training in Thailand could be the perfect trip for you.

Maybe you’ve already done a Discover Scuba course and you’re looking to take your diving skills to the next level. And if you’re already one of the world’s passionate scuba divers, consider taking the extra step and becoming a PADI Divemaster!

PADI Divemasters are essentially PADI Instructors, or a leadership role where you can lead your own dives and help other divers learn the ropes. You can learn from diving role models and become a master yourself!

You will have plenty of time to spend on the beach but you will also keep your brain occupied, learn a myriad of new skills and make lasting friendships with people from all over the world.

Depending on current competency and qualifications, Divemaster training in Thailand can be completed in as little as 3 weeks or as much as 3 months. A PADI Divemaster Course is the most popular and well known.

Also known as the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, a PADI Divemaster Course is most likely the course you will take while learning to become a Divemaster in Thailand.

It’s recommended that you take as much time as you can with your PADI Divemaster Course, enabling you to make the most of the learning opportunities while still getting a chance to soak up the sun.

If you’re already a PADI Rescue Diver then you can get started straight away. If you aren’t a Rescue Diver, there are more PADI Divemaster courses you will need to complete.

How To Become A Divemaster In Thailand
Doing a PADI Divemaster course gives you the best insights of the underwater world

Becoming a Divemaster in Thailand will put you on the first professional rung of the dive industry ladder. Divemaster training allows you to take refresher courses and guide people who are already qualified as Open Water or above.

Not to mention the fact that you can live on a beautiful island and go scuba diving every day while you do the PADI Divemaster course, the lifestyle is a huge perk when considering this as a future career.

The Divemaster course in Thailand is varied and challenging and time is spent in the classroom, the pool, and the ocean. PADI courses can be as varied as ocean ecology, physics, navigation, and customer service.

It’s likely that you will also spend time doing more specialised training in wrecks, deep conditions, and using Nitrox.

How To Become A Divemaster In Thailand
Thailand is a gorgeous place for doing a Divemaster course

So what does a day in the life of a Divemaster in Thailand look like?

Well if you have signed up for the morning PADI Divemaster course you will be at the centre at 6am organising tanks, food, and water for the trip. You will head out to the dive boat and the Captain will take you to the first of two dive sites.

Over the course of the morning, you will dive with your fellow trainees and you can practice your briefing, navigation, and leading skills together.

Access to diving is unlimited so the Divemaster course is an opportunity to build up your number of dives and practice integral skills like buoyancy.

The boat will then get you back in time to relax in the school’s beachside restaurant and enjoy a delicious curry or soup for lunch.

Your afternoon might be spent in a classroom session, in the pool practicing skills or perhaps you and some other trainees will take your scooters to another bay and go snorkelling with some reef sharks.

You might even sign up for the afternoon boat and do 2 more dives, this time you might be shadowing an instructor or assisting with their students.

Whatever you choose you will be back on land by beer o’clock to enjoy a few drinks at the bar and dinner at a restaurant.

How To Become A Divemaster In Thailand
There are lots of beautiful places to try a PADI Divemaster course in Thailand

Thailand is a great destination for making your money work hard, it’s cheap and you can live well on what you do spend.

Koh Tao is the most popular island for doing your PADI Divemaster Course. Phuket is also popular, and you can even learn scuba diving in Pattaya inland in a pool. But Koh Tao is by far the best diving in Thailand and the best island for learning to become a Divemaster.

A shared apartment in Koh Tao will cost 4000THB a month, for 200THB per day you can eat well and a kilo of washing is just 60THB. (Note: US$1 = 35THB)

You will never do your own laundry and hardly ever cook a meal in your newfound life of luxury on Koh Tao. The most expensive bit is the extra technical and specialty courses you will want to do once you’ve caught the diving bug.

How To Become A Divemaster In Thailand
It’s easy to travel Thailand and live in Koh Tao on a budget!

The beauty of this PADI Divemaster course experience is you can make it your own. Don’t sign up for the morning boat if you’re anticipating a late night, or do 4 dives in one day and go home to bed, the choice is yours.

You have the freedom to set the pace and see the sun without letting your brain cells atrophy due to neglect. The PADI Divemaster course is challenging and exciting.

Surrounded by people with a sense of adventure you will make lifelong friends, particularly with other certified divers. You can all go scuba diving together on some of the world’s best sites.

You may not ‘find yourself’ but you will certainly find out what you’re capable of.

Check out our expert buyers guide if you’re looking for a good watch for diving.

How To Become A Divemaster In Thailand
Don’t miss the opportunity to become a Divemaster in Thailand!
About the Author - Bella McClymont

Bella is a 25 year old Kiwi bird abroad. She lives in London and is seeing as much of the world as her paltry budget and annual leave will allow. She has an addiction to compressed air and you will often find her swimming with the fishes (in the scuba sense of the word rather than the Sopranos kind). Follow her blog for more info about moving to London, solo female travel and the wonderful world of scuba diving.

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