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The Divemaster Internship: What The Hell Even Is It?

The Divemaster Internship: What The Hell Even Is It?

by Natalie Hewitt
Youโ€™ve been guided on a dive by one, had one assist you on a course or at least heard the word thrown around. But, do you know what a divemaster internship really is? Other than a badass sounding title? If not, weโ€™ve got you. Weโ€™ll cover what becoming a divemaster involves and entails… Hopefully leaving you wanting to experience it all for yourself and join our tribe as one of our divemaster trainees.

So, a divemaster is the first professional level in the diving industry. The next level after having completed the stress and rescue course. Itโ€™s a great thing for anyone who loves to dive. Maybe you have some time off, are a little confused on what is next in life, or just need a break from the 9-5; whether you want to make it your profession or not.
divemaster trainees
divemaster pool session

Those pesky requirements

Apart from being advanced open water and rescue certified, divemaster candidates need to have over 40 logged dives, an infectious passion for the underwater world and a rocking attitude. Not there on the certifications and dives? No worries, we can help with that! 3WDive offer packages to get you up to speed before you begin the divemaster course. Youโ€™ve also gotta be over 18 and medically cleared for diving.

What do divemaster trainees actually have to do?

3WDive divemaster trainees are appointed an instructor to be their mentor. They are there to support, guide and keep your ass moving. During the training, trainees assist on courses with different instructors. They help out and also gain information and experience. All of which will help a divemaster in finding their own way of doing things.
To graduate as a divemaster you must pass an exam. It covers things like dive theory and the physics behind diving. There are also certain tasks that must be completed. These are practiced regularly until they are perfected to a T!

What tasks and skills do divemaster trainees have to complete?

Many of these skills are gone over in other certifications. But you gotta totally master them for a divemaster! Here weโ€™ll go over some of these skills and tasks and what they actually mean:

  • 100m tow – wearing full scuba equipment, the traineeโ€™s gotta tow an exhausted diver on the surface.
  • 400m swim – without mask and fins, no stopping!
  • 800m swim – with mask and fins, but no use of the arms!
  • 15 minute water tread – without any equipment, the trainee must tread water and stay afloat.
  • Scuba skills circuit – demonstrate scuba skills as you would to new divers. Including: mask removal, replacement and clearing, regulator recovery and clearing, free flowing regulator breathing, remove and replace scuba unit, neutral buoyancy, and some more.
  • Equipment exchange – removing, exchanging and replacing all your scuba diving equipment with a buddy. Not your wetsuit and weight belt, though!
  • Rescue scenario 7 – this is also a part of the stress and rescue diver course. This exercise goes through what a diver would do if they were to find an unresponsive diver at the surface.
  • Dive site mapping – draw a birds-eye view map of a local dive site. Including depth and interesting points of reference, to use in a dive briefing.
  • Dive site set up – activities such as being boat master and checking current at the dive site.
  • Skin diver – pretty much snorkeling! Swim on the surface, clear water from the snorkel and do some effortless surface dives.
  • Emergency plan – visit all local dive shops and take note of several factors such as manager’s phone number, number of boats, oxygen tanks and AEDs. This is important info in case of an emergency.
  • Search and recovery – find a dropped item using search patterns and compass skills.
You ainโ€™t going solo โ€˜til youโ€™re ready! The following tasks are under the supervision of an instructor (as are all of them):

  • Fun dive briefing – prepare and present a fun dive briefing for open water certified divers
  • Lead a dive – itโ€™s in the name, lead a dive!
  • Scuba review – refresh divers who have been out of the water for a while.
  • Try Scuba Diving and Open Water course confined water skills – demonstrate the scuba skills to students taking those courses.
Youโ€™ll have to complete these tasks with confidence and skill to pass. But with the support of your mentor and unlimited use of the shop, thereโ€™s no doubt youโ€™ll glide through it all. While a divemaster trainee has gotta get this stuff done, to us at 3WDive becoming a divemaster is about way more than ticking these boxes. We want your personality to shine through as you become a dope diver.

How long?

The course usually takes a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks to complete. However, 3WDive divemaster trainees have 6 months of unlimited use of the shop.

So, divemaster training is definitely an awesome thing to do if you love diving and want to do an insane amount of it. If you already know you are, or think you could easily become a scuba addict, then what are you waiting for?
divemaster trainees
divemaster trainees

And then?

Once certified, a divemaster is able to guide certified divers. This means they must stay completely in control. Keeping everyone safe and guiding them through the dive site. But this is what all the training is there to prepare you for. A divemaster is also able to assist instructors when training other divers.
As well as being able to work as a divemaster, the course prepares you to be a kickass diver who is totally confident in their ability and aware of whatโ€™s happening around them. Because of this, doing a divemaster internship is great for anyone who has the chance to. Not just for those who are aiming to make a career in diving.

Diving… but so much more too!

As mentioned, a divemaster is about becoming the best diver you can be, but thereโ€™s a lot more to gain from doing your training with 3WDive. Reading divers underwater and handling stress, while staying as cool as a sea cucumber becomes second nature. Learning from our instructors means divemaster trainees pick up the best tricks of the trade.

Want some extra-curricular activities? We got that covered too. 3WDive run eco-awareness projects and clean ups with Trash Hero. And whatโ€™s more, divemaster trainees also have the opportunity to get involved with marine conservation during their internship.

Divemaster trainees also have the opportunity to live in awesome, tropical countries like Indonesia. And scuba dive in great places like the Gilis. The 6 months we give trainees to complete their training means that they become an essential member of our tribe, which is important to us.

Intrigued? Well, you know how to get in touch! Weโ€™ll be waiting.
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