The Deep Ecology Divemaster program will introduce candidates to the arena of professional diving. The goal of our instructional staff is to train our students to become certified PADI Divemasters with a balanced focus on excellent customer service, optimum diver safety and a strong knowledge base of Oahu’s marine environment. Completion of this program will prepare you to enter the professional diving community with strong first hand experience and a valuable skill set.

We now offer evening and weekend classes, workshops and training sessions to help candidates complete the training.

Prerequisites

The process begins with acquiring the Divemaster crew pack from our shop. Please read all nine chapters of the manual and complete the knowledge reviews for those chapters. Divemaster Candidates (DMC) must have the medical form signed by a physician. Other prerequisites for the program include candidates being at least 18 years old, have 40 logged dives, Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver certified and have current EFR Primary and Secondary Care training. Candidates also must watch the PADI Divemaster video. Once all prerequisites, knowledge reviews, medical physical are completed and video watched, the candidates are ready for the Divemaster Orientation.

Orientation

At this orientation, candidates will meet with a Deep Ecology instructor and discuss the overview of the program. Deep Ecology provides all candidates with valuable hands on experience working with certified and student divers, in addition to opportunities to learn the behind the scenes workings of a busy dive operation. During the orientation, the instructor will work with the candidates to develop a game plan to complete all requirements of the program. The Divemaster program breaks down into the following segments: professionalism, academics, water skills/ dive skills, practical skills, Divemaster Conducted Programs workshops and practical assessment internships.

Professionalism

When at the shop or dive site, candidates represent Deep Ecology, the instructors, and PADI. Professional appearance, attitude and behavior are expected at all times.

• Accountability. Take the initiative to complete academic preparation on own time and attend scheduled class sessions at the shop.

• Personal Responsibility & Work Ethic. Approach the internship opportunities as you would a job. Internships will only be credited when jobs are completed from start to finish.

• Availability. Completion of the program rests with candidate availability to complete all required segments of the training. Call the shop in advance each week to inform staff of your availability.

• Purchase of Materials. Prior to the orientation candidates must purchase the Divemaster Crew Pack, which includes – the Dive Knowledge Workbook, the Encyclopedia of Professional Diving, the eRDP Multilevel and the PADI Instructor Manual

• Dive Gear. All DMCs must have or be actively purchasing gear.

Academics

There are nine knowledge development chapters in the Divemaster manual. All these chapters must be completed and reviewed with an instructor. The Dive Knowledge workbook used in conjunction with the Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving will guide candidates through independent study for the Dive Theory. Individual review and Q&A sessions with the instructor should be done after internships or during a meeting scheduled through the shop. Preparation for these exams must be done on candidates own time. The shop will schedule group classroom sessions to review specific subject material, but candidates must complete workbook exercises and have reviewed appropriate materials before participating in those sessions. During the orientation, the instructor will discuss the most efficient way to approach the exam. The Divemaster Final Exam will be administered by one of Deep Ecology's instructors during a scheduled time. The Divemaster Final Exam must be passed by a score of 75% or more.

Waterskills Exercises & Diver Skills Workshop

During the course, candidates will be tested on water skills and stamina. There are four timed swimming exercises and an equipment exchange ( to test in-water problem solving ability). The Diver Skills Workshop will prepare candidates to demonstrate the 24 basic SCUBA skills at instructional quality. There will also be a graded rescue assessment.

Practical Skills Exercise

Candidates will need to be qualified in five practical skills: Dive Site Set Up and Management, Mapping, Dive Briefing, Search & Recovery Scenario, and a Deep Dive Scenario.

Divemaster-Conducted Programs Workshops The five workshops will be conducted to enable candidates to gain experience performing the following PADI programs: Scuba Review in Confined Water, Skin Diver & Snorkeling, Discover SCUBA Diving in both Confined and Open Water, and Discover Local Diving in Open Water.

Practical Assessment Internships

Candidates will participate in four practical assessment internships- Open Water Diver Students in Confined Water, Open Water Diver Students in Open Water, Continuing Education Student Divers in Open Water and Certified Divers in Open Water.

PADI requires DMCs to complete internships during the Divemaster program. Deep Ecology provides their candidates with a number of opportunities to complete these Practical Assessment Internships and to acquire valuable work experience in the process. Candidates train on actual certified diver charters and with students. Candidates are expected to approach these opportunities as if they were a job, completing all tasks and showing initiative when assisting the instructor with the charters and classes. The internships are graded and those results are discussed during a briefing between the candidate and the instructor. Internships are scheduled by the shop depending on group sizes, logistics and candidate availability. Candidates are encouraged to inform Deep Ecology staff regularly of their availability to assist with these sessions.

Welcome to your next adventure!
The professional staff of Deep Ecology is excited to work with all candidates as they make the transition from recreational diving to professional diving. The academic segment of the program is designed to be a self motivated independent study course. Candidates are expected to take the initiative in regards to the academics and to be available to participate in group study sessions to cover dive theory material. Candidates are encouraged to practice the 24 basic SCUBA skills before they are graded by the instructor. Watching the PADI Open Water and Discover SCUBA Diving DVDs are a good way to review. Lastly, candidates are expected to approach all internships with professionalism.

Marine Environment
In addition to the academics, water skills and internships, candidates should familiarize themselves with the unique marine life found in our waters. Candidates are asked to learn about the endemic species found here and to abide by Deep Ecology’s no-collection and direct action policy. As a professional, this will provide you with a skill set to be an informative guide as well as have developed diving practices that illicit good role model behavior with regards to interacting with the marine environment.

Our commitment to you:
The goal of the professional staff at Deep Ecology is to guide candidates through the process of transitioning from recreational diving to professional diving. Beyond crossing off a list, the program encourages and provides opportunities to seek a balance between providing the best possible customer service and learning the positioning and control required to ensure optimum safety for certified and student divers alike. Finding that balance is the craft that will make a Divemaster Candidate from the Deep Ecology program an employable and sought after professional PADI Divemaster.

Deep Ecology is now an Instructor Development Center! Ask our staff and instructors how you can take the next step with us and become a professional diving Instructor!