Padi Pro

Become a PADI Pro and Start Living Your Dream

There are many reasons to become a divemaster or scuba instructor: to work and travel, to share your love of the underwater world with others, or simply for the personal challenge.

Along the way, you’ll meet other professional adventurers like you get a chance to work with experienced instructors who will help you find the job of your dreams.

Why Become a PADI Divemaster or Instructor?

Career Opportunities

PADI Divemasters and Instructors are in demand. With more than 6,500 PADI Dive Shops issuing one million certifications each year, you’ll find job opportunities in every corner of the globe.

The Best Training

PADI’s Divemaster and Instructor training combine interactive learning materials, skill development workshops and real-world experience to ensure you’re prepared to be a dive leader. All you need is love for the underwater world and a desire to share that passion with others.

Unparalleled Support From PADI

Whether you choose to work for a dive shop or on your own, you’ll have a dedicated support team committed to your success. Find the scuba diving job of your dreams on PADI’s online employment board, consult with your local PADI representative on how to grow your business, and access free marketing tools and videos.

How to Become a Divemaster or Instructor

Padi Divemaster is a prerequisite to becoming a scuba instructor. Before you can enroll in a PADI Divemaster course, you must be 18 years old and have the following certifications:

Padi Open Water Diver
Padi Advanced Open Water Diver
Padi Rescue Diver
Emergency First Response (or equivalent CPR and First Aid training within 24 months)

If you’re already a PADI Divemaster (or hold a leadership-level certification with another training agency), you can enroll in a PADI Instructor or Assistant Instructor course. Learn more about the PADI IDC (Instructor Development Course).

Padi Divemaster

Divemaster is the first step on the professional ladder Padi Pro. Through theory and diving practical workshops exercises, you’ll level-up your scuba skills and learn how to supervise and organize diving activities.

Divemaster jobs include: assisting with classes, leading guided dives, and working on liveaboards.

Padi Instructor

If you like people, have a passion for scuba diving and want an extraordinary life – become a PADI Instructor. Teaching scuba diving allows you to share your love of the aquatic world with others while doing what you enjoy – being in, around and under water.

PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors and PADI Assistant Instructors are the most sought-after dive professionals around the world because they’ve completed the program that sets the standard for training dive professionals.

You earn a PADI Pro rating through hard work and commitment, but you’re rewarded with a job that lets you share incredible underwater adventures with others – transforming their lives for the better and enriching yours.

Prerequisites & Requirements

To be a Padi Divemaster:

Age Requirement – 18 years or older
Course Prerequisites – Rescue Diver, 40 logged dives, CPR and First Aid certification within 24 months, medical clearance to dive
Time Commitment – Approximately 50 hours

To be a Padi Instructor:

A PADI Divemaster who has been a certified diver for six months may enroll in the PADI Instructor Development Course. You also need:

At least 60 logged dives and 100 dives to attend an IE.
Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past 24 months.
A medical statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months
You also need to be an Emergency First Response Instructor, but you can earn this rating during your instructor training.