Editing Divemaster

{{short description| Recreational dive leader certification and role }}
{{distinguish|Diving supervisor|Dive leader}}
A '''divemaster''' (DM) is a role that includes organising and leading recreational dives, particularly in a professional capacity, and is a qualification used in many parts of the world in recreational [[scuba diving]] for a diver who has supervisory responsibility for a group of divers and as a dive guide. As well as being a generic term, 'Divemaster' is the title of the first professional rating of many [[List of diver certification organizations|training agencies]], such as [[Professional Association of Diving Instructors|PADI]], [[Scuba Schools International|SSI]], [[Scuba Diving International|SDI]], [[National Academy of Scuba Educators|NASE]], except [[National Association of Underwater Instructors|NAUI]], which rates a NAUI Divemaster under a NAUI Instructor but above a NAUI Assistant Instructor. The divemaster certification is generally equivalent to the requirements of [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]]&nbsp;24801-3 [[Dive Leader]].<ref name="ISO24801-3" />

The British Sub-Aqua Club ([[British Sub-Aqua Club|BSAC]]) recognizes several agencies' divemaster certificates as equivalent to BSAC Dive Leader, but not to BSAC Advanced Diver.<ref name="bsac-recognition" /> The converse may not be true.<ref name="idc" />

The certification is a prerequisite for training as an instructor in [[recreational diving]] with the professional agencies except [[National Association of Underwater Instructors|NAUI]], where it is an optional step, because of the different position of the NAUI Divemaster in the NAUI hierarchy.<ref name="NAUI leadership arch" />

==Role==
[[File:Scuba_education_levels.svg|thumb|upright=2.2|Scuba diving education levels as used by ISO, PADI, CMAS, SSI and NAUI]]
The role of a divemaster may vary, but will generally include the following roles:
* Organizing, conducting and supervising recreational diving activities (but not training), both shore and boat based.<ref name="EUF certification" />
* Assisting instructors in conducting training programs and activities for certified divers.<ref name="RSTC" />
* Generally supervising non-training related diving activities by planning, organizing and directing dives.<ref name="RSTC" /><ref name="EUF certification" />
**assessing the hazards of a dive site and informing the divers of the hazards,
**briefing divers on the layout and points of interest of a dive site,
**suggesting routes for a dive at a specific site for autonomous divers,
**checking divers into and out of the water from a boat or shore entry point,
**leading a group of divers in the water as a [[tour guide]].
* Within the limits of some agencies, divemasters may:
** act as instructional assistants to instructors.<ref name="RSTC" />
** supervise participants in experience programs for uncertified divers, if also certified as a "Discovery Dive Leader".
** teach and certify skin divers and snorkellers.
** conduct scuba review programs for certified divers.

==Responsibility and legal position==
The legal duty of care of a divemaster to a client varies according to the legislation of the country, where it is often poorly defined. The use of waivers and/or assumption of risk forms that are intended to minimize legal accountability of divemasters is a common practice, but the validity of such waivers will vary with the legislation. If a divemaster provides safety information to a group of divers or professionally advises them regarding a dive site they may incur a [[duty of care]] to those divers.

==Equivalence of certification== 
The following certifications are recognised as meeting or exceeding the requirements of EN/ISO 24801-3:2014:<ref name="SCUBA travel" />
*ACUC Divemaster
*[[American Nitrox Divers International|ANDI]] Divemaster
*[[British Sub-Aqua Club|BSAC]] Dive Leader
*[[Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques |CMAS]] 3-star Diver
*[[National Association of Scuba Educators|DMT NASE]] Divemaster
*[[International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers|IANTD]] Divemaster
*[[National Association of Scuba Diving Schools|NASDS]] Dive Supervisor
*[[National Association of Underwater Instructors|NAUI]] Divemaster
*[[Professional Association of Diving Instructors|PADI]] Divemaster
*[[Professional Technical and Recreational Diving|ProTec]] Dive Master
*[[Professional Scuba Association International|PSAI]] Divemaster
*[[Sub-Aqua Association|SAA]] Dive Leader(?), Dive Supervisor
*[[Scuba Diving International|SDI]] Divemaster
*[[Scuba and Nitrox Safety International|SNSI]] Divemaster
*[[Scuba Schools International|SSI]] Dive Guide

==Equivalence in other fields of diving==
===Technical diving===
In [[technical diving]], divers are assumed to be competent and responsible for their own safety or the safety of the team of which they are members to the extent that is agreed by that team. It is not unusual for a technical team or expedition group to appoint one of their number as a team leader or surface dive marshall, but the surface marshall is often more of an administrative position, who will check divers into and out of the water, and the dive team leader is more the navigator, or the person in front of the group than someone making safety decisions for other divers. Most technical divers follow the principle that any diver may call an end to a dive at any time for any reason, and that the team will comply, following the previously agreed termination procedure.

NAUI has a Technical Support Leader course that is designed to train NAUI Divemasters and Assistant Instructors who are also technical divers in this role.

===Professional diving===
[[Professional diver]]s generally work in teams which have one or more divers in the water and a [[Diving supervisor|supervisor]] on the surface, with one or more assistants for handling lifelines, umbilicals, communications, gas panels and other support equipment, and a {{diving term|stand-by diver}} who is responsible for assisting or rescuing the in-water divers in an emergency. In these circumstances the supervisor has a high and legally defined level of responsibility for the safety of the dive team and anyone else on site.<ref name="SA Diving Regulations 2009"/><ref name="Diving at Work Regulations 1997" /><ref name="IMCA D022" />

==Employment opportunities and conditions==
Divemasters have the ability to work in holiday destinations in many parts of the world. They may work in diving resorts, private yachts, cruise ships and dive centres – anywhere where there is a demand for organised recreational diving.

Many divemasters also work in retail dive facilities and assist the instructor with training and supervision.

== Training ==
During Divemaster training, candidates learn dive leadership skills through classroom, independent study and practical training exercises. Some Divemaster programs require an internship program too.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}}<!--Which organisations does this refer to?--> They complete water skills and stamina exercises, training exercises that improve their ability to organize and solve problems and help others to improve their abilities.{{clarify|date=June 2012}}

Candidates put this knowledge into action through a structured internship or a series of practical training exercises, including the candidate assisting in actual diving programs with real diving students.

Divers can develop to divemaster level through two different methods. Either through progressing along the recreational levels of diving, or through divemaster internships that fast-track the candidate to divemaster level by having them become involved in the training facility where they are training.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}}<!--Which organisations does this refer to?--> Divemaster internships are offered by many different dive shops under their respective organizations( PADI, NAUI, SSI, etc.)The internship program allows the divemaster candidate to not only complete the minimum learning requirements, but to also "[[wikt:intern|intern]]" and practice what has been learned.

===Prerequisites for training===
[[File:PADI-Ausbildungssystem.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|The whole PADI training system.]]
PADI and SDI Divemaster candidates must have reached the following minimum requirements prior to their divemaster training:<ref name="padi-requirements" />
* Advanced Open Water Diver certification (or qualifying certification from another training organization)<ref name=padi-requirements />
* Rescue Diver certification (or qualifying certification from another training organization)<ref name=padi-requirements />
* First Aid & CPR training<ref name=padi-requirements /> (preferably with [[automated external defibrillator]] (AED) training)
* 40 logged dives <ref name=padi-requirements />
* Submit a medical statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months. <ref name="Medical statement" />
NASE requires divemaster candidates to also{{clarify|date=June 2012}}<!--is this additional to the above listed requirements for PADI and SSI?--> have demonstrated competency in physics, physiology, skills and environment, dive planning and equipment prior to entering a program. {{clarify|date=June 2012}}<!--level of competence--> 

PADI Divemaster candidates must have completed 60 logged dives prior to certification.<ref name="PADI Divemaster" />

==== NAUI ====
Divemaster is a NAUI leadership-level certification between Assistant Instructor and Instructor,<ref name="NAUI leadership" /> in contrast to agencies such as PADI that rate divemaster as the lowest level of leadership qualification.<ref name="padi-requirements" /> A NAUI Divemaster may organize and conduct dives for certified divers and is qualified to assist active-status NAUI Instructors on diver training courses.<ref name="NAUI leadership" />

NAUI provides a core of leadership-level skills and knowledge in the NAUI [[Master Scuba Diver]] and NAUI Scuba Rescue Diver courses, which are necessary prerequisites for all NAUI leadership programs. Divemaster candidates who offer equivalent certification must still pass the NAUI Master Scuba Diver written examination. Divemaster candidates must either hold a NAUI Assistant Instructor qualification, or have a minimum of 60 logged open water dives demonstrating varied environment, depth and activities, as well as waterskills equal to those expected of an Assistant Instructor.<ref name="NAUI leadership"/>

Holding a NAUI Divemaster certificate is one of three ways in which the diver certification requirements for a NAUI Instructor Training Course may be met.<ref name="NAUIinstr" />

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="bsac-recognition">{{cite web|url=http://www.bsac.com/core/core_picker/download.asp?id=10131&filetitle=Other+agency+qualifications+and+BSAC+diver+grades|title=Divers qualified with other agencies T.17|year=2012|publisher=[[British Sub-Aqua Club|BSAC]]|access-date=2012-06-08}}</ref>

<ref name="Diving at Work Regulations 1997" >{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2776/made |title=The Diving at Work Regulations 1997 |last=Staff |year=1977 |work=Statutory Instruments 1997 No. 2776 Health and Safety |publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) |location=Kew, Richmond, Surrey |access-date=6 November 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="EUF certification">{{cite web|url=http://www.euf-certification.org/euf-certification/training-organisations/relevant-standards/competencies-and-qualifications/ |last=Staff|publisher=European Underwater Federation (EUF)|work=EUF Certification|title=Competencies and qualifications of recreational scuba divers Level 1-3|access-date=10 August 2017}}</ref>

<ref name="idc">{{cite news|url=https://www.idc-guide.com/diving-agency-crossovers/|title=Dive Agency Crossovers BSAC, CMAS, SSI, NAUI & SAA to PADI|work=IDC Guide|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref>
<ref name="IMCA D022">{{cite book|last=Staff |editor-first=Paul |editor-last=Williams |title=The Diving Supervisor's Manual |url=http://www.imca-int.com/diving |edition=IMCA D 022 May 2000, incorporating the May 2002 erratum |year=2002 |publisher=International Marine Contractors' Association |location=London, UK |isbn=1-903513-00-6}}</ref>
<ref name="ISO24801-3">{{cite web |url=http://www.euf-certification.org/index.php?id=6630 |title=Competencies of a recreational scuba diver at level 3 "Dive Leader" (ISO&nbsp;24801-3) | publisher=European Underwater Federation (EUF) |access-date=27 February 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="Medical statement">This is a declaration that informs the participant that there is some risk involved in diving and states that the participant does not have any contra-indications for diving that are known to the physician.{{cite web|title=RSTC Medical statement|url=http://www.padi.com/english/common/courses/forms/pdf/10063-ver2-0.pdf|access-date=2012-06-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007000730/http://www.padi.com/english/common/courses/forms/pdf/10063-ver2-0.pdf|archive-date=2013-10-07}}</ref>

<ref name="NAUIinstr">{{cite web|title=NAUI Instructor Courses |url=http://www.naui.org/leadership_courses_instructor.aspx |access-date=2012-06-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529111351/http://www.naui.org/leadership_courses_instructor.aspx |archive-date=2012-05-29 }}</ref>
<ref name="NAUI leadership">{{cite web |title=NAUI Leadership |url=http://www.naui.org/leadership_courses.aspx |access-date=2012-03-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224103046/http://www.naui.org/leadership_courses.aspx |archive-date=2012-02-24 }}</ref>
<ref name="NAUI leadership arch">{{cite web |url=http://naui.org/leadership_courses_instructor.aspx |title=NAUI Worldwide Leadership Courses Instructor |access-date=2011-12-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101105539/http://www.naui.org/leadership_courses_instructor.aspx |archive-date=2012-01-01 }}</ref>

<ref name="PADI Divemaster">{{cite web|url=https://www.padi.com/padi-courses/divemaster-course|title=Who should take this course?|last=Staff|work=Divemaster course|publisher=Professional Association of Dive Instructors|access-date=19 December 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="padi-requirements">{{cite web|last=PADI|title=PADI DiveMaster Web Page|url=http://www.padi.com/scuba/padi-courses/professional-courses/view-all-professional-courses/divemaster/default.aspx|access-date=2012-02-05}}</ref>

<ref name="RSTC">{{cite web|url=http://wrstc.com/downloads/06%20-%20Recreational%20Dive%20Supervisor.pdf|title=Minimum Course Content for Recreational Dive Supervisor Certification|last=RSTC staff|date=1 October 2004|publisher=Recreational Scuba Training Council, Inc.|access-date=19 December 2016|location=Jacksonville, Florida}}</ref>

<ref name="SA Diving Regulations 2009">{{cite web |title=Diving Regulations 2009 |work=Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 – Regulations and Notices – Government Notice R41 |url=http://www.saflii.org/za/legis/consol_reg/ohasa85o1993rangnr41716/ |publisher=Government Printer |location=Pretoria |via=Southern African Legal Information Institute |access-date=23 December 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104080007/http://www.saflii.org/za/legis/consol_reg/ohasa85o1993rangnr41716/ |archive-date=4 November 2016 }}</ref>
<ref name="SCUBA travel">{{cite web|url=http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/training/qualifications.html|title=Equivalent Diving Qualifications from Different Agencies|last=Staff|work=Qualifications|publisher=SCUBA Travel|access-date=19 December 2016|location=Manchester, UK}}</ref>

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{{Underwater diving|prodiv}}
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[[Category:Underwater diver qualifications]]
[[Category:Underwater work]]