Course Prerequisites
- Certified as PADI Advanced Open Water & Rescue Diver
- At least 18 years old
- Logged 40 scuba dives
- EFR® Primary and Secondary Care training within 24 months
- Medically evaluated and cleared for diving within 12 months
Course Packages
Divemaster Basic
38,000 THB
Duration: 4-6 weeks
- PADI Divemaster course
- Conservation Dive
- Master Divers T-Shirt
- Professional discount on equipment purchases (15%)
Divemaster Silver
55,000 THB
Duration: 4-8 weeks
- PADI Divemaster course
- Conservation Dive
- Master Divers T-Shirt
- Professional discount on equipment purchases (15%)
- Makeup dives (up to 40)
- FREE Accommodation (4 weeks)
- Unlimited diving during the course
- PADI AWARE Specialist course OR PADI TEC REC Gas Blender
- PADI Enriched Air Nitrox course
- PADI Emergency O2 Provider course
Divemaster Gold
65,000 THB
Duration: 6-8 weeks
- PADI Divemaster course
- Conservation Dive
- Master Divers T-Shirt
- Professional discount on equipment purchases (15%)
- Makeup dives (up to 40)
- FREE Accommodation (4 weeks)
- Unlimited diving during the course
- PADI AWARE Specialist course OR PADI TEC REC Gas Blender
- PADI Enriched Air Nitrox course
- PADI Emergency O2 Provider course
- PADI Deep Speciality (40 Meters)
- PADI Wreck Speciality
Specialties Flexibility Policy
The specialties in the packages are flexibly exchangeable. If the newly chosen specialty is more expensive than the one already in the package, the difference must be paid. However, if it should be cheaper, no money will be refunded.
Important Details
On top of the package price comes:
- 8000THB for the divemaster materials (elearning and slates)
- ~3500THB for your own gear (compass,cutting tool and surface marker buoy + 50m Reel)
- ~275 AUD PADI fees payable upon certification
All Professional level courses require a Completed diver medical form signed by a dive physician.
What to Expect During Your Course
The PADI Divemaster Course at Master Divers has three main parts to transform you into a highly skilled dive professional.
Knowledge Development
You’ll complete your study online using PADI Divemaster eLearning, which covers:
- What a PADI Divemaster does
- How to supervise dive activities
- How to assist with student divers
- Keeping divers safe & managing risks
- Programs you can run as a Divemaster
- Specialized skills and activities
- The business of diving & career opportunities
- Protecting the underwater environment
- Review of dive theory
The Divemaster eLearning includes videos and knowledge reviews at the end of each section.
Once you’ve completed all sections and feel confident, you’ll take the Divemaster Final Exams (Part 1 & 2).
You’ll also create an Emergency Assistance Plan (EAP) — just like you did during your Rescue Diver Course.
Water Skills Development
You’ll practice and be assessed on key water skills, including:
- 400m swim
- 800m snorkel swim
- 15-minute float
- 100m diver tow
- Equipment exchange exercise
- Diver rescue assessment
- 24-skill demonstration circuit
Practical Application
This part of the course focuses on real-world Divemaster tasks, including workshops, scenarios, and assessments.
Divemaster Practical Skills:
You’ll learn how to set up and manage dive sites, create a dive site map, deliver clear and fun dive briefings, handle search & recovery situations, and manage deep dive scenarios.
Divemaster Program Workshops:
You’ll practice leading Reactivate (refresher) sessions, snorkeling and skin diving sessions, Discover Scuba Diving in confined water (pool), Discover Scuba Diving in open water, and Discover Local Diving (guiding certified divers).
Practical Assessments:
You’ll assist and be assessed while working with Open Water students in confined water, Open Water students in open water, Continuing Education students (like Advanced courses), and Certified divers in open water.
Your Pathway to Divemaster
Don't have all the prerequisites yet? Start your journey here with our standalone courses or all-inclusive packages up to Divemaster Silver.
Has it been a while?
A Refresher is necessary if you haven't dived for over 1 year.
Zero to Hero (To DM Silver)
Open Water to Divemaster
Includes OW, AOW, EFR, Rescue & DM Silver
Advanced OW to Divemaster
Includes AOW, EFR, Rescue & DM Silver
EFR + Rescue to Divemaster
Includes EFR, Rescue & DM Silver
Standalone PADI Courses
Open Water Diver Course
13,000 THBAdvanced Open Water Diver Course
11,500 THBEmergency First Responder + Rescue Diver
16,000 THBDivemaster Schedule
Please note: This schedule is an example and changes can be made.
| Week | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | AM Boat, Orientation, Paperwork, Equipment | Skill circuit, 400m Swim, 15 min float | Briefing, Navigation, SMB, Leading Workshop PM Boat | DSD CW, ReActivate PM Boat | Skin Diver, 800m Snorkel | 9.15am Theory recap 1-3, Time for Fun Dive PM Boat | Time for Fun Dive AM/PM Boat |
| Week 2 | Assists | Assists | Assists | Assists | Assists | 9.15am Theory recap 4-6, Time for Fun Dive PM Boat | Time for Fun Dive AM/PM Boat |
| Week 3 | Search & Recovery, Rescue Assesment, 100m Tow PM Boat | Mapping I, Leading Workshop | Assists | Assists | Assists | 9.15am Theory recap 7-9, Time for Fun Dive PM Boat | Time for Fun Dive AM/PM Boat |
| Week 4 | Skill Circuit II, Equipment Exchange | Mapping II, DSD OW Dive, EAP | Time for Fun Dive AM/PM Boat | Dive Site Set Up, Deep Workshop, DLD | Assists | 9.15am Quick Review, Time for Fun Dive PM Boat | Time for Fun Dive AM/PM Boat |
| Week 5 | CW/Resume Workshop | Speccs | Speccs | Speccs | Free Time | IDC Prep | IDC Prep |
Training Dives
The number of training dives is on average 24.
Divemaster candidates who book the Silver Package achieve approximately 50 dives (training dives + fun dives).
Dormitory Info
- 2 bunk beds per room
- Fan cooling ventilation
- Small kitchenette area with refrigerator and microwave
Why Train With Master Divers?
Trading your desk for the Gulf of Thailand is a massive step. By choosing a PADI Career Developement Center that prioritizes education standards over volume, you ensure your first step into the professional diving world is built on a solid, respected foundation.
Real Mentorship:
- You aren't just another number on a roster. You are joining a tight-knit family of dive professionals who actively mentor you through every step of your training.
Small Group Focus:
- We strictly cap our training ratios. You get direct, personalized attention from experienced instructors instead of fighting to be heard at the back of a large pack.
Ocean Conservation at the Core:
- We don't just teach you how to lead dives; we teach you how to protect the reef. Environmental conservation isn't an afterthought—it is built directly into your daily routine.
Career-Ready Skills:
- We go beyond the basic PADI requirements. You will graduate as a highly skilled, confident leader ready to secure work anywhere in the diving industry.
Life on Koh Tao
Getting Here from Bangkok
- Fastest: Fly from Bangkok (BKK/DMK) to Koh Samui (USM), then take a high-speed Lomprayah catamaran to Koh Tao.
- Budget: Overnight VIP bus from Khao San Road direct to Chumphon, followed by a morning ferry.
- Scenic: Overnight sleeper train from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central to Chumphon, linking up with the morning ferry.
Getting Here from Phuket
- Air: Direct flight from Phuket (HKT) to Koh Samui (USM), then hop on the ferry.
- Land: Bus or minivan from Phuket across to Surat Thani, then connect with a ferry to Koh Tao.
Monthly Costs & Living
Koh Tao offers a high quality of life at an affordable price. Depending on your lifestyle, eating habits, and socializing, general monthly costs average between 15,000 to 30,000 THB.
Scooter Rental
Renting a motor scooter is the most popular way to get around. Monthly rentals typically range from 3,000 to 5,000 THB.
Please always wear a helmet and drive carefully on the steep island roads!
Housing Resources
If you prefer living off-site or want to explore private rentals, these local Facebook groups are highly recommended:
Meet Stephan
PADI Divemaster Trainer
Stephan is one of the Divemaster Trainers here at Master Divers, on Koh Tao where he has been living and teaching for over three years. He is passionate about both diving and education, combining strong professional standards with a supportive teaching style.
Stephan specializes in guiding divemaster candidates through their development, helping them gain confidence and improve their skills step by step. Watching his students progress from their first day to the final stage of their training, and seeing them overcome their fears and limits, is what drives his commitment as an instructor.