Certified and new/renewed PADI Divemasters who are in Active Status are authorized to:

• Independently guide Open Water Diver / Scuba Diver students on the tour portion of Open Water Diver course Training Dives 2 through 4 at a ratio of two student divers per certified Divemaster.
• Accompany Open Water Diver / Scuba Diver students under the indirect supervision of a PADI Instructor:
  • During surface swims to and from the entry / exit point.
  • During the navigational exercises during dive 4.
  • With the group, either on the surface or underwater while the instructor conducts askill, such as an ascent, with an individual student diver or buddy team.
• Conduct any subsequent dives for Discover Scuba Diving participants at a ratio of 2:1 if insured and the participants have satisfactorily completed the first dive under the supervision with a PADI Instructor.
• Conduct the PADI Discover Local Diving Experience (provided the Divemaster meets insurance requirements).
• Conduct the PADI Discover Snorkeling program (provided the Divemaster meets insurance requirements).
• Conduct the PADI Scuba Review program for certified Open Water Divers or divers with higher certifications (provided the Divemaster meets insurance requirements).
• Accompany student divers during training dives for the PADI Adventures in Diving program, Specialty Diver courses, or the Rescue Diver course.
• Generally supervise both training and non-training related activities by assisting divers and student divers in the planning, organizing, and direction of dives.
• Assist a Teaching status PADI Instructor in the open water training of divers. The allowable student diver-to-instructor ration increases by four additional student divers for each certified, renewed PADI Divemaster for all PADI programs and courses, unless stated otherwise by that course/program standards.
• Assist a Teaching status PADI Instructor in the confined water training of divers. Use of certified, renewed PADI Divemasters increases the allowable student diver-to-instructor ratio in confined water by four additional student divers per divemaster for all courses unless started otherwise by the course/ program standards.
• Teach and certify PADI Skin Divers independently (provided the Divemaster meets insurance requirements).
• Conduct the skin diving skills segment of the Open Water Diver Course during either Confined Water Dive Two, Three, Four or Five (provided the Divemaster meets insurance requirements).
• Teach Emergency First Response courses after successfully completing an Emergency First Response Instructor course.
• Independently conduct Discover Scuba Diving in a pool or in confined open water to a maximum depth of 20 feet if qualified as a Discover Scuba Diving Leader.
  
  

PADI Divemasters are members of PADI. With this membership the Divemaster will receive a subscription to The Undersea Journal, member pricing on selected PADI materials and services, and eligibility to purchase professional underwater liability insurance offered by PADI’s agents.

Renewal requirements for PADI Divemasters include submitting a complete renewal application along with dues annually. If membership lapses, additional requirements may also need to be met.

When an individual becomes a PADI Divemaster, PADI assigns the person a PADI Member number. When the Divemaster becomes an assistant instructor, or instructor, the member number remains the same, though the prefix changes to reflect the new level.