Course overview

Become a PADI Divemaster in Cairns and earn your first professional rating on the Great Barrier Reef. Working from heated training pools and liveaboard trips to outer reefs like Flynn, Milln and Thetford, you develop the dive-theory knowledge, stamina and leadership skills to supervise certified divers and assist instructors. The certification opens the door to working in dive tourism worldwide.

What you’ll learn

• Apply expanded dive theory across physics, physiology, equipment and the dive environment
• Demonstrate dive-leadership through stamina, rescue and skill assessments
• Map and brief outer-reef dive sites and conduct guided reef dives
• Assist instructors with student divers in confined and open water
• Supervise certified divers and manage groups in real reef conditions
• Handle dive-site logistics, risk assessment and emergency procedures

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 18
• PADI Advanced Open Water (or equivalent) and Rescue Diver certifications
• Emergency First Response (primary and secondary care) within the last 24 months
• At least 40 logged dives to begin and 60 to certify
• Diver medical clearance signed by a physician

What's included · What's not

Probability of sightings · month-by-month

What you're likely to see each month, based on historic operator logs.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1
   Theory and assessment

   Begin dive-theory study and complete the water-skills and stamina assessments in the heated pool.
2. Day2
   Leadership skills

   Refine rescue and demonstration-quality skills and start practical-application workshops.
3. Day3
   Site mapping and briefings

   Map an outer-reef dive site, prepare and deliver dive briefings, and run search patterns.
4. Day4
   Course internship

   Assist an instructor with student divers in confined water and on early training dives.
5. Day5
   Outer-reef leadership

   Join a liveaboard trip to guide and supervise certified divers at Flynn, Milln or Thetford Reefs.
6. Day6
   Final evaluation

   Complete remaining exams, logbook sign-offs and your professional Divemaster certification.

Verified through iDive

Every partner school in the iDive network is vetted on safety, instructor credentials, equipment standards and student feedback. Talk to a iDive dive pro on WhatsApp for current availability and reviews specific to Cairns.

Frequently asked questions