New PADI Divemaster Course 2010 Changes Revealed

Revisions Stress Practical, In-Water Training, Move Theory Online

Long-expected changes to the PADI Divemaster course are finally upon us with PADI toughening prerequisites, increasing in-water training by 50 percent and placing practical dive-leadership skills ahead of physics and physiology.

The new, revised 2010 PADI Divemaster Course, to be announced at the DEMA Show 2010 in Las Vegas Nov. 17-19, coincides with the debut of the PADI Divemaster Online eLearning program.

While a new paper PADI Divemaster manual and DVD will also be introduced, the agency is pushing DM candidates to enroll in Divemaster eLearning, which will replace all but one of the classroom presentations, as well as use the already available Dive Theory Online eLearning course.

According to a “first look” post on PADI Americas’ Instructor News blog, “the new program includes the most-requested changes from PADI members, emphasizing the dive-guide role of a Divemaster, deepening candidate experience and skill background, and incorporating real-world, practical training for the programs DMs are authorized to conduct.”

The changes are broken down into three areas: prerequisites, skills development and knowledge development.

Slightly Tougher Prerequisites

PADI Divemaster training still does not require that a candidate be a Master Scuba Diver, but it does double the number of dives needed to start training to 40, from the current 20.

And, while they are not required, PADI is now “recommending” that DM candidates also have taken the PADI Deep Diver and PADI Search & Recovery Diver specialty courses.

More-Practical Skills Training

The biggest changes come in the water, where PADI has increased by 50 percent the amount of workshop and practical application training.

For starters, there are now five new Divemaster-Conducted Program workshops; one for each course DMs are authorized to conduct. They include the current mapping project, dive-site setup and management, dive briefing and scenarios covering deep diving and search and recovery.

PADI notes that if a DM candidate holds certification cards for the Deep Diver and Search and Recovery Diver, the two scenarios can be dropped, at the instructor’s discretion.

As for dive skills, four new skin diving skills have been added. The Skills Evaluation Slate will be changed accordingly.

eLearning Comes to Divemaster

More in-water training comes at with the trade-off of less classroom time. As it has done Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver, PADI is now emphasizing students should get all their academics, theory and exams out of the way online.

Now all classroom presentations are shown via Internet video. Dive theory – which has also gotten a makeover – is also largely available online already. PADI – which takes half of all eLearnng fees itself — has high hopes that DM candidates will fork out $200 for the Divemaster Online course and then pay another $100 for Dive Theory Online.

As part of the PADI Divemaster Course revisions, dive theory knowledge requirement is now an “intermediate step” between what’s required for the PADI Rescue Diver certification and that for Assistant Instructor or Open Water Scuba Instructor. Signing up for Dive Theory Online allows students to “try out” about half of the dive theory exam questions before they take the PADI Divemaster Exam for real.

Those expecting to take the DM exam at home with the help of friends, books and the Internet will be sorely disappointed, however. Unlike with other PADI eLearning courses, the Divemaster Exam cannot be taken online. Students will take the revised Divemster exam in the classroom, under the supervision of an instructor.

The new 2010 PADI Divemaster exam emphasizes the supervisory and leadership aspects of being a DM. PADI says the test also is written in less-technical language to “more accurately assess candidate comprehension of the knowledge development topics.”

What Hasn’t Changed?

The DM course overhaul – rumored, discussed and expected for nearly two years – is the biggest change, perhaps ever, to the PADI Divemaster training program. But not everything has changed.

For starters, you still only need 60 dives total to be certified.

As noted, the mapping project remains untouched and the Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving will not be revised. One note: The Diving Knowledge Workbook will no longer be required.

Revised PADI Divemaster Materials

What has changed? A lot, especially with the materials.

The biggest change will be with PADI Divemaster Manual itself, which will increase from 200 to 300 pages. PADI says it “includes new course information and functions as an additional study tool for the DM exam. Each chapter now includes a case study based on real scenarios that illustrate sound judgment and other leadership skills.”

The Divemaster DVD also gets an upgrade, with “demonstration quality” videos of 20 skills on the skills circuit, as well as new skin diving skills. New footage is also included on both the consumer and “Pro” editions of the Divemaster DVD.

Other revised or all new materials include:

• Divemaster Slates
• Instructor Cue Cards (New)
• Prescriptive Lessons Guides – New and integrated with standard lesson guides.
• A Divemaster eLearning Crewpak (New)

When Does It Start?

PADI is allowing dive centers worldwide to continue to teach the current (now “old”) Divemaster Course and use old materials until July 2011. Aquanauts will begin teaching the new course as soon as materials are available. Because PADI materials are rolled out in North America and the U.K. first, it’s currently unknown when PADI Asia-Pacific and its Thailand distributor will have them.

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