Dive Master
As the first professional rating available from most dive training agencies, the Divemaster program is considered one of the most challenging and fun courses PADI has to offer. The Divemaster certification will prepare you to lead, organize, and supervise recreational dives and is a prerequisite for instructor training. Because Divemaster is the first step to a professional PADI career path, it is vital to start off on the right foot. Roatan Dive Academy (RDA) is a 5-star instructor development center with over 15 years of experience and acclaimed recognition from PADI for our environmental conservation work.
While some programs offer a one-size-fits-all approach, at RDA we prefer to personalize each Divemaster course by taking into consideration your previous experience, how much time you have available on the island, and your individual goals. Our experienced, professional, and friendly dive team is happy to guide you through a life-changing internship with a course plan tailored to your specific needs.
We encourage our Divemaster interns to spend as much time with us as possible for a hands-on and extensive working experience that assures course mastery. If you have already completed training with another organization, we can convert your current certifications to PADI at no extra cost or time.
In addition to our base level Divemaster and Instructor Internship program, we offer three different internship streams to choose from: Coral Conservation, Technical Diving, and Shop Management. As an RDA intern, we offer you the option to extend your internship program and focus on one of these three specializations to further your training and better prepare you for a professional diving career. Please feel free to contact us for more details.
At RDA, environmental conservation is one of our passions. We are dedicated to protecting and preserving the amazing underwater world we love to explore and were awarded the PADI “Green Star” for our efforts. As part of our commitment to the environment, we teamed up with Bay Islands Reef Restoration (BIRR) to start the first two coral nurseries, not only in the Bay Islands, but in all Central America. We like our interns to be as involved as possible in our active reef restoration projects and offer an intensive and well-rounded GoPro Ecological Divemaster Program. This specialized internship allows you to work closely with us and a network of conservation organizations to maintain and survey new and existing coral colonies. This vital work is aimed at increasing coral health, diversity, and abundance to protect a critical part of the marine ecosystem. Many of our interns have made the decision to stay on and volunteer with the BIRR program, which is a unique and meaningful opportunity you may want to consider in the future.
• Rescue Diver certified;
• EFR certification (First Aid & CPR) within 24 month;
• Proof of 40 logged dives at the beggining of the course; and, • 60 logged dives to finish the course.
The amount of time we recommend for your internship depends on your level of certification and number of logged dives. If you’re lacking any of the pre-requisites, don’t worry at all, as we can build a personalized program just for you (see below for more details).
Customer service skills: From meeting and greeting guests during pick-up and arrival at the dive shop to helping with equipment set up and problems on the boat and underwater, you will have hands-on training and experience to face every new challenge and question with effective and helpful problem solving skills.
Working with local staff and learning a new language: Learn from the locals who have been living here and diving on this reef their whole lives. Want to know how best to spot a Scorpion Fish or find a Red Tipped Sea Goddess? Who best to show you how then those who know the reef better than their own backyard! Practicing your Spanish or learning the local language, Garifuna, is another perk if you’re up to the challenge.
Compressor use: Learn how to operate different types of compressor systems as well as basic tank inspection skills and maintenance such as changing burst o-rings, etc.
Boat management: Learn how to properly set up your boat, manage different conditions, moor up to various lines and docks, and properly brief guests on boat safety procedures and safety guidelines.
Dive equipment repair and management: We service and repair all of our dive equipment on site and we can show you everything you need to know.
Responding to emergency situations: As a PADI Divemaster, you will need to be prepared to respond to every type of dive situation you may face. We will train you on emergency equipment, procedures, set up and management to ensure you’re ready for whatever may come your way.
During your Divemaster internship you will also have the chance to experience several highlights, such as:
Dive and explore all of Roatan’s many ship wrecks (The Aguila, The Odyssey, The Prince Albert, Mr. Bud, etc.)
Dive with us on both the North and South shores of Roatan to explore even more dive sites. We are the only dive center on the island to offer this kind of extensive dive site coverage.
Get your Lionfish Hunting License and your own Hawaiian sling spear. Lionfish are an invasive species and not natural to this area. We work closely with the Roatan Marine Park and most of the other dive centers to help reduce the population and restore balance back to the reef. You can also cook whatever you catch for an intern house feast whenever you like!
Watersport and outdoor activities during your free time and days off. Waterskiing, wake boarding, knee boarding, tubing, banana boat riding, kayaking and snorkeling are just a few of the activities available at the resort. You can also snorkel or dive from the beach, go paddle boarding or parasailing in West Bay, rent scooters and explore the island, zip line through the tree tops or just relax at home in your hammock with a book!
Bioluminescent Night Dives: Experience the wonder of a fluorescent underwater world exclusively with us. You will be able to dive with special equipment and see many corals and other organisms light up with unexpected and vivid fluorescent colors. Imagine Avatar, but underwater!
After your Divemaster internship you will also receive all of the following post-internship benefits:
Free diving for life with the condition that you bring one payable guest with you outside of the hotel packages.
Possibility to stay on and work with us to gain even more experience in our dive center.
Get the benefit of a 10% IDC course fee reduction if you join the Instructor Development Course after your Divemaster internship and get trained for the most sought after job in the dive industry – a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor position.
Access to our worldwide dive industry network and help with job placement after you complete your training.
Internship Cost: $1,449,
PADI fee and materials $439.
Total price: $1969
4 weeks
Rescue Divers (-40 logged dives):
Internship Cost: $1,699,
PADI fee and materials $439.
Total price: $2269
5 weeks
Advanced Divers (20+ logged dives):
Internship Cost: $1,999,
PADI fee and materials $586.
Total price: $2,756
6 weeks
Advanced Divers (-20 logged dives):
Internship Cost: $2,299,
PADI fee and materials $586.
Total price: $3,056
7 weeks
Pick up & drop off from the Roatan airport or ferry port
Accommodation in RDA´s intern house with private security, daily maid, and laundry service
Transportation to and from both of our dive centers
Skills clinic with our Course Director and Master Instructor
Unlimited diving during your courses
Buffet-style lunch at Turquoise Bay Dive & Beach Resort
Equipment rental (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, snorkel & fins)
Free shark dive at Roatan’s 'Cara a Cara’ shark dive
Free trip to Pigeon Cay
Lionfish hunting (requires a license and registered spear through the Roatan Marine Park at a cost of $50)
The most complete dive site program in the Bay Islands, with access to dives on all four sides of the island including remote areas such as Pigeon Cay, Cordelia Banks, wreck dives, night dives, etc
PADI material in your language (please pre-order a minimum of 8 weeks in advance of your arrival, ONLY IF you require a language other than English)
PADI AWARE – Coral Reef Conservation Specialty Course Certification (a $100 value) as well as lectures & training in coral restoration, surveying, nursery maintenance, fish/coral identification, and other areas of conservation
Mentorship and instruction through your courses from a highly experienced team of Divemasters, Instructors & specialists
Post-internship CV building assistance and reference; volunteer or school credit letters
Opportunities to learn about equipment maintenance and repair
Huge discounts on all PADI specialty courses (wreck diver, night diver, fish identification, underwater photographer, etc.)
Huge discounts on retail dive equipment
Not included:
Breakfast & dinner
Flights
Emergency First Responder Course (only necessary if candidate does not hold proof of recent first aid training)
Extras (nights at intern house, diving, equipment rental, etc.) outside of your specified course dates
Visa’s (where applicable)
In order to personalize our programs to each individual students needs, we only accept 6-8 candidates a month for the Divemaster program and 6 candidates for the Instructor program. As positions tend to fill up quick, please email us as soon as you make your decision in order to guarantee your spot in our program.
Available bundles with this course:
At Roatan Dive Academy we know one course is not enough, that’s why we have created a serie of bundle package that will give a better price if you decide to take more than one course with us.