I don’t think I’ve ever experienced so much, in so little time… and it’s addicting. I truly can’t stop. The more I dive, the more I learn, and the more I am dying to experience. I spent a week (on my Adventure Sports Newmarket dive trip to the Florida Keys) continuously creating new goals for myself, whether it was the maximum depth I hit, or overcoming what once may have been a fear – in my case a night dive…
 
Throughout the seven days, I kept tacking new things onto my “dive bucket list”, most of which I became interested in from hearing others talking about their experiences. I created a personal list of the millions of different things I wished to someday experience, and gratefully crossed off quite a few during my trip. The list includes wrecks I would like to dive, species I cannot wait to encounter, destinations I’ve heard great things about, and goals set around my personal diving limits and certifications!
 
I think that’s what makes diving so rewarding though… Although I may have some control over crossing certain things off my list, often times, I really don’t know what to expect from a dive. There are so many things that may affect the turnout, making it so much more enjoyable when you get down there. You lose a sense of repetition, because no dive is the same as another. You’ll experience different weather, creatures, dives sites, visibility, water conditions, buddies… the list goes on.
 
During my 4th adventure dive, towards my Advanced Open Water Diver course, what I expected of my dive was completely off. I chose to do a night dive, not because I felt that I personally would enjoy it a whole lot, but because it was an accomplishment I knew I wanted to check off my list, an opportunity to learn more about diving at night/in dark spaces, and because I wanted to get myself comfortable with different diving conditions. I expected the visibility to be only what my light would reach, and the rest just black. I expected to see nothing really, maybe a couple fish swimming around and whatever made up of the reef. I expected to maybe come across some fear-filled moments, just because I couldn’t really see much…
 
Like I said, my assumptions and expectations of the dive were so far off. The night dive ended up being my favorite dive of the dozen or so I had done during my trip, as it was the dive where I encountered an incredible variety of different species, something I personally value a lot while scuba diving. About 25 feet down, diving at Davis Reef, Key Largo for approximately 30-45 minutes, I spotted several sea turtles, stingrays, nurse sharks, lobsters, green moray eels, lionfish, and more! Everything with its own spot to sleep among the reefs… The saying shows, the ocean really did come alive at night for me!
 
My one-week, ASN Trip was an ongoing journey consisting of several dives, course studies, eating, sleeping, and more dives! I worked my way down, from a depth of 12 feet in a pool, to a maximum depth of 100 feet in the ocean. I explored three magnificent wrecks, all with their own story I enjoyed learning about. I visited multiple reefs, all with their own different varieties of life living amongst them. The week itself was an incredible experience, and each dive even more so. That week, I found passion in something I never would have given much thought into. Diving is a sport with so many different directions for all different types of people, one that is both challenging and rewarding!
 
Anyone, interested in diving, whether it be just to try it out or to work towards a diving certification, let us know!
 
We will gladly get you on board.

Jody instructing Taylor in the Florida Keys during one of her Open Water Certification dives.

​I get asked this at least once a week, and to be fair it is a valid question. I remember I was also once confused. The titles sound pretty much the same and are comprised of the same words.

So you’re sitting there wondering…What is the difference between the two? Which one is higher in the diving world and why does it all have to be so complicated? In the diving world, there is actually a significant and distinct difference between the two.

So if you feel too silly to ask someone, I’ve got you covered.

First, let’s start with Master Scuba Diver. A common misconception is that there is a specific course to become a Master Scuba Diver, however it is actually not a course in itself. It is a set of requirements that need to be met before one can apply in order to get the special Master Scuba Diver status.

The requirements as per PADI are:

1. You must be 12 years old or older.
   
2. You must have completed the PADI Rescue Diver or Junior Recuse Diver Course.
3. Completed a minimum of 5 PADI Specialty Diver Courses
4. Minimum of 50 Logged Dives.

So once you meet the requirements and apply, you are essentially a Master Scuba Diver! Not as hard as you thought, right? There are so many awesome specialty courses that PADI offers, from Underwater Videographer to Ice Diving, all the way to Fish Identification (yup, that’s right, naming fish).

Now, becoming a Divemaster is a bit different. It is essentially an entry-level professional certification.
During your PADI Open Water, you may have noticed divers helping out you and your instructor – They were Divemasters! A Divemaster leads dives and assists dive instructors and they are a respected and important part of any dive shop or diving team.

The requirements as per PADI are:

1. You must be 18 years or older.
2. You must have completed the PADI Rescue Diver
3. At least 40 logged dives to begin the course and 60 dives to earn certification.
4. Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past 24 months.

The Divemaster course is not an easy course to pass, one must meet a long list of requirements and the course itself takes a significant length of time to finish with multiple components. Once you are a Divemaster, you can pursue a career in the dive industry and work just about anywhere in the world. The Divemaster course is a stepping stone to moving up in the professional diving world as you can then apply for the PADI Open Water Instructor Course!

So there you have it folks, now you know the difference between the two similar sounding PADI diving qualifications! Remember to thank your hard working Divemasters who often volunteer their time purely for the love of the sport! Go Divemasters, we love you!

If you are interested in getting your Divemaster or Master Scuba Diver qualifications, feel free to contact us with any questions or enquiries. Now that you know the difference, you are well on your way to choosing the next adventure that suits you best!

Happy Diving,

Dana Lenahan