Master Diver

The SSI Master Diver rating is the pinnacle of recreational, non-professional diving. It’s the last stop on your recreational training path. It combines knowledge and skill development so that you can become a role model for other recreational divers.

To become an SSI Master Diver, you need to complete a minimum of 5 Specialties with one being SSI Diver Stress and Rescue and log over 50 dives. It is that easy!

Our Master Diver program focuses on the most popular speciality courses that SSI has to offer; Deep Diving (to 40 meters/130 feet), Enriched Air Nitrox 40%, Navigation, and Marine Ecology. Already have one of these specialities under your belt? Get in touch with us and we can arrange to swap in a different speciality course.

Not an SSI Diver? No problem! Up to 2 Specialties from a recognized agency can count towards your 5 SSI Specialties. SSI Diver Stress and Rescue not included.

Our Master Diver Program works on a constant rotation, which means you can join it at any point and still complete the whole program in a week. New student orientations begin every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8 am. Make sure you sign up by the day before to guarantee your spot!

Will you still not have 50 logged dives by the end of the Master Diver program? Contact us about possible flexible Master Diver internship opportunities that will allow you to continue to improve your skills and log more dives.

The schedule for the course usually looks something like this.

Day 1

9:00-12:00

You’ll start your Master Diver program off by spending your first morning in the lounge area at our partner restaurant, Blue Water, learning about marine ecology from one of our Master Diver Mentors. They’ll explain why marine conservation has to be an important consideration for all scuba divers.

12:45-18:00

In the afternoon of day one, you’ll head out on our afternoon boat for your first two training dives. These dives are usually going to be related to what you’ve learned in the morning session.

Day 2

9:00-12:00

Day two starts with another morning of interesting lectures on marine ecology. You’ll add to the knowledge you gained on the first day and really expand on the complexity of the underwater world.

12:45-18:00

The afternoon of day two will be just the same as the afternoon on the first day. You’ll head out on the afternoon boat again and conduct two training dives related to the topics you covered in the morning.

Day 3

9:00-12:00

Day three starts in the lounge area once again. But this time you’ll be talking about underwater navigation. You’ll learn concepts and techniques for successfully navigating dive sites using a compass and natural navigation.

12:45-18:00

You’ll once again be out on the afternoon boat on day three.  You’ll use your two afternoon dives to get some practical experience navigating some of Koh Tao’s dive sites, under the experience of your mentor.

Day 4

Day four is a much-earned day off. Take some time to recharge your batteries, get some good meals in, make sure you’re hydrated, and maybe enjoy some quality beach time. Master diver training starts up again the next day!

Day 5

9:00-12:00

Day four is an interesting and exciting day! This is the day you’ll dabble in nitrox diving and deep diving. The morning will be spent in the classroom learning the theory behind nitrox diving and the added complexities it adds to diving. You’ll also learn how to safely dive to a maximum depth of 40 meters/130 feet.

12:45-18:00

The afternoon of day four will have you back out on the boat to do two more dives.  These ones will be something for the books.  These are the dives where you’ll put your new Nitrox and Deep Diving knowledge into practice.

Day 6

6:30-13:00

Day six will have you off to an early start.  For a bit of a change, there’s no classroom session today.  You’ll head out on the morning boat to conduct your final two dives of the program.  You’ll decide with your Master Diver Mentor what type of dives you’d like to conduct.  After you’re done, we’ll all be waiting for you at the bar to congratulate our latest Master Diver!

Don’t forget! Because of the extra nitrogen your body builds up while scuba diving, you cannot fly within 24hrs of your last dive.

Are you fit to dive?

Scuba diving is an activity that requires a certain level of physical health.  Read this medical questionnaire.  If you can answer yes to any of the questions you may require medical clearance to enrol in a diving course.  Contact us for more information.