Divemaster Internship Program

Let’s get one thing out of the way quickly…
If you’re simply looking to rack up as many dives as possible for as little money as possible, then Big Blue probably isn’t the right fit for you. We’re not a dive factory, and we’re not interested in churning out Divemaster’s who want a cheap holiday with a badge at the end of it.

We train professionals.
People who want a real dive career.
People who want that all-important foot in the door after training.

And here’s the good news: we always hire from within our own Divemaster Internship Program. If you’re looking for your first actual job in the dive industry, you’ve come to the right island, the right dive shop, and frankly—the right family.

The Truth Nobody Tells You: Training vs. Doing the Job

Becoming a Divemaster is a bit like having a baby in a hospital. You spend the whole time surrounded by experts, calm professionals, and top-tier equipment… then suddenly someone smiles, hands you a tiny human and says, “Right then—you can take your baby home now!”

And you think: Take it where? Do what? Shouldn’t someone be coming with me?

That’s the reality of Divemaster training. You learn the skills, practice the demonstrations, perfect your buoyancy, pass your exams… and then that first day as an actual DM hits you like a rogue wave.

You’re suddenly responsible for real guests, real equipment, real logistics, and real problems that don’t appear in the manual. Dive centers want Divemaster’s with experience—people who aren’t going to get lost, aren’t going to abort dives for schoolboy errors like uncontrolled descents and ear problems, and aren’t going to forget how many tanks are on the boat.

Divemaster’s are the cogs in the engine of every dive operation. They keep everything moving, everything oiled, everything safe.

And anyone with more than five fun dives can spot the difference between a DM who’s trained… and a DM who’s actually done the job.

That’s where this internship bridges the gap.

What This Internship Actually Gives You

This isn’t just a Divemaster course.
It’s a full Divemaster Internship Program that gives you the real-world experience employers are desperate for.

By the end of the program, you’ll emerge as:

• A confident, employable SSI Divemaster

• A capable guide for certified divers

• A professional assistant on courses

• Someone who can work on dive boats and at resorts

• A qualified Snorkeling Instructor

• A DM who understands equipment, tank counts, repairs, logistics, and customer care

• A diver who can walk into a job interview and instantly rise to the top of the pecking order

This is the experience that makes you stand out.
This is what makes Big Blue graduates so sought after.

Course Duration & Structure

We strongly recommend allowing 8 weeks to complete your Divemaster Internship. This gives you the full benefit of guidance, experience, repetition, and confidence.

The SSI Divemaster course includes:

• Dive Guide – preparing you to lead dives professionally

• Science of Diving – expanding your theoretical understanding

Practical workshops:

• Deep Diving

• Navigation

• Night Diving

• Guiding & Briefing

• Buoyancy, Skill Circuits

• Stress & Rescue + Missing Diver

• Snorkel Instructor Training

Academic sessions on:

• Physics

• Decompression Theory

• Physiology

• Ecology

• Equipment

• Dive Shop Management

• Retail Sales & Marketing

And because we believe experience comes from variety, you’ll shadow a wide range of Instructors and Divemasters and assist on everything from Basic Diver to Rescue courses. When you’re not in scheduled sessions, you’ll be on the boats guiding, briefing, and building the instincts that turn trainees into professionals.

We run a rolling academic program, so you can start your Divemaster course anytime.

Entry Requirements

To enrol, you need:

• Rescue certification

• First Aid & CPR within the last two years (EFR or React Right)

• 40 logged dives to begin the course

Don’t worry if you don’t have 40 dives yet—we offer reduced-rate fun dives at 750 THB to get your logbook ready.

Equipment & Support

Big Blue Diving provides all equipment during training except your:

• Dive computer

• DSMB

• Knife

• Compass

• Whistle

These are SSI requirements, and you can purchase them with a 15% professional discount through our shop. A torch and slate are highly recommended too.

Throughout your course, you’ll also be supported by your instructor mentors Fiona Anne and Martin Lindquist—always available for extra coaching, troubleshooting, or even just organising the next social night.

Technical Diving Options

We’re one of the few schools on Koh Tao with an active Technical Diving Department (and yes, we offer Technical Divemaster training).

Discounted DMT rates apply to:

• Sidemount

• Twinset

• Decompression

• Deep

• Wreck

• Nitrox

• Solo

• DPV
  … and more.

We also run special Tech Days exclusively for our DMTs to explore the world of advanced diving with Big Blue Tech.

Why Choose Big Blue for Your Divemaster Training?

• 30+ Years of Experience

• Worldwide Reputation for Excellence

• Professional, Highly Accredited Instructor Team

• State-of-the-Art Facilities & Purpose-Built Boats

• Extensive Hands-On Experience

• Small Groups & Personalized Training

• Diverse Koh Tao Dive Sites

• Strong Environmental Commitment

• Unmatched Networking and Employment Opportunities

Every full-time Divemaster working at Big Blue today graduated from this program. That’s not a coincidence—it’s a system.

In Summary: This Internship Makes You a Real Divemaster

This isn’t just about learning skills.
It’s about becoming the professional other divers look up to.

The DM who knows what to do underwater and on the boat.
The DM who stays calm, solves problems, and guides confidently.
The DM who employers actively want to hire.

By the end of this program, you won’t just be certified—you’ll be experienced, employable, and fully prepared for a real career in diving.