Ecology Divemaster Internship

Develop the skills, experience, and environmental awareness needed to become a successful dive professional and a responsible ambassador for the ocean.

The Big Blue Ecological Divemaster Internship combines comprehensive SSI Divemaster training with hands-on marine conservation experience, creating a unique program for divers who want to build a career in the dive industry while developing a deeper understanding of the marine environment they work in.

Over approximately 8 weeks, you’ll work alongside our experienced instructors, Divemasters, and Marine Biologist, gaining practical experience in every aspect of dive centre operations while participating in conservation activities, ecological surveys, and marine science education.

By the end of the internship, you’ll emerge as a confident, employable SSI Divemaster with valuable conservation experience and a greater appreciation for the ecosystems you help others explore.

Professional Divemaster Training

The Divemaster component of the internship is designed to bridge the gap between certification and employment. You’ll gain practical, real-world experience assisting instructors, guiding certified divers, supporting boat operations, and developing the professionalism expected within the global dive industry.

Throughout the program, you’ll:

• Complete the SSI Divemaster program
• Develop professional dive guiding skills
• Assist instructors on a variety of recreational courses
• Conduct dive briefings and debriefings
• Learn customer care and guest management
• Gain experience in boat logistics and daily dive operations
• Improve problem-solving and risk management skills
• Build confidence leading certified divers underwater
• Learn equipment handling, maintenance, and troubleshooting
• Work alongside a range of instructors and dive professionals

The SSI Divemaster curriculum includes:

Academic Training

• Science of Diving
• Physics
• Physiology
• Decompression Theory
• Dive Equipment
• Dive Planning
• Environmental Awareness
• Dive Centre Operations
• Retail Sales and Marketing

Practical Workshops

• Dive Guide Training
• Deep Diving
• Navigation
• Night Diving
• Buoyancy Workshops
• Skill Demonstrations
• Stress & Rescue Scenarios
• Missing Diver Procedures
• Professional Dive Briefings
• Snorkel Instructor Training

When not participating in scheduled workshops and academic sessions, you’ll gain invaluable experience assisting on courses, guiding certified divers, and learning the day-to-day responsibilities that keep a professional dive operation running safely and efficiently.

Marine Ecology & Conservation Training

As part of the internship, you’ll spend two weeks working closely with our conservation team and marine biologist, developing the knowledge and practical skills needed to become a more environmentally conscious dive professional.

Ecology Classroom Sessions

You’ll participate in 10 marine ecology and conservation lectures covering topics such as:

• Coral Reef Ecology
• Coral Taxonomy and Physiology
• Marine Turtle Ecology
• Shark and Ray Biology
• Marine Biodiversity
• Climate Change
• Marine Pollution
• Marine Diseases
• Conservation Management
• Ecological Survey Methods

These sessions provide a strong foundation in marine science while introducing the conservation challenges facing the Gulf of Thailand and tropical marine ecosystems worldwide.

Practical Conservation Activities

Your conservation training extends beyond the classroom and into the field through a variety of practical activities, including:

• Underwater clean-up dives
• Beach clean-up initiatives
• Marine debris and plastic surveys
• Coral Watch monitoring
• Fish and reef health surveys
• Whale shark and sea turtle photo identification projects
• Artificial reef maintenance activities
• Citizen science projects
• Ecological monitoring techniques
• Data collection and survey methodologies

Working directly with conservation professionals gives you valuable insight into how marine research and conservation projects operate, while helping you develop practical skills that can be applied throughout your diving career.

Entry Requirements

To begin the internship, you must have:

• Rescue Diver certification
• Valid First Aid and CPR certification completed within the previous two years
• Minimum 40 logged dives

Divers who have not yet reached the required number of logged dives can complete additional dives prior to starting the Divemaster program.

Equipment Requirements

During the internship, participants are required to have:

• Dive computer
• DSMB
• Compass
• Cutting device
• Whistle

Mask, snorkel, and fins are also highly recommended for both professional and conservation activities.

Why Choose the Ecological Divemaster Internship?

This internship offers far more than a professional certification. It combines practical Divemaster experience with meaningful conservation involvement, helping you stand out within the dive industry while developing a deeper connection with the marine environment.

You’ll graduate as:

• An SSI Divemaster
• An SSI Marine Ecologist
• A qualified Snorkel Instructor
• An experienced dive guide
• A capable assistant to dive instructors
• A confident dive professional
• A trained citizen scientist
• A knowledgeable advocate for marine conservation

Whether your goal is to work in the dive industry, continue into instructor training, or become more involved in marine conservation projects, the Ecological Divemaster Internship provides the skills, experience, and environmental understanding to help you take the next step.