Not All Divemasters Wear the Same Fins

Becoming a PADI Divemaster is more than just earning a title, it’s considered your first step into the world of professional diving. Sure, every divemaster shares the same core training, but once they hit the water, their true colors shine.

Some are fish whisperers, others are critter nerds, and a few might just double as your underwater therapist. Whether you’re gearing up to become one or just love people-watching at the dive shop, here are 13 distinct types of Divemaster you’re bound to meet — or become.

13 Types of Divemasters Explained

A quick dive into 13 types of Divemasters—from jokers to pros, and everything in between:

• The Comedian.
• The Navigator.
• The Prankster.
• The Scout.
• The Documentarian.
• The Most Fascinating Divemaster in the Ocean.
• The Fish Whisperer.
• The Cat Herder.
• The Critter Nerd.
• The Storyteller.
• The Medic

The Comedian

During the dive briefing, you will find the Comedian Divemaster delivers it with rapid fire jokes in addition to perfect timing of a standup comic. The jokes aren’t always great, but there’s a lot of them.

2. The Navigator

Even when diving in poor visibility when it is impossible to see your own fins, The Navigator somehow succeeds in bringing the group back near the exit point.

At dive sites having an empty seabed, the Navigator still can find the spot full of life in a literal sea of nothingness.

3. The Prankster

If you’ve seen a piece of gear sinking, then spotted it tied to the Divemaster with a fishing line—you’ve met The Prankster. Other go-to tricks: Kool-Aid in your bootie and surprise talc prints where they shouldn’t be.

4. The Scout

We can say that the Scout was a shark in a previous life. The Scot is considered one of the types of divemasters who can spot big sea animals fast and keeps your group away from crowds.

5. The Documentarian

The Documentarian is a divemaster who keeps an eye on the group and the other behind the camera. This is one of the types of Divemaster who ensures that every scuba diver in the group has a photo or video to post on social media after diving, and challenges The Fish Whisperer in being the most popular one from other types of divemasters.

6. The Most Fascinating Divemaster in the Ocean

The Most Fascinating DM has been diving forever.” This Divemaster learned to dive before the invention of boats, that’s why Conservation International decided to start a digital logbook to preserve the forests of the world.

7. The Fish Whisperer

When you have the Fish Whisperer as a divemaster, you will find all the bucket-list animals come out to say hello. This is one of the types of divemasters that can make an eel come out of its hole, speak fluent whale in addition to the ability to spot the tiniest nudibranchs.

8. The Cat Herder

When diving with the Cat Herder, trust you are in good hands. This Divemaster has developed an eerie prescience: which is the ability to predict when a diver’s about to chase a fish or overstay at a coral. The Cat Herder helps wake up divers from their trace and brings them back to the group.

9. The Critter Nerd

The Critter Nerd knows how to differentiate a nudibranch from a flatworm and can identify their favorite marine gastropod mollusk – in Latin. They’re typically good friends with The Fish Whisperer who helps them spot the Nembrotha lineolata.

10. The Storyteller

The Storyteller Divemaster knows the history of every shipwreck, and why every dive spot got its name. As a scuba diver, you find these stories entertaining, so that it is not important to know whether they’re true or not.

11. The Medic

Regardless of what you are suffering from (an ear ache, a scrape or even a stingy spot), The Medic Divemaster will have the proper preparation from a kind word and something to soothe the pain.

12. The Concierge

This is one of the types of divemasters who will be more valuable above water than below, because he knows the best place to fuel up before diving in the morning or unwind after a long day at the beach.

13. The Mechanic

The gear genius and fix-it wizard of the sea, The Mechanic once built a rebreather using a microwave and surgical tubing. Whenever you dive with the Mechanic, there is no need to worry about missing a dive due to a gear problem.

What Type of Divemaster Are You?

Regardless of what you are from the types of divemasters, you have always more to learn. Sharpen your skills, explore new specialties and become the leader divers will always remember. Start your next adventure by enrolling in one of these popular PADI continuing education courses:

• PADI Fish Identification or Underwater Naturalist.
• Equipment Specialist.
• Digital Underwater Photographer.
• DAN First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries.

You can also explore all PADI Specialty courses with us in the DRAR DIVING Center and find the path that fits your Divemaster style.