Master SCUBA Diver
Encyclopedia
Master Scuba Diver is a scuba diving
certification level provided by several North American diver training agencies, such as National Association of Underwater Instructors
(NAUI), Professional Association of Diving Instructors
(PADI), Scuba Diving International
(SDI), and Scuba Schools International
(SSI).
Although the contents and methodology of the certification differs between the agencies, they are all consistent in that they are the highest level of non-professional certification offered by those agencies. It is sometimes referred to as the "black belt
" of recreational diving
.
The International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers
(IANTD) name for the equivalent certification (which is very close in content to the traditional North American model) is "Elite Diver".
Most organizations have a minimum age requirement of 15 to undertake the Master Scuba Diver course, although some organizations do permit certification of "Junior" Master Scuba Divers.
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
certification level provided by several North American diver training agencies, such as National Association of Underwater Instructors
National Association of Underwater Instructors
The National Association of Underwater Instructors is a non-profit 501 association of SCUBA instructors. It was officially CE and ISO certified in May 2007 in all three diver levels and both instructor levels.-History:...
(NAUI), Professional Association of Diving Instructors
Professional Association of Diving Instructors
The Professional Association of Diving Instructors is the world's largest recreational diving membership and diver training organization founded in 1966 by John Cronin and Ralph Erickson...
(PADI), Scuba Diving International
SCUBA Diving International
Scuba Diving International is a SCUBA training and certification agency. It is the recreational arm of Technical Diving International, the world’s largest technical diver training organization...
(SDI), and Scuba Schools International
Scuba Schools International
Scuba Schools International or SSI is an organization that teaches the skills involved in scuba diving and supports Dive Businesses and Dive Resorts.SSI has well over 2,500 authorized dealers and 35 Regional Centers and Area Offices all over the World....
(SSI).
Although the contents and methodology of the certification differs between the agencies, they are all consistent in that they are the highest level of non-professional certification offered by those agencies. It is sometimes referred to as the "black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
" of recreational diving
Recreational diving
Recreational diving or sport diving is a type of diving that uses SCUBA equipment for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment. In some diving circles, the term "recreational diving" is used in contradistinction to "technical diving", a more demanding aspect of the sport which requires greater levels...
.
The International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers
International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers
International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers is a SCUBA diving organization concerned with certification and training in Enriched Air Nitrox diving, Technical diving and Free diving.- History :...
(IANTD) name for the equivalent certification (which is very close in content to the traditional North American model) is "Elite Diver".
Most organizations have a minimum age requirement of 15 to undertake the Master Scuba Diver course, although some organizations do permit certification of "Junior" Master Scuba Divers.
Methodology
The different agencies take different approaches to the awarding of the rating. The methodology of the main agencies is as follows:NAUI
The NAUI Master Scuba Diver course is generally regarded to be the most rigorous of the major North American diver training organizations, and is the only one which requires classroom training. A NAUI Master Scuba Diver must have demonstrated the knowledge and skill level expected of a NAUI Instructor except for the teaching and student supervision material. The NAUI Master Scuba Diver course involves training in:- Emergency procedures and rescue
- DeepDeep divingThe meaning of the term deep diving is a form of technical diving. It is defined by the level of the diver's diver training, diving equipment, breathing gas, and surface support:...
/simulated decompression diving - Limited visibility or night divingNight divingNight diving is a type of recreational diving which takes place in darkness. The diver can experience a different underwater environment at night, because many marine animals are nocturnal....
- Underwater navigationUnderwater navigationUnderwater navigation is the common reference term for navigation techniques learned by Scuba divers in order to accurately navigate in an underwater environment....
- Search and recoveryUnderwater search and recoveryUnderwater search and recovery is the process of locating and recovering underwater objects by divers. Although most underwater search and recovery is done by commercial divers as part of professional marine salvage operations, search and recovery diving is also frequently undertaken as part of...
– light salvage - 5 further elective specialties
PADI
PADI awards the Master Scuba Diver rating to any diver who completes:- Advanced Open Water DiverAdvanced Open Water DiverAdvanced Open Water Diver is a scuba diving certification level provided by several diver training agencies, such as Professional Association of Diving Instructors , Scuba Schools International and Underwater Explorers' Federation...
course - Rescue DiverRescue DiverRescue Diver is a scuba diving certification level provided by several diver training agencies, such as PADI, SSI, SDI, and NAUI, which emphasises emergency response and diver rescue....
course - Five different PADI specialty diving courses (not counting the Rescue Diver course)
- LogsDive log bookA dive log is used by a scuba diver to record the details of their dives. The log may either be in a book, software, or web based. The log serves purposes both related to safety and personal records...
50 dives
SDI
SDI awards the Master Scuba Diver rating to any diver who completes:- Advanced Open Water Diver course
- Rescue Diver course
- Logs 50 dives
SSI
SSI awards the Master Diver rating to any diver who completes:- Four different specialty diving courses
- Diver Stress & Rescue
- Logs 50 dives