turn your passion for diving into a career
Be a Leader, lead Dives. Build Your Career Underwater.
The PADI Divemaster course in La Paz is more than just another diving certification. It gives you the training, tools, and experience you need to guide and supervise other divers.
The PADI Divemaster certification marks the transition from recreational diving to the professional level. You will develop the skills to lead dives, supervise groups, anticipate risks, and assist other divers, while building the experience and judgment needed to perform confidently in a wide range of diving environments.
If you are ready to make diving your career, Mar de Cortés is the perfect place to begin this new chapter.
Oceanographic Guide and Professional Training Conditions
A Divemaster must be prepared to perform confidently across a range of diving environments and conditions. La Paz offers a wide variety of real-world scenarios that help develop judgment, adaptability, and leadership.
Visibility, Temperature and Planning
You will learn how to adapt dive planning and logistics to seasonal conditions. In winter, with water temperatures of 19–22°C, you will focus on thermal management and choosing the right exposure protection; in summer, with temperatures of 25–30°C, particular attention will be given to hydration and sun protection during surface operations.
| Season | Period | Water Temp | Suggested Exposure Suit |
| Winter | December – February | 19–22 °C (66–72 °F) | Full 5mm wetsuit |
| Spring | March – May | 20–24 °C (68–75 °F) | 3mm to 5mm wetsuit |
| Summer | June – September | 25–30 °C (77–86 °F) | 3mm wetsuit or shorty |
| Autumn / Fall | October – November | 24–29 °C (75–84 °F) | 3mm wetsuit or rashguard |
Site Dynamics & Environmental Assessment: You will develop the ability to read the environment and assess conditions before and during each dive. Training will take place across a variety of sites, from the sheltered waters of San Rafaelito to the wrecks of El Salvatierra, C-59, and Fang Ming, as well as more exposed areas such as Los Islotes and El Bajo.
You will learn how to evaluate currents, visibility, sea conditions, and other environmental factors in order to plan each dive and make responsible decisions about whether conditions are suitable to proceed.
Divemaster Training Breakdown
This course requires a major shift in mindset: your focus must evolve from “Am I safe?” to “Is my whole group safe?”
Equipment proficiency & Leadership: You will refine your diving skills to a level of precision and control that you can demonstrate and pass on to other divers. This program also includes fitness and endurance assessments, with swimming, floating, towing, and rescue exercises designed to build the capabilities required to take on leadership responsibilities in the water.
The Three (3) Stages of Dive Leadership: You will learn how to manage a dive from start to finish, paying close attention to every stage:
BEFORE: Assess the dive site, check the equipment, and deliver a clear briefing covering the dive plan, conditions, and procedures.
DURING: Supervise the group, manage positioning and pace, monitor gas consumption, and identify early signs of fatigue or difficulty.
AFTER: Manage an orderly ascent and exit from the water, check the group, log the dive, and conduct a post-dive debrief.
Certification Pathway
At MTA, we see Divemaster certification as professional training that takes time, practice, and real-world experience — not a short, intensive course completed in just a few days.
3–4 Month Program: Our pathway runs over the course of a full season, working alongside active Divemasters and instructors and gradually becoming part of the dive center’s day-to-day operations.
Real-World Operational Experience: You will take part in dive preparation, guest support, trip logistics, equipment maintenance and organization, and other routine dive center operations. The goal is for you to reach certification with solid hands-on experience and a real understanding of what working as a dive professional involves.
You must hold a PADI Rescue Diver certification and be at least 18 years old..
You must hold at least 40 logged dives.
CPR + First Aid certification within less than 24 months.
PADI Divemaster: Professional Training Map (La Paz)
Interactive guide to the diverse marine environments where you will master dive guiding, risk management, and group control.
El Bajo Seamounts
Open ocean seamounts with moderate to strong currents. You will learn to assess offshore conditions and guide experienced certified divers searching for pelagic fauna.
El Salvatierra Wreck
Artificial reef sunk in 1976. Perfect environment to practice leading wreck dives, managing groups in moderate currents, and interpreting marine life for your clients.
Fang Ming Wreck
A 54-meter sunken ship. Here you will develop advanced skills in organizing deep dive logistics and ensuring maximum safety standards for your diving groups.
C-59 Wreck
This artificial reef requires excellent situational awareness. You will master group positioning and navigation in variable tidal currents.
Los Islotes
Emblematic sea lion colony. Learn to manage group interactions with dynamic wildlife, enforcing environmental protection and diver safety protocols.
San Rafaelito Islet
A protected rocky islet. This is your primary zone for assisting instructors with Open Water students and demonstrating confined water skills at a professional level.
Swanne Reef
A shallow rocky reef. Ideal for organizing underwater naturalist dives, practicing mapping projects, and refining your environmental briefing techniques.
Muelle Fiscal (Operations Point)
Your daily professional hub. You will coordinate boat logistics, supervise equipment loading, and conduct comprehensive dive briefings before departures.
Included
E-learning materials.
PADI International Certification.
Diving equipment.
Lunch on diving days.
Not Included
Alcoholic drinks.
You must bring
Ecofriendly sunscreen.
Swimsuit.
Biodiversity Profiles
A certified dive guide does far more than lead a dive: they also interpret the environment and enrich the diver’s experience. You will learn how to help your guests understand the behavior, ecology, and marine biodiversity they will encounter underwater:
Local expertise and the MTA Difference
Mexico Travel Adventure (MTA) believes your first dive should be much more than just an introduction. Our PADI Instructors are not only active diving professionals, but also marine biologists and naturalists with a passion for conservation.
Safety Policy: We operate with a maximum of 6 people per trip, ensuring personalized attention, continuous supervision, and greater respect for the marine environment.
Quality and Standards Policy: MTA operates strictly on a hyper-reduced, premium model (maximum 6 clients per boat). By training in this environment, you will learn the absolute highest standard of personalized customer care, logistical precision, and group control in the diving industry—skills that top-tier dive centers worldwide demand from their Divemasters.
FAQ´s
If you have any questions hopefully we can answer them below, if not please feel free to contact us.
What are the requirements to take this course?
You need to meet three key requirements: hold PADI Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver certifications (or equivalent), have at least 40 logged dives at the start of the course and 60 for final certification, and hold a valid First Aid and CPR certification issued within the last 24 months.
Do I need to have my own scuba gear?
Although it is not strictly required, it is highly recommended that you use your own complete set of scuba gear. As a future dive professional, you should be thoroughly familiar with your equipment and its maintenance in order to project professionalism and confidence.
Do I need to be Nitrox certified?
No. The PADI Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) certification is not required to begin the Divemaster course. However, it can be a very useful specialty for working as a Divemaster, especially in destinations where Nitrox is commonly used.