How to become a divemaster from zero in 2 months
Short answer. You can go from no diving experience to PADI Divemaster in about two months. The Zero to Hero internship in Tenerife takes 40 training days (8 weeks) and ends with 60 logged dives. On the way you complete Open Water, Advanced Open Water, EFR and Rescue Diver, then the Divemaster course itself. The program costs 1915 €, plus the Divemaster eLearning (270 €), the PADI certification fee (about 120 €) and your accommodation.
What is a divemaster?
A divemaster is a professional certification in the scuba diving industry. Divemasters assist instructors during training, lead certified divers on dives, give guidance and support so everyone stays safe underwater, and often act as ambassadors for marine conservation by teaching divers about the underwater ecosystem.
The difference from an instructor is simple. A divemaster guides certified divers and assists instructors, while an instructor can teach and certify new divers. Becoming a divemaster is the step that turns diving from a hobby into a job.
What you need before the Divemaster course
To start the PADI Divemaster course you need:
- Rescue Diver and EFR (Emergency First Response) certifications;
- 40 logged dives;
- to be 18 or older and in good shape.
By the end of the internship you need 60 logged dives. If you have none of this yet, it is not a problem. The Zero to Hero program is built for complete beginners and takes you through every prerequisite first.
The path from zero, step by step
Before the Divemaster course you complete four courses, in this order. Durations, dives and minimum ages below are the same as on our course page: PADI diving courses in Tenerife
Step 1. PADI Open Water Diver
- Duration: 3 days, 5 dives.
- Requirements: none; minimum age 10.
- What you get: the right to dive with a buddy to a maximum depth of 18 m.
The entry-level certification. Theory is done online (eLearning): dive physics, physiology, equipment and safety. In confined water you learn the basics, such as assembling equipment, communicating underwater, buoyancy control, clearing your mask, recovering the regulator and emergency procedures. Then come 4 open water dives in the ocean and a final exam.
Step 2. PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
- Duration: 2–3 days, 5 dives.
- Requirements: Open Water license; minimum age 12.
- What you get: dives to a maximum depth of 30 m.
The course usually includes a deep dive, an underwater navigation dive and three elective adventure dives, such as night diving, wreck diving, underwater photography, Peak Performance Buoyancy or drift diving.
Step 3. Emergency First Response (EFR)
- Duration: 1 day, no dives.
- Requirements: none.
CPR and first aid. You learn how to respond to cardiac arrest, choking or an unresponsive person, plus bandaging, splinting and dealing with non-life-threatening injuries, practised in realistic scenarios. It is not diving-specific, but it is required for Rescue Diver. The certification is valid for two years.
Step 4. PADI Rescue Diver
- Duration: 2 days.
- Requirements: EFR; minimum age 12. In the Zero to Hero program you take it after Advanced Open Water.
You learn to recognise stress in other divers, prevent accidents and respond to emergencies, including assisting tired, panicked or unresponsive divers. You practise in confined water and in open water scenarios under the guidance of an instructor.
Step 5. PADI Divemaster
- Duration: 10 days (2 weeks) if you already hold Rescue Diver and EFR.
The professional course covers:
- knowledge development — dive theory, physics, physiology, equipment and environment, with knowledge reviews, quizzes and exams;
- water skills and stamina — swimming tests and skill assessments;
- dive skills — buoyancy, navigation and rescue skills refined under an instructor;
- assisting instructors on real training courses;
- mapping and dive planning — drawing dive site maps, planning dives and managing logistics;
- supervising dives — leading certified divers and managing groups under an instructor's supervision;
- professionalism and leadership, then final practical assessments and exams.
The 8-week timeline (Zero to Hero)
The internship price table shows how long the program takes from each starting level. The difference between those levels gives this approximate plan for someone starting from zero.
| When | Stage | Training days | Logged dives by the end of the stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before you arrive | Book the internship by buying the Divemaster eLearning, and start studying the theory straight away | before day 1 | 0 |
| Week 1 | Open Water Diver | days 1–5 | 10 |
| Weeks 2–4 | Advanced Open Water Diver and building your logbook | days 6–20 | 30 |
| Weeks 5–6 | EFR and Rescue Diver | days 21–30 | 50 |
| Weeks 7–8 | Divemaster course and internship | days 31–40 | 60 |
Is two months really enough?
Yes, if you follow the program. A few things to know:
- 40 days means 40 training days. The program counts 8 weeks with 5 training days a week. If you want to finish sooner, you can train 6 days a week instead of 5.
- Missing dives do not cost extra. If you need more dives to reach 60, you do them for free, and every 2 extra dives add 1 day to the internship. For example, a diver who already has Open Water but only 4 logged dives adds 3 days (6 dives), and the internship takes 38 days.
- Already certified? It is shorter. From Open Water the program takes 35 days (7 weeks), from Advanced Open Water 20 days (4 weeks), and with Rescue Diver and EFR only 10 days (2 weeks).
- Tenerife is a year-round destination. The climate lets the academy dive and recruit divemasters all year. To agree on a start date that suits you, use the booking button on the internship page or contact us by phone or WhatsApp at +34 671 40 86 08.
How much does it cost to become a divemaster from zero?
| Your level when you start | Duration | Dives included | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| No certificate, Zero to Hero | 40 days (8 weeks) | 60 | 1915 € |
| Open Water Diver | 35 days (7 weeks) | 50 | 1590 € |
| Advanced Open Water Diver | 20 days (4 weeks) | 30 | 1320 € |
| Rescue Diver and EFR | 10 days (2 weeks) | 10 | 850 € |
All training and dives are included, as are all PADI certificates up to Rescue Diver. The internship page lists these expenses on top:
- PADI Divemaster eLearning with materials, 270 €. You buy it on our website to book the internship, and we send it to you so you can start studying immediately.
- PADI certification fee, about 120 €. When you finish the Divemaster course, we send your application to the diving federation, and PADI charges the fee to your bank account within 2–3 weeks.
- Accommodation, which is not included. A room costs about 350–400 € a month, an apartment 600–700 € a month. Many interns stay in Parque Carolina in Costa Silencio, where there is usually availability and the location is convenient. For two months that is roughly 700–800 € for a room or 1200–1400 € for an apartment.
- Your own gear. If you have no equipment when you start, we give you the whole set for free. During the course you will need to buy your own items, listed below. Our main dive shop in Costa Adeje sells diving equipment.
The equipment each divemaster must buy:
- wetsuit, 5 or 7 mm;
- neoprene boots;
- mask, snorkel and fins;
- BCD;
- weight belt;
- regulator;
- buoy and reel;
- whistle;
- dive computer (depth and time gauge);
- compass;
- knife;
- underwater notebook.
Want more qualifications? Interns get 20% off specialty courses. Nitrox costs 196 € instead of 245 €, Deep Diver and Wreck Diver 276 € instead of 345 €, Night Diver 236 € instead of 295 €.
What a divemaster does at work
The internship is real work in a dive centre, not just classes. As an intern you assist diving programs led by the team:
- before the dives you prepare the shop, the classroom and the scuba gear, welcome customers, help with paperwork and questions, and get the divers ready for the tour;
- between the dives you talk the dive through with the customers;
- you keep an eye on the shop and post photos and videos of the dives on social media;
- at the end of the day you rinse the gear, fill the tanks and get the shop ready for tomorrow.
Along the way you learn the skills a professional diver needs: dive planning, underwater navigation, leading dives, assisting instructors, safety procedures and equipment maintenance. You also learn customer service and sales in the dive shop, promoting diving on social media and environmental awareness, and you practise languages with an international team and guests of all nationalities.
The internship runs from the main DivePro Academy dive shop in Costa Adeje, near Puerto Colón (Av. de Colón, 3), which has a classroom, compressors, a boat and a shop. We also dive from a centre on the beach in Los Cristianos and from Las Galletas harbour, so you train on many dive sites, from the shore and by boat.
After the internship: where you can work
PADI Divemaster is recognised by dive centres around the world, so you can work in Tenerife or abroad. Each month new divemasters graduate from DivePro Academy, and many of them fall in love with the island and stay to work here.
How much you will earn depends on the country and the type of job, from the Spanish legal minimum of 1,221 € a month in 14 payments on a full-time contract to much higher pay on superyachts. Current figures by country: Divemaster salary in 2026
The next professional level after divemaster is instructor. An instructor can teach and certify divers and usually earns more.
Frequently asked questions
Can I become a divemaster with no diving experience?
How long does it take to become a divemaster from zero?
What do I need to start the Divemaster course?
What does a divemaster do?
Is the divemaster certificate valid worldwide?
Start from zero in Tenerife
Zero to Hero takes you from your first breath underwater to PADI Divemaster in 8 weeks, with 60 dives, for 1915 €. See the full program, prices and conditions on the internship page, or compare each step on the courses page.
