My Journey of becoming a Dive Master on Magnetic Island Queensland Australia
Hi, I’m Linda and I’m from Switzerland. Living in a landlocked country, I craved the big blue ocean and I began travelling to see more of this big wide world and in particular its oceans. I blew my first bubbles under water in Koh Tao Thailand and instantly fell in love with scuba diving.
Why did I decide to become a Divemaster?
About a year after my Open Water Course I decided I wanted to learn more and booked a week diving holidays on Gozo, Malta. I did my Advanced course there and caught the diving bug. Having a divemaster trainee following our course showed me how the first step of becoming a professional might look like. From that moment on I was looking for places where I could make that happen and that is how I ended up on Maggie. Now I am stoked to share my love for the ocean with others.
Why Pleasure Divers?
There were plenty of reasons why I chose Pleasure Divers Magnetic Island for my Divemaster training. For starters, it’s part of the Great Barrier Reef, one of the most breathtaking dive locations in the world. But unlike on the Outer Barrier Reef, here on Magnetic Island we can shore dive right in front of the shop—just a short walk across the street and we’re in the water. No need for long boat rides to reach the dive site!
Then there’s island life—everything on this island slows right down, allowing you to fully soak up the experience. Plus, our small shop team means you get individual attention and guidance from the owners, rather than being just one of many interns in a large program. Pleasure Divers is also an SSI shop, which I personally prefer—not just for its teaching approach, but also for the lower pro fees compared to PADI.
A Day in the Life on Maggie
No two days are the same on Magnetic Island! Life here is anything but predictable, but here’s what a day might look like. Your morning kicks off at 8 AM as you prep the shop for the day—whether it’s cleaning snorkel gear, washing wetsuits, or filling tanks from the previous day’s adventures. By 8:30 AM, the doors open and the first wave of customers arrive. You might shadow an Open Water Course, be a dive buddy for a certified diver, or help customers rent gear from the shop. When there's a break, you’ll work on your own assignments, refine your Open Water Skills, or even give the pool a deep clean. There’s always something new to learn and when the shop closes at 4:30 PM, your island evening begins!
Divemaster Course vs. Divemaster Internship
At Pleasure Divers Magnetic Island, Chad and Haylie offer a Divemaster internship rather than a short two-week course. This means you’ll gain real-world experience within the dive industry and interact with actual customers, something a standard course wouldn’t provide. You’ll still complete all SSI Theory and Assignments, but as part of a dive shop team, you’ll get hands-on training throughout your three months on the island. This makes you more employable and helps you become an even stronger diver. And it’s the reason I chose this path.
What’s needed to start
If you're passionate about the underwater world and dream of guiding others through its wonders, becoming a Divemaster is your next big step. I was really excited to take that step myself and I hope you will be too. The Divemaster qualification is the first level of professional diving and all you need to begin your journey is: 40 logged dives, Advanced and Rescue diver certifications, a dive medical proving good health and a current first aid/CPR/O2 certificate. If you don’t have these pre-requisites just chat with the owners Chad and Haylie and they can support you through the process of gaining these requirements before commencing.
Ready to Take the Plunge?
If this sounds like your kind of adventure, don’t hesitate! Send the owners Haylie and Chad an email at info@pleasuredivers.com.au. Have questions for me about my personal experience at Pleasure Divers and living on Maggie for 3 months?? Reach out to me on Instagram @itslindaf.
