PADI MSDT – Master Scuba Diver Trainer

PADI Master Scuba Diver is the ultimate recreational diver rating.  All PADI Instructors who have certified at least 25 PADI Divers and have earned five or more PADI Specialty Instructor certifications can become a PADI MSDT – Master Scuba Diver Trainer.

The PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer rating sets you apart as a dive instructor who takes continuing education seriously and is committed to teaching a variety of courses. (Potential employers like this.) Being an MSDT signifies that you’ve got the experience and certifications to offer all the training a diver needs to become a Master Scuba Diver – the ultimate recreational diver rating.

All PADI Instructors who have certified at least 25 PADI Divers and have earned at least five PADI Specialty Instructor certifications can be Master Scuba Diver Trainers. This rating is the next step up the professional ladder and is a prerequisite for IDC Staff Instructor as well as for many TecRec Instructor ratings.

How to become a PADI MSDT

PADI MSDT Preparation course

The MSDT preparation course is an popular add-on to our IDC. One of our mostly booked packages is our Go Pro ‘MSDT’ package.

During the MSDT Prep course you will learn how to teach 4 PADI Specialty courses, on top of the Nitrox Instructor’ that is already included for free in our Go Pro ‘OWSI’ package.  So, after completing the MSDT Prep course, you will be able to teach 5 PADI Specialty courses.

The MSDT Prep course is a great way to finish off the IDC! There is very little classroom time. We simply go diving! After passing the Instructor Exam and becoming a PADI Instructor, what better way is there to celebrate then to go diving on some of our amazing divesites?

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PADI MSDT – What Specialties can you choose?

Enriched Air Diver

The PADI Enriched Air Diver course is PADI’s most popular specialty scuba course. Why? Because scuba diving with enriched air nitrox gives you more no decompression time, especially on repetitive scuba dives. 

Digital Underwater Photographer

Underwater photography is one of the most popular diving specialties, and with so many underwater cameras to choose from, it has become easier and more fun than ever to capture images of your underwater scuba adventures. The PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course gets you going quickly, whether you use a point-and-shoot camera or a sophisticated dSLR like the pros.

Deep Diver

The lure of the deep. There’s something exciting and mysterious about exploring deeper dive sites while scuba diving. Sometimes it’s a wreck that attracts you below 18 metres/60 feet, and on wall dives it may be a giant fan or sponge. Whatever it is, to scuba dive with confidence at depths down to 40 metres/130 feet, you should take the PADI Deep Diver Specialty course.

Underwater Navigator

Be the scuba diver everyone wants to follow because you know where you are and where you’re going. The PADI Underwater Navigator course fine-tunes your observation skills and teaches you to more accurately use your compass underwater. If you like challenges with big rewards, take this course and have fun finding your way.

Drift Diver

The PADI Drift Diver Specialty course teaches you how to enjoy going with the flow as you scuba dive down rivers and use ocean currents to glide along. It feels like flying – except that you’re underwater using scuba equipment. Drift diving can be relaxing and exhilarating at the same time. If this sound like fun, then the Drift Diver course is for you. If you’re a PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver who is at least 12 years old, you can enroll in the Drift Diver specialty course.

Underwater Naturalist

Take the PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty course and you’ll see new things, even on the most familiar scuba diving sites. Why? Because when know more about symbioses, underwater ecology, and aquatic plant and animal habitats, you notice behaviors and see creatures you may have previously missed. Learn more about the local ecosystem and take a closer look on your next scuba diving adventure.

Aware Coral Reef Conservation

Everyone likes to scuba dive or snorkel in warm, clear water on a vibrant coral reef, yet many people know little about what they’re seeing or the importance of reef ecosystems. The Coral Reef Conservation Specialty course helps you appreciate the complexity of these habitats and teaches you how you can help conserve these vital systems.

Wreck Diver

Whether purpose-sunk as an artificial reef for scuba divers, or lost as the result of an accident, wrecks are fascinating windows to the past. Ships, airplanes and even cars are fascinating to explore and usually teem with aquatic life. Each wreck dive offers a chance for discovery, potentially unlocking a mystery or spying something others have missed. The PADI Wreck Diver Specialty course is popular because it offers rewarding adventures while observing responsible wreck diving practices.

Emergency Oxygen Provider

Knowing how and when to use emergency oxygen is a great skill to have and means you’re ready to help others should the need arise. Becoming a PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider lets you breathe easy knowing that you can recognize scuba diving illnesses treatable with emergency oxygen, and are prepared to offer aid.

Search and recovery diver

It happens: People accidentally drop things from docks, off boats or even while scuba diving. If you’ve ever lost something in the water and wanted to go find it, then the PADI Search and Recovery Diver Specialty course is for you. There are effective ways to search for objects underwater that increase your chances of success. And there are good and better methods to bring up small, large or just awkward items. Search and recovery can be challenging, but a whole lot of fun.

Aware shark conservation diver

Love sharks? Scared of sharks? Or do you just want to know more about them? Enroll in an AWARE Shark Conservation Specialty course and discover the value of sharks to marine ecosystems and economies. You’ll learn more about the causes of declining shark populations and the actions you can take to become a knowledgeable and passionate shark defender. By being informed, you can dispel misconceptions and act to protect sharks. Sharks need you!

Aware dive against debris

Make a difference on every dive by activating your inner citizen scientist. During the Dive Against Debris® Diver Specialty course, you’ll learn how ocean plastic and trash cleanups not only keep your local dive sites healthier, but also how to contribute to a global database that documents our planet’s marine debris problem.

* Self-Reliant Diver

With proper training, equipment and the right attitude to accept the risks involved in independent diving, an experience diver can responsibly engage in dives without a buddy. Self-reliant diving is an adventure activity that is not for everyone, but does have its place. If you have the mental discipline and commitment to learn and follow self-reliant diving techniques, you’ll bolster your skills and confidence when diving alone, in a dive pair or as part of a team.

* Adaptive Support Diver

Do you want to learn how to best support a dive buddy who has a physical or mental challenge? The PADI® Adaptive Support Diver course will increase your awareness of divers’ varying abilities, and explores adaptive techniques to apply while diving or freediving with a buddy with a disability.

Please note: For Enriched Air Diver, Self-Reliant Diver and Adaptive Support Diver you must be certified at diver level before you can apply for the Instructor rating.

The Enriched Air Diver Specialty Instructor course is included in our IDC packages for free. If you do not have this (diver) certification, it can be included in the MSDT Prep course at extra cost.

Self-reliant diver and Adaptive Support diver are multiple day courses and can be included in the IDC MSDT package at extra cost.

How to apply?

Specialty Instructor

The best and easiest method is to become a Specialty Instructor is to do a Specialty Instructor course with a PADI Course Director.
A Course Director can show you how to teach the various skills in the Specialty course. For instance; Even if you are a very experienced wreck diver, it is still valuable to see how different wreck diving techniques can be taught.

When applying to PADI using this method you need to have 10 logged dives in the specific Specialty

You become a PADI Specialty Instructor as soon as your PADI office has approved your application. After you have received conformation from PADI that your application has been processed, you can start teaching these Specialty courses.

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer

To apply for the PADI MSDT rating, you will also need to issue 25 PADI diving certifications. This is why we call it MSDT “Preparation” course. Once you have issued 25 PADI cerification, you can simply send your PADI MSDT application to your PADI office.

No application fees for PADI Aware Specialties

For all PADI Aware Specialties including Shark Conservation, Dive against Debris, and Coral Reef Conservation. the Specialty Instructor application is free!