British Virgin Islands
Divemaster Professional Internship Program
If you want to take your scuba skills to the first professional level, and are already a certified Advanced and Rescue Diver, our Divemaster program fits the bill.
The PADI Divemaster internship is designed to develop leadership skills by training candidates to supervise dive activities and assist instructors. We teach our Divemaster course as an internship. This is the best way to prepare you for the next jump to Instructor level. Students work full-time with our instructors for the duration of a complete PADI Open Water course. No other PADI Divemaster internship allows for such real-life experience and, at AQ, our flotilla sailing concept allows students to learn techniques from up to 14 professional diving instructors. Divemasters who learn this way possess a much better understanding of dive training, as it gives a practical rather than classroom perspective.
As with all of our programs, you’ll be in the water a lot, but it’s not all dive, dive, dive. As well as learning to sail, water ski and wakeboard, you’ll see all that the BVI has to offer; swim off the deserted beaches of Anegada, visit island towns, sample the local food and dance to the reggae beats.
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Appropriate Age
Student must be 18 by the start of Divemaster training
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Student Groups
Grouped aboard within +/- 12 months of age
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Students & Staff
12 students & 3 staff per vessel
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Vessel Type & Fleet Size
Monohull or Catamaran / 1-2 vessels
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Flotilla Grouping
Divemaster shares a basic itinerary with Polaris, Carina, Quest, Aquarius, Vega & Barracuda
| Dates | Days | Availability | Tuition | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | 6/17/24 - 7/7/24 | 21 | Limited | $7,970 | ||
| Session 2 | 7/9/24 - 7/29/24 | 21 | Waitlist | $7,970 | ||
| Session 3 | 7/31/24 - 8/16/24 | 17 | Limited | $7,270 |
The Adventure
It all starts here
ARRIVING TO ACTIONQUEST IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Your adventure begins! The majority of students will be flying to St. Thomas (STT) in the US Virgin Islands . For students flying via STT, ActionQuest’s professional staff meet them and assist with the beautiful ferry ride to Tortola then on to the entire camp which awaits you in West End, Tortola. There you will go through the formal check in process and make your way to your new comfortable and clean floating home. For those flying directly into the BVI (EIS), students are met by an airport representative.
Students then get to spend the rest of the first day of their PADI Divemaster internship preparing for life aboard and getting to know one another while the sun sets behind the dock.
Divemaster Itinerary (Days 6-10)
via Vixen Point, Anegada, and Mt. Point
- Day 6 – Now in the North Gorda Sound, spend an activity rotation day completing your demonstration skill, assisting with Advanced students, and running through rescue scenarios.
- Day 7 – Brief and lead a mangrove snorkel for Vega students, finish up your waterskills exercises, and get ready for the awesome AQ beach BBQ and dance party!
- Day 8 – Time for a real sailing passage! Spend your day sailing to the beautiful island of Anegada and play on its white sand beaches for lunch. Casually race back to Mt. Point before dark and prepare for a night dive.
- Day 9 – Up early to set up the dive boat. Shadow and assist instructors with confined water, open water, and advanced training dives.
- Day 10 – You’re turning into a dive pro, taking more and more responsibility each dive. You’re starting to anticipate and solve problems before they start. You’ll get a chance to see how compressors work too.
Divemaster Itinerary (Days 2-5)
via West End, Norman Island, Savannah Bay, and The Baths
After the first night spent sleeping in your new floating home alongside 11 other students, your PADI Divemaster internship begins…
- Day 2 – Embark on your first sail to Norman Island, refresh your diving skills, and snorkel the caves.
- Day 3 – Take a break for lunch on your sail up to Savannah Bay and begin your swim tests.
- Day 4 – Your first day as a Divemaster in Training. Set up the dive sites in the morning and assist Open Water and Advanced students throughout the day.
- Day 5 – Explore “The Baths”, a truly world famous site, then enjoy your first time in port in Spanish Town. Afternoon sail to North Gorda Sound.
Check out all the diving we do
Submerged in a completely different world – a world where “exotic” doesn’t begin to describe what’s in front of your eyes, that’s AQ Scuba…
divemaster Itinerary (Days 17-21)
via Peter Island, Salt Island, Road Town, and West End
- Day 17 – Race #1 & #2. Test your skills in 2 high speed races against the rest of the fleet. Finish up all your in-water requirements in Great Harbour Peter.
- Day 18 – Tap into everything you’ve learned; today you’re leading a dive from start to finish on the famous wreck of the Rhone.
- Day 19 – Get ready to play the victim as we help Rescue students with their scenario in the morning. We’ll go through and make sure we’ve completed all our requirements as it’s the last day on the water, then it’s a shore day in Road Town, Tortola’s capital!
- Day 20 –Begin the last full day of your PADI Divemaster internship with your final race against the other boats, then spend the evening soaking it all in with a BBQ in West End.
- Day 21 – Congratulations! You’re now a diving professional! Reminisce over the past three weeks of fun and hard work as you fly home.
Divemaster Itinerary (Days 11-16)
via Muskmellon Bay, Cane Garden Bay, Sandy Spit, and Jost Van Dyke
- Day 11 – Dive Day! Today you get to dive on a sunken plane! Finish the evening with some time on shore with a Lifeworks Forum at Marina Cay.
- Day 12 – Explore the local artwork at Trellis Bay shops and enjoy a play day in Muskmellon Bay to balance all of the hard work we’ve done.
- Day 13 – Complete deep dive and search and recovery scenarios. Finish the day with a camp wide beach BBQ!
- Day 14 – Up early in the morning for a fun dive before everyone else wakes up! Finish the day with a relaxing downwind sail to Cane Garden Bay.
- Day 15 – Start the day with a camp wide hike up Mt. Sage, compete in a camp wide sand castle contest, and finish the day at Sydney’s Peace and Love for dinner.
- Day 16 – Run through DSD and ReActivate scenarios. Now is your chance to act like an inexperienced student and create some problems to test your fellow Divemasters in training!
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Time to say goodbye
There’s always a mix of emotions on departure day. The excitement to go home is always overwhelmed by the realization that the Adventure is over and that it’s time to say goodbye to the people you’ve grown so close to over the last few weeks. Day 1 will simultaneously seem like the day before and a lifetime ago as you and your crew take a private ferry for the last leg of your journey together.
“Parker comes home each year with a greater appreciation and knowledge of herself and others. Not only has Parker learned skills that hopefully will apply to her future, your program has instilled personal responsibility and personal awareness in her. She has developed a sense of self that she has not picked up anywhere else including at home.”
Need More Information?
Certifications
On top of all the other fun adventure sports and activities during the Divemaster Adventure, you’ll have the opportunity to earn these certifications:
Scuba Certifications
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Divemaster Certification
Your adventure into the professional levels of recreational scuba diving begins with the PADI Divemaster internship. Working closely with a PADI Instructor, in this program you expand your dive knowledge and hone your skills to the professional level as you earn your Divemaster certification…
Learn More >
Safety Certifications
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First Aid & CPR
Take a step toward emergency preparedness and meet PADI Rescue Diver prerequisites with Emergency First Response. As one of the foremost international CPR and first aid training companies, Emergency First Response gives you the confidence to respond to medical emergencies…
Learn More >
Need to know
Is this adventure right for me?
The Divemaster Voyage is for already-certified PADI rescue divers who are looking to take their skills and knowledge to the first professional level. The primary focus of this program is diving, and you are going to dive, dive dive. We teach our Divemaster course as an internship. This means that you will be working with and learning from our instructors who are actually teaching a real Open Water course. This is the absolute best way to learn and will prepare you well for the next jump to the PADI Diving Instructor level. PADI divemaster internship candidates live aboard with students of a similar age enrolling for the Vega Voyage and, outside of the dive training you’ll also have a chance to water ski, windsurf, and wakeboard. Off the water, we’ll visit the islands, explore the towns, cook out on the white sand beaches and hike to the top of the tallest mountain.
What scuba experience do I need to join this Adventure?
The Divemaster Certification is PADI’s first professional training course. In addition to certification and documented experience prerequisites, there is also a minimum age prerequisite to complete the Divemaster Internship. Here is the list of things you need to be able to prove:
- At least 18 years old by the start of the course
- 40 logged dives before starting the course
- 60 logged dives when finishing the course
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certified
- PADI Rescue Diver certified
- PADI Medical Statement signed by a doctor
How many people go on this adventure?
Although the PADI Divemaster internship is a small group, they will typically follow the itinerary of our 8 vessel flotilla, each with 8 to 12 students aboard. It’s a lot of fun sailing as part of a larger fleet, where you can interact with many other teens and staff from all over the world.
How do you split up the ages across the boats?
Given that we have a number of yachts sailing together, this allows us to berth teens aboard based upon their age and grade. We try to make this as appropriate as possible and typically you can expect to be aboard with other students within about a year of your own age (plus or minus). Please contact us if you have any specific considerations in this regard.
What type of boat will I be on?
Divemaster typically runs aboard traditional single-hulled yachts (monohulls) and sometimes is run aboard catamarans. With either boat, we use only the finest charter yachts available, all of which are in the 45-54 foot range. Each vessel has 5 cabins, a large salon which converts to a 6th cabin, and 4 full bathrooms (heads). The world’s largest charter company, Moorings/Sunsail, maintains all of our yachts to the highest standard.
Where do we sleep?
From the moment you arrive, you’ll move aboard your yacht and live on board full-time. It’s true to say that living on a boat is A LOT tighter than living at home. With up to 12 students and 3 staff living together, it can feel cramped for those not used to it, yet this close community environment is where so much of the experience is created.
All of our vessels have 5 cabins and a large salon that converts to a 6th. While there’s just about enough room for everyone to sleep down below should it rain, on our typical clear and dry evenings many of us like to sleep out on deck, swinging in a hammock under the stars.stars.
Who will be my staff?
AQ is proud to attract and recruit the best in our field. Our summer staff includes professional maritime captains, professional PADI dive instructors and medical professionals. Above all, we hire responsible and experienced facilitators and educators. All members of our team are dynamic, multi-talented, and passionate individuals with a devotion and commitment to the safety and experience of our students.
Two or three staff members live with you aboard your vessel full-time. There will be your skipper, your first mate who is typically your diving instructor, and a third staff member who could also be a diving instructor, EMT, Marine Biologist or someone with other special skills.
What's the food like?
At AQ, we strive to provide meals that meet the fundamental needs of all members of our team, yet when considering our experience, it is important to remember that there are natural limitations when provisioning in remote places and cooking for a large group on board a small yacht.
We understand that each individual has personal preferences and that some students have specific dietary restrictions or limitations. While we strive to accommodate these as best we can, our meals maybe a little different from what you are used to at home. We design our menu around meals that are simple to prepare, quick to clean up, suit the majority of teenager’s palates, and deliver the calories needed for long, busy days on the water.
Mealtime is often a highlight of each day! Students prepare all of the meals with help from the staff using a combination of packaged and canned goods we import from the US and fresh produce we pick up locally about every four days. While we mostly eat all meals onboard the vessel, occasionally, students have the option to eat at a restaurant during shore time.
After enrollment, we ask families to inform us of all dietary restrictions and allergies. We can accommodate vegetarians, and vegans, as well as those with various food allergies. However, if you have a severe allergy or specific dietary expectations, please call our office before enrolling.
What do I need to bring?
Given that all students will be living aboard a sailboat for the duration of their adventure, we recommend that you keep things simple and avoid over packing. Students are given the opportunity to do laundry once in the middle of the trip, so there’s no need to pack several weeks’ worth of clothing.
Our hope is that families will have minimal purchases prior to the trip, so we’ve compiled our packing lists in a way that you’ll find most of what you need in your closet at home. Around mid to late March, we make available our Pre-Trip Packet to enrolled students, which contains a detailed packing list for this year’s adventures. If you’d like to see last year’s packing list as an example, you can download it here.
Nitty Gritty
Are flights included in the tuition?
Since students join us from all over the world, the cost of transportation to and from the British Virgin Islands is not included in the program tuition.
Who should we contact to book travel?
Helping to coordinate our students’ travel is of vital importance – and a mammoth task! For this reason, we strongly suggest that all families start by contacting our travel coordinator:
Leah Hernandez – AQ Travel Coordinator
Tel: +1.281.528.7727
Toll Free: 800.329.9000
Email: leahctn68@hotmail.com
Even if you are not originating in the U.S., Leah will be able to provide options and guidance.
How do we get there?
Our recommended route is via St. Thomas (STT) in the USVI although students also have the option of flying to Beef Island (EIS).
Does AQ provide support on travel days?
Yes. We understand that travel days can be stressful for both parents and students, so no matter what time of the day or night, our office team actively monitors and supports our participants during travel. We require students to travel with a mobile phone with domestic data capability so we can monitor their progress and communicate directly if necessary.
For students flying via St Thomas, ActionQuest arranges for a staff member to assist with the transfer to Tortola via ferry. After arrival in Tortola, students are met at the ferry dock by more of ActionQuest’s professional staff, then collectively continue onto a taxi that takes them to the boats.
Looking for more detailed information on travel?
AQ Tuition Covers the following:
- All accommodation and group meals once the adventure is underway
- Vessel charter and related government fees
- Staff, local guides, and tips
- The use of all sailing, scuba and water sports equipment (except for wetsuits, if needed)
- Scuba diving certification costs
Not included in the AQ tuition:
- Travel expenses from home to the program start location in the British Virgin Islands – flights PLUS ferry, taxi, baggage, taxes, visas, etc. (est. add’l $235)
- Required emergency evacuation insurance & International SOS and MedAire Membership (est. $100). LEARN MORE >
- Medical insurance, and optional trip cancellation insurance
- PADI required course books and materials (est. $323)
- Spending money for souvenirs, drinks/meals ashore – We recommend $300 – $350.
- Emergency money for unanticipated events such as doctors visits etc. – We ask that all students bring $300, which is held by staff and returned at the end of the program.
Discounts and Savings
- A one-time total tuition fee deduction of 5% is granted for any two adventures or for two or more students from the same family.
- Any two consecutive programs may be joined to form one extended course. In the interim between programs, students stay with staff. The total cost is determined by combining the cost of each program and subtracting the 5% extended course discount. (This discount also applies toward any trips adjoining our sister program GoBeyond.) ActionQuest and/or GoBeyond enrollment for any two programs in the same summer will be considered as a single extended program in the event of withdrawal or dismissal from the trip at any time.
Travel Docs & Visas
All students traveling to the BVI need to have a passport which is valid for a minimum of three months after the date of departure from the BVI. Visitors from certain countries other than the US, UK, and Canada may require visas.
For the most up-to-date and thorough information, please visit travel.state.gov. Students traveling on non-U.S. passports should verify passport and visa requirements for your nationality by contacting your local British Embassy or consulate or the nearest BVI Tourist Board Office.
One important point to mention is that most students joining us in the BVI do so by flying via St. Thomas, which is part of the US Virgin Islands. This means that those students not flying on a US or Canadian passport need to consider whether they need to apply for a U.S. visa or ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). Please call us with any questions.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
We do not currently require proof of vaccination in order to enroll.
Other Immunizations
For visiting the BVI, the CDC recommends that all travelers are up-to-date on routine vaccinations that most of us had as children (measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine.
That said, we understand that families have varying opinions on vaccinations. Some greatly desire the precaution; others prefer to avoid possible side effects of certain medications. Coupled with the fact that each student has unique medical considerations known best by his or her doctor, AQ does not supply medical advice. For this reason, we recommend that all families refer back to the expertise of the CDC from time to time (wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel), their health care providers, and/or a travel clinic to gain the most up to date information.
Fleet Sailing
Beyond the strong friendships that naturally form while living aboard a sailing vessel, one of the truly great and unique parts of AQ is the experience of sailing as part of a larger fleet, or ‘flotilla’ of boats.
A flotilla is defined as a group of yachts that voyage together and there are many reasons why sailing in this way may be preferable for both a novice and more seasoned sailor. While 90% of all activities are done with your tight-knit team of 10 to 14 aboard, being part of a larger group is a ton of fun when we are ashore to explore, for a beach BBQ or party night! Plus, we’ll get some friendly competition going between all the boats on our race days too! Flotilla sailing also offers the big advantage of having backup support if necessary. It allows us to have medical staff, trained to a higher level than would otherwise be possible, to be on site, traveling with the group full-time. It also allows our directors to interact with all of our students and staff, maintaining our high level of professionalism, teaching and safety standards throughout the entire program.
Living in the moment
Though the fundamentals of our adventures don’t change, specific logistics evolve as we get closer to the summer and then day by day based on weather. The animated map along with the adventure overview portions on this page should give all families a basic understanding of the kinds of activities we do on the voyage. We also suggest looking through last summer’s Trip Logs for a more detailed travel log created by the students.
With this in mind, we encourage all participants to “live in the moment”. Traveling by boat requires flexibility and a willingness to accept adversity and change. We hope you’ll take any bumps in your stride, and enjoy the adventure!
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