Master SCUBA Diver

Master SCUBA Diver (MSD) is a scuba diving certification level provided by several North American diver training agencies, such as PADI [Who refer to the course as Master SCUBA Diver [http://www.padi.com/padi/en/kd/rescuediver.aspx] ] , SSI [The SSI course goes by the name: Master Diver [http://www.divessi.com/continue] ] , SDI [Who refer to the course as Master SCUBA Diver [http://www.tdisdi.com/index.php?did=64&site=3] ] and NAUI. [The NAUI course goes by the name: Master Diver [http://www.naui.org/recreational_divers.aspx] ]

Although the contents and methodology of the certification differs between the agencies, they are all consistent in this respect: they are the highest level of non-professional certification offered by those agencies. It is sometimes referred to (perhaps overly flatteringly) as the "black belt" of recreational diving.

The certification level is loosely equivalent the BSAC First Class Diver [http://www.bsac.com/comediving/fcdiver.html] , although (with the exception of the NAUI program) the North American courses are regarded as less rigorous than the BSAC course, and do not contemplate a Divemaster role in the same way that the British course does. [In the BSAC hierachy, First Class Diver is considered above Dive Leader, whereas in the North American agencies, generally Divemaster (the equivalent of Dive Leader) is considered to be either equal to or (more usually) higher than Master SCUBA Diver.] The IANTD name for the equivalent certification (which is very close in content to the traditional North American model) is "Elite Diver". [ [http://www.iantd.com/IANTD%20course%20breakdown.pdf IANTD courses progression] ]

Most organizations have a minimum age requirement of 15 to undertake the Master SCUBA Diver course, although some organizations do permit certification of "Junior" Master SCUBA Divers.

Methodology

The different agencies take different approaches to the awarding of the rating. The methodology of the main agencies is as follows:

PADI

PADI awards the Master SCUBA Diver rating to any diver who completes:
* Advanced Open Water Diver course
* Rescue Diver course
* Five different speciality diving courses (not counting the Rescue Diver course)
* Logs 50 dives

SSI

SSI awards the Master Diver rating to any diver who completes:
* Four different specialty diving courses plus Stress & Rescue
* Logs 50 dives

SDI

SDI awards the Master SCUBA Diver rating to any diver who completes:
* Advanced Open Water Diver course
* Rescue Diver course
* Logs 50 dives

NAUI

The NAUI Master Diver course is generally regarded to be the most rigorous of the major North American diver training organizations, and is the only one which requires classroom training. A NAUI Master Diver must have demonstrated the knowledge and skill level expected of a NAUI Instructor except for the teaching and student supervision material. The NAUI Master Diver course involves training in:
* Emergency procedures and rescue
* Deep/simulated decompression diving
* Limited visibility or night diving
* Underwater navigation
* Search and recovery – light salvage
* 5 further elective specialties

Footnotes