Becoming a Divemaster is much more than collecting a professional certification. It is about developing the confidence, experience, and knowledge to guide certified divers safely in a wide range of underwater environments. While the Divemaster internship itself provides an enormous amount of practical experience, combining it with the SSI Deep Diving Specialty and SSI Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty is one of the smartest investments you can make in your diving career.

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, we strongly recommend that every Divemaster candidate completes these specialties during their internship. Not only will they make you a more competent diver, but they will also increase your employability and prepare you for diving careers around the world.[1][2]

Why These Two Specialties Matter

Many new Divemasters focus on reaching the minimum certification level required to work. Professional dive centres, however, are looking for something different. They want Divemasters who understand diving beyond the basics.

The Deep Diving and Enriched Air Nitrox specialties provide exactly that additional level of competence.

During your internship, you’ll already spend weeks diving nearly every day. Adding these specialties allows you to integrate new knowledge immediately into real-world diving instead of completing them months or years later.

The Benefits of the Deep Diving Specialty

Many of the world’s best dive sites lie deeper than 18 metres. Wrecks, walls, pinnacles, shark cleaning stations and spectacular coral formations often begin where Open Water certification ends.[3]

The SSI Deep Diving Specialty teaches far more than simply descending deeper.

You learn about:

• Gas management at depth
• Nitrogen narcosis recognition
• Emergency procedures
• Dive planning
• Redundant safety procedures
• Buddy communication
• Proper ascent techniques
• Equipment considerations for deeper dives

These are skills every Divemaster should master.

As a professional diver, guests expect you to remain calm, organised and aware throughout every dive. Understanding how depth changes gas consumption, decompression limits and diver behaviour makes you a safer guide and a better role model.

Why Nitrox Is Almost Essential Today

Enriched Air Nitrox has become the standard breathing gas at many professional dive centres.

While Nitrox does not allow you to dive deeper, it reduces nitrogen exposure when used within its operating depth limits. Depending on the dive profile, this can provide longer no-decompression limits or lower nitrogen loading compared with diving air.[4]

This becomes especially valuable during a Divemaster internship.

Imagine diving:

• morning dive
• second dive
• afternoon dive
• night dive

for weeks or even months.

Using Nitrox helps reduce accumulated nitrogen exposure during repetitive diving schedules, making it particularly valuable for professionals who spend many days underwater.[4]

Many liveaboards and professional dive operations expect Divemasters to be Nitrox certified.

Having this certification before applying for jobs immediately makes your CV more attractive.

Deep Diving and Nitrox Work Perfectly Together

One common misconception is that Nitrox is only useful for shallow dives.

In reality, many professional divers use Nitrox during dives that stay within the gas’s maximum operating depth because it can optimise repetitive diving schedules and reduce nitrogen loading.[4]

Learning both specialties together helps you understand:

• oxygen exposure
• nitrogen absorption
• gas planning
• depth limitations
• decompression theory
• dive computer management

Instead of learning isolated pieces of diving theory, everything starts fitting together.

Why It Makes Sense During Your Divemaster Internship

The biggest advantage of completing these specialties during your internship is simple:

You are already diving every day.

Instead of scheduling separate holidays later, your training becomes part of your daily diving routine.

Every dive becomes another opportunity to practise:

• buoyancy
• navigation
• gas planning
• guiding
• communication
• environmental awareness

The repetition accelerates your learning dramatically.

Experience is what turns knowledge into confidence.

Why Employers Like These Certifications

When a dive centre hires a Divemaster, they are looking beyond the certification card.

They ask questions like:

• Can this person guide certified divers?
• Can they plan deeper dives safely?
• Do they understand gas management?
• Are they familiar with Nitrox?
• Can they work on liveaboards?
• Can they assist instructors efficiently?

The more experience and relevant specialties you have, the easier these questions become to answer.

Many employers view Deep Diving and Nitrox as valuable additions because they demonstrate a commitment to professional development and prepare candidates for a broader range of diving activities.[2][4]

Why Oceans 5 Gili Air Is the Best Place

There are many places to complete a Divemaster internship.

Very few offer the combination of facilities, experience and training quality that Oceans 5 provides.

Small Groups

At Oceans 5, Divemaster candidates are never treated as numbers.

Training is personalised, allowing instructors to spend time developing each candidate’s strengths.

Daily Diving

With up to three boat departures every day, candidates experience:

• drift dives
• reef dives
• turtle dives
• deeper sites
• navigation dives
• varying current conditions

This variety produces confident professionals.

Two Large Training Pools

Before entering the ocean, candidates can perfect demonstrations and rescue skills in two dedicated training pools.

This allows skills to be refined without pressure.

Experienced Instructor Trainers

Oceans 5 is one of the few SSI Instructor Training Centres in Indonesia.

Divemaster candidates learn from professionals who train future instructors, bringing a high standard of coaching, feedback and mentoring throughout the internship.

Ideal Dive Sites

The Gili Islands offer excellent conditions for professional training.

Candidates regularly encounter:

• Green turtles
• Hawksbill turtles
• reef sharks
• healthy coral reefs
• gentle slopes
• drift dives
• excellent visibility

The wide variety of dive sites creates ideal learning opportunities.

Professional Environment

Rather than simply logging dives, interns become part of the daily operation.

They assist instructors, prepare equipment, brief divers, organise boats and gradually develop the skills required to work in the dive industry.

Investing in Your Future

Many divers see Divemaster as the final goal.

In reality, it is only the beginning.

Whether your future includes:

• working on tropical islands
• liveaboards
• marine conservation
• becoming an instructor
• technical diving

Deep Diving and Nitrox provide knowledge that you will continue using throughout your diving career.

Completing them during your internship saves time, builds confidence and makes every dive more valuable.

If you’re already committing several weeks to becoming a Divemaster, adding these two specialties is one of the best investments you can make in yourself.

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the Deep Diving Specialty before becoming a Divemaster?

SSI requires Divemaster candidates to either hold the Deep Diving certification (or equivalent) or demonstrate sufficient verified deep diving experience that an instructor can assess as meeting the required competency.[1]

Does Nitrox allow me to dive deeper?

No. Nitrox does not increase your maximum depth. Its main benefit is reducing nitrogen exposure when used within its operating depth limits, which can extend no-decompression limits or reduce nitrogen loading on appropriate dives.[4]

Can I complete these specialties during my Divemaster internship?

Yes. Completing them during your internship is often ideal because you’re already diving regularly and can immediately apply what you learn.

Will these specialties help me find a diving job?

Yes. Many employers value Divemasters with Deep Diving and Nitrox qualifications because they are prepared for a wider variety of diving operations and professional environments.[2][4]

Why choose Oceans 5 Gili Air?

Oceans 5 offers daily diving, two dedicated training pools, experienced SSI Instructor Trainers, small training groups, excellent dive sites and a professional learning environment that prepares candidates for real-world diving careers.

---

References

[1] SSI Training Standards – Divemaster (ISO 24801-3): Professional prerequisites, required experience and competencies. 

[2] SSI – Become a Certified Divemaster: Professional pathway, career opportunities and recommended qualifications. 

[3] SSI Training Standards – Deep Diving Specialty: Objectives, training requirements and depth limits. 

[4] SSI Advanced Training – Enriched Air Nitrox & Deep Diving: Benefits of Nitrox, repetitive diving, no-decompression limits and reduced nitrogen exposure.