MASTER SCUBA DIVER TRAINER (MSDT)

What It Is

The Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) prep is a training program where certified PADI Instructors earn 5 Specialty Instructor ratings, a key milestone in their pro journey. It boosts your teaching scope, improves hireability, and qualifies you to apply for the MSDT rating once you certify 25 students. This course is not just about ticking boxes—it's about sharpening your skills and standing out in the dive industry.

Who It’s For

Certified PADI Instructors who want to increase their teaching opportunities, get closer to IDC Staff Instructor level, or qualify for MSDT rating by gaining 5 instructor-level specialties.

Options

• Pro Essentials

The specialties every dive center wants you to teach:

Deep, Enriched Air Nitrox, Wreck, Drift, Night

• Tech Edge

For the future tech-savvy instructor:

Enriched Air Nitrox, Deep, Sidemount, Search & Recovery, Dry Suit

• Explorer Bundle

For fun, variety, and conservation-minded pros:

AWARE Shark Conservation, DUP, Navigator, Drift, Boat Diver

All bundles meet the 5-specialty requirement to apply for the MSDT rating.

What you learn

• How to teach five or more PADI Specialty Diver courses

• How to expand your instructional skill set and refine your teaching techniques

• How to increase diver retention through continuing education

• How to structure and market specialty courses to boost your career opportunities

• How to price specialty courses effectively and add value to your professional offerings

Course Structure & Schedule

• Duration: Typically 3–5 days

• Format: Standard review + instructor-level dry and wet workshops for each specialty

• Schedule: Flexible scheduling, often integrated after your IE

Each specialty includes practice in teaching techniques and skill demonstrations, following PADI standards.

You’ll train at Scuba Playa Dive Shop, a 5 Star PADI IDC center equipped with a pool built specifically for dive training, a modern classroom, private boats for ocean dives, and access to cenotes when sea conditions don’t cooperate—so your training never stops.

Why Choose This Course

• Earn 5 instructor-level specialties in one go

• Fast-track your application for the MSDT rating

• Boost your hireability and teaching range

• Choose a bundle that fits your interests and strengths

• Includes real teaching tips and techniques, not just checklists

• Career-focused, hands-on training in a tropical paradise

Train where others come to dive

Playa del Carmen offers a dynamic mix of reef and cavern environments ideal for developing real-world teaching skills. Your pro-level dives will take place in coral gardens and reef walls alive with parrotfish, angelfish, sea turtles, and the occasional nurse shark. From November to April, you might even witness the impressive Bull Sharks in their seasonal habitat. Want to level up your experience? You can upgrade your training to include Cozumel’s legendary drift dives or the sacred freshwater cenotes—both signature highlights of the Riviera Maya. Just ask how to add them to your journey.

Pricing

• Pro Essentials: $499 USD

• Tech Edge: $549 USD

• Explorer Bundle: $459 USD

  
  

  PADI fees not included — see the dedicated section for details.

Take the Next Step

Pick your bundle and start teaching the specialties that matter to you. Whether you want to expand your teaching range, become more employable, or qualify for your MSDT rating fast—we’ve got a package that fits. Ready to dive in?