Your Office Is The Ocean
Start at any certification level and build the skills, experience and confidence to become an SSI Divemaster on Kenya’s tropical coast.
From beginner to Divemaster
Ocean Tribe’s SSI Divemaster Internship is open to everyone—from complete beginners to experienced Diver Stress & Rescue Divers ready to go professional.
Begin at your current certification level and follow a structured route towards SSI Divemaster. Starting from scratch usually takes two to three months, while experienced divers may qualify in as little as four to six weeks.
- Train on coral reefs and in protected marine parks.
- Reach most dive sites within 5–30 minutes by boat.
- Assist with real courses and daily dive-centre operations.
- Lead dive trips under professional supervision.
- Develop the practical skills dive centres look for when hiring.
Start where you are
Your existing certifications are recognised, so you complete the training you need without unnecessarily repeating courses.
Complete beginner
Begin with Open Water Diver before progressing through specialty, rescue and professional-level training.
Certified diver
Build experience, complete the required specialty courses and progress towards rescue-level training.
Advanced diver
Complete any missing prerequisites before moving into Science of Diving, Dive Guide and Divemaster development.
Rescue diver
Move quickly into professional theory, leadership, guiding and real-world dive-centre experience.
Who is the internship for?
For people who want to turn a love of diving, adventure and travel into a meaningful new direction.
Build your skills, certifications and logged dives from the beginning.
Complete missing prerequisites and progress into professional training.
Courses included
The exact courses you complete depend on your starting level. The full beginner-to-professional route includes the following SSI core, specialty and professional programs.
Recognition levels
Progress through SSI recognition levels including Specialty Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Master Diver and eventually Century Diver.
Optional instructor course
Add the SSI React Right Instructor course and qualify to teach CPR and first aid internationally.
Dives commonly logged
Most interns finish with more than 100 logged dives. These include training dives, recreational dives, workshops, instructor assists and supervised professional experience.
- Unlimited diving throughout your internship.
- One-year Ocean Tribe Dive Club membership.
- Ongoing dive discounts and equipment benefits.
- Access to exclusive Ocean Tribe events.
Skills you will use every day
Becoming a Divemaster requires leadership, judgement, technical confidence and excellent guest service—not simply passing assessments.
Practical dive-centre skills
01 Cylinder and gas operations
- Understand cylinder markings, manufacturing dates and working pressures.
- Check inspection and service information before filling or diving.
- Gain supervised experience filling air and Nitrox cylinders safely.
02 Dive-centre operations
- Use DiversDesk to manage bookings.
- Take reservations, confirm activities and organise guest schedules.
- Process card payments, mobile money and dive-package invoices.
03 Equipment care and repairs
- Diagnose common regulator and tank-valve problems.
- Replace regulator mouthpieces correctly.
- Clean and service low-pressure inflator assemblies.
- Identify and replace worn DIN and yoke O-rings.
- Rinse, inspect, store and rotate personal and rental equipment.
04 Safety and dive technology
- Assemble and operate an emergency oxygen kit.
- Understand programming across commonly used dive computers.
- Explain computer modes, settings and basic troubleshooting.
Guest service and communication
05 Guest communication
- Give clear, friendly information in person and by phone.
- Explain rental equipment and help guests adjust it correctly.
- Describe conditions and marine-life sightings honestly.
06 Briefing and dive planning
- Understand how local tides and weather affect operations.
- Structure and deliver professional dive briefings.
- Provide accurate weighting advice for different divers.
07 Equipment and destination advice
- Explain features of masks, fins, wetsuits and other equipment.
- Recommend equipment that supports each guest’s goals.
- Discuss major international dive destinations knowledgeably.
08 Professional development
- Follow dive-industry news and equipment developments.
- Understand current conservation work and industry trends.
- Continue building professional knowledge.
- Represent Ocean Tribe’s standards and values consistently.
Equipment packages
Owning appropriate personal equipment is expected of a dive professional. Ocean Tribe offers discounted packages designed for professional training and future employment.
Gold Package
Professional-grade performance and durability.
- BCD: Cressi Aquawing Plus
- First Stage: Cressi MC9 SC
- Primary Regulator: Cressi Compact Pro
- Octopus: Cressi Compact Pro Octopus
- Console: Cressi Digi 2 Console
- Computer: Shearwater Tern TX or Peregrine TX
- Optional air integration transmitter: $300
Silver Package
A reliable and affordable professional starter kit.
- BCD: Cressi Start Pro
- First Stage: Cressi MC9
- Primary Regulator: Cressi Compact
- Octopus: Cressi Compact Octopus
- Console: Cressi Console 2
- Dive Computer: Cressi Donatello
- Compass: Cressi Wrist Mount Compass
Dive Pro Extras
Essential personal items every Divemaster should own.
- Wetsuit: Cressi Altum Shorty
- Fins: Cressi Maui Fins
- Mask and Snorkel: Cressi F1 + Dry Snorkel
- Cutting Tool: Cressi Grip Knife
- SMB: Cressi Marker Buoy
Your 12-week journey
From arriving on the Kenyan coast to Divemaster certification and practical work experience, here is how a full beginner internship may unfold.
Welcome to Diani
Collection from Mombasa or Ukunda Airport, transfer to Diani, settling in and orientation at the dive school.
Orientation and Open Water
Discover the local area, review your schedule, complete an equipment fitting if required and begin SSI Open Water Digital Learning before starting the four-day course.
Begin to get advanced
Develop specialist skills and increase your logged-dive count through training and recreational diving.
Learn your rescue skills
Complete React Right CPR and First Aid followed by the SSI Diver Stress & Rescue course, with time for recreational diving and recovery.
Begin Divemaster training
Move into professional dive theory with Science of Diving and Computer Diving while practising demonstration-quality skills.
Get more specialised
Broaden your experience through Night & Limited Visibility training and continue diving in varied conditions.
Start the Dive Guide course
Take your first formal step into professional diving, focusing on responsibility, leadership, diver supervision and guiding certified divers.
Divemaster trainee
Assist with certified divers and daily dive operations while developing judgement, confidence and leadership under the supervision of Ocean Tribe’s professional team.
Certification and work experience
Complete the remaining Divemaster requirements. Once certified, gain practical work experience alongside Ocean Tribe instructors and apply your professional skills in real operations.
What you might see
Every dive is different—from colourful reef residents to seasonal visitors passing through Kenya’s tropical waters.
Sea turtles
Look for turtles cruising the reef or resting below coral ledges.
Moray eels
Take a closer look into the reef’s sheltered nooks and crannies.
Lionfish
Striking stripes and fan-like fins make these fish memorable.
Nudibranchs
Slow down and look closely for these brilliantly coloured sea slugs.
Manta rays
Watch the blue for a graceful passing manta during the season.
Whale sharks
These ocean giants may visit Diani’s waters during the season.
Medical requirements
All interns must meet the SSI Diver Medical Questionnaire requirements and be able to swim.
Certain medical conditions or medications may require approval from a physician. Review the form before travelling so any required clearance can be arranged in advance.
View Medical Questionnaire“If today was the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” — Steve Jobs
“All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.” — Walt Disney
Divemaster internship FAQs
Do I need to be certified to join?
How long does the internship take?
How many dives will I do?
Is accommodation included?
Do I need my own equipment?
What certifications will I earn?
Can I work while completing the internship?
Where will the dives take place?
Will I get a job after the internship?
Trade the desk for the deep
Train in Diani Beach, develop real professional skills and earn a qualification that can take you to dive centres across the world.
Diani Beach, Kenya · +254 700 934 854 · info@oceantribe.co
