Master Scuba Diver (MSD) is a scuba diving certification level offered by several North American diver training agencies, such as the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), Scuba Diving International (SDI), and Scuba Schools International (SSI).
Although the contents and methodology of the certification differs between the agencies, the Master Diver certification is the penultimate non-leadership agency recognition.
The International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD) name for the equivalent certification (which is very close in content to the traditional North American model) is "Elite Diver".
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.
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Different agencies take different approaches to qualifying for the certification, creating a disparate level of indicated diver competence from agency to agency. There are two basic models for such programs: one that features a core of academic material and in-water skills that are taught and tested and another model that recognizes he completion of some suite of requirements, but that has no specific knowledge and/or skill requirements. The specific methodology of the main agencies is as follows:
The NAUI Master Scuba Diver course [1] is regarded as the most rigorous of those offered by any of the North American diver training organizations, and is unique in that it is the only one which has an academic core of material. The NAUI Master Scuba Diver course was specifically designed to provide all the academic and skill training required to become a NAUI Instructor, with the exception of topics covering how to teach and supervise students. The NAUI Master Scuba Diver course involves specific training in the theory and practice of:
PADI awards their Master Scuba Diver Recognition[2] to a diver who completes:
SDI awards their Master Scuba Diver Recognition[3] rating to a diver who completes:
SSI awards their Master Diver Recognition[4] to any diver who completes: