Becoming a PADI Dive Master is a dream for many divers. Whether you just want to complete the training for your own personal knowledge, or whether you want to join the scuba industry full time – going pro will be one of the best things you ever do.

But where to complete the PADI Dive Master course? The Maldives is a fantastic location to further your scuba career. Here are seven reasons why our island, Fulidhoo, is one of the best locations to take your scuba diving to a professional level:

1) The Marine Life

You’ll dive with extraordinary creatures during your PADI Dive Master course!

Hundreds of thousands of people travel to the Maldives every year for recreational diving, so it’s no surprise there is amazing marine life here. From tiny nudibranchs to the biggest fish in the sea, the whale shark, the Maldives has a lot to offer. And every dive is different – you never know what you will encounter. Why not choose somewhere where you see all this incredible wildlife alongside your training? And on your days off, you’ll be able to join a number of excursions – maybe swimming with dolphins, a sandbank picnic or island hopping.

2) Fulidhoo is friendly and safe

Our tiny island will be a home away from home during your course

Fulidhoo is a tiny island, where everyone knows everyone. So you’ll soon get to know the local community. Everyone looks out for each other here. With tourism as one of the biggest sectors of the economy in Maldives, locals are very welcoming and hospitable. Even if you stay for only a week the locals will make you feel like family! Equally, our solo travellers, especially our solo female travellers often comment on how nice it is to be able to sit unbothered at the beach – a plus when you want to just relax after your dives!

3) Our currents will make you a better diver!

You’ll leave Fulidhoo as a confident dive pro, with experience of tough conditions

The Indian Ocean is a lovely 28/29 degrees all year round, so most people are comfortable in only a rash guard or shorty wetsuit. It definitely makes doing multiple dives a day and long confined water sessions a lot easier when the water is so warm. In addition, viz can be 30m+ for long stetches of the year. Having said this, our waters aren’t the easiest conditions you’ll find. The Maldives, and especially Vaavu Atoll where we are located, is famous for strong currents. Channel dives will test your abilities – your decision making skills, your buoyancy and your ability to keep your cool. We guarantee that once you’ve completed your PADI Dive Master course, you’ll leave as a better diver.

4) You’ll gain experience in a busy dive centre

You’ll get hands on experience of all aspects of the operation.

As a 5-Star PADI Instructor Development Centre, Fulidhoo Dive can get pretty busy. During your Dive Master training, you’ll experience all aspects of the operation. From training, continuing education, fun dives, check-ins, photography, social media, pro training – you’ll get an inside glimpse at what it takes to run a dive centre. In addition, we receive guests and divers from all over the world – so you’ll get experience working with a real variety of cultures and backgrounds.

5) Experience in the Maldives helps when job hunting later

Real life experience of guiding in the Maldives will help you find a job here later!

Although getting a job as a DM in the Maldives isn’t common as a foreigner (these jobs are reserved for locals), there are ALWAYS job opportunities for PADI Instructors. These can be in the luxurious resorts, liveaboards or on a local island. If you’re charting a path in your life where your end goal is to become an instructor and one day work in the Maldives, having real life experience of diving and working here (and gaining the understanding of what it takes to live in a tiny island) this will go in your favour when applying for jobs later on.

6) We’re a multi award-winning dive centre

We’re proud to have received awards from both local and international bodies

Fulidhoo Dive is proud to have received awards for outstanding contributions to the scuba industry, to sustainability and to local tourism. We aim at maintaining extremely high standards. With our founder being a PADI Course Director, we strive to be role models for those operating dive schools in the Maldives – always keeping on top of the latest updates in the industry.

7) Teamwork makes the dream work!

You’ll learn lots of skills from our talented instructors – like drawing dive maps!

We strongly believe that all employees and trainees should chip in for everything. There are horror stories the scuba industry of DM trainees being used as glorified cleaners and being passed all the menial tasks. This is not the approach we take. We only offer Dive Master internships to locals, since we believe in investing in our local community and providing opportunities to those that might not be able to afford to enter the scuba industry otherwise. This means foreign candidates will be paying for their courses. Although expected to participate in all aspects of the dive centre, we do not view DM trainees as free labour.

And finally here’s why you shouldn’t come…

Fulidhoo is seriously quiet. The most nightlife we have is the occasional drumming show. There are no bars, no alcohol (the Maldives is a dry country outside of resorts) and no clubs. You might hang out in the local cafes in the evenings or by the jetty watching the sharks, but if you’re looking for somewhere lively, this isn’t the place! What we can offer is a charming island home that feels safe and welcoming in a location where your dives will take your breath away!

Got a question about our PADI Dive Master course? Get in touch via hello@fulidhoodive.com or via our socials.