Hazing, initiation ceremonies, bastardisation, ragging, or deposition, refers to the practice of rituals, challenges, and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group including a new fraternity, sorority, team, or club. The “Snorkel Test” is a hazing ritual unique among scuba divers, and in particular, is found predominately among those divers becoming professionals.

Google the term “Divemaster Snorkel Test” or look up the hashtag #snorkeltest on social media platforms like Instagram, and you will immediately find examples. Generally speaking, the Snorkel Test takes place in the evening after a Divemaster Candidate has completed all of the requirements for their professional certification. The dive shops, school, or operation will gather divers and professionals for the ritual.

It includes having the Divemaster Candidate sit in a chair with a blacked out scuba mask on. Normally, the snorkel has a plastic bottle that has been cut to create a funnel, or an actual funnel attached (such as by duct tape) to the top of the snorkel, which makes it easier for liquid to be poured down the air tube.

The diver then places the mouth piece in their mouth, and other divers (normally scuba instructors) pour liquid of some kind down the snorkel until the Divemaster Candidate either consumes it all, or throws up in the process. The liquid can of course be any liquid, but most commonly, is a mixture of hard alcohol beverages such as tequila, rum, or whiskey. It is not uncommon for Instructors to create exceedingly unpleasant concoctions deliberately designed to induce vomiting, such as mixed drinks with hot sauce.

Absolutely not. However, as it is a form of ritualistic hazing that has not been outright banned by the largest and most influential agencies in the industry. As such, it continues to be practiced extensively worldwide among shops, schools, and other dive operations. Dive Mentor prohibits the practice among our divers.

No. It is fundamentally against our mission and policies.

We consider the Snorkel Test to be a morally repugnant and destructive behavior that conflicts with who we are and what we stand for. Dive Mentor stands publicly against any form of hazing that demeans others or puts them at risk. The Snorkel Test is inherently dangerous.

Dive Mentor believes in helping the rising generation build character and become change agents. This means adhering to the Six Pillars of Character. Personally, professionally, individually, and collectively we are fundamentally against hazing, in any form, but especially when it involves young adults and alcohol. It has no place in the diving industry, and certainly not around teens or individuals who may lack a measure of maturity.

As such, we have voted our conscience and can no longer support or contribute financially to any brand that either directly or indirectly supports the Snorkel Test. Like the #metoo movement, we believe it is time for large agencies like PADI, for example, to stand up publicly against hazing. Because of their size, reach, and numbers they have the ability to produce the most change.

We are unaware of any scuba certification agency publicly coming out against the Snorkel Test. In fact, we have found the converse to be true.

PADI, for example, has done amazing things for diving as a whole; this cannot be ignored. And countless divers and professionals are PADI certified. We have many friends who are associated with PADI, and a great deal of respect for many PADI leaders. Nevertheless, while PADI does not directly support hazing, we have yet to see them take an aggressive stand against it publicly. We hope this will change in due course.

If you Google the term “Divemaster Snorkel Test” or look up the hashtag #snorkeltest on Instagram, the top results are currently connected to PADI affiliated dive shops, schools, and dive operations. This included PADI 5-Star resorts and centers. It is unnecessary to include “PADI” in the search terms. However, if you include PADI in the Google search, it populates a staggering number of examples. If you substitute SSI, NAUI, CMAS, TDI and other agencies in the Google search, few examples can be found. If you look search the term on social media, it is not uncommon to find PADI actually tagged (ie., @padi and #padi) in countless social media posts and videos of actual Snorkel Tests being conducted by PADI affiliated professionals.

We would like to see all agencies, but in particular the largest and most influential to take a public stand against hazing.

Dive Mentor’s Mission is to educate, inspire, and mentor others to be change agents. We do this through a variety of innovative, fun, and exciting marine-based adventure programs. That’s it. Nothing else. No distractions. Nothing to steal our focus. And we’re guided by very simple principles: treat others with respect, be kind, protect marine wildlife and fragile marine habitats, and ensure students have access to the highest levels of professional and safe education, while having lots of fun. This is our mission, this is our focus.

Dive Mentor, Inc. was founded exclusively for educational, scientific, and charitable purposes as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, and is fully recognized by the IRS as having Public Charity Status under section 509(a)(2).

Dive Mentor, Inc. operates multiple training locations and schools in the United States and abroad. The name of our schools are universally known as Dive Mentor, but may also have a branch identifiers (ie., Dive Mentor Cozumel, Dive Mentor Trogir, Dive Mentor Port Orford, Dive Mentor Boca, etc.). Each branch is chartered by and reports directly to our central US administrative office, which is controlled by a all-volunteer Board of Directors. But each Branch also has it’s own leadership structure and is managed locally per Dive Mentor’s Bylaws and the Branch’s Charter.

Dive Mentor, Inc. was founded by a group of professional divers who have tens of thousands of hours of combined under-water time in recreational, commercial, public safety, and military diving who all feel a powerful calling to protect the ocean, marine animals, and fragile marine habitats. They not only love to dive, but strongly believe in ensuring students have access to the highest levels of professional education while having lots of fun.

Dive Mentor’s primary focus is on sharing scuba diving and the ocean with two main categories of the public: 1) those who may not otherwise have access to SCUBA diving—especially underprivileged teens, the disabled, or those who are land locked and have no access to the Ocean; and 2) Educating future generations of advocates to take on leadership roles that will positively impact the future of the Ocean and the diving industry. Our programs include introduction to diving and marine conservation, open water diving, advanced diving and specialties, rescue and medical courses, and both Divemaster Internships and Instructor Development Courses that lead to professional-level certification. We cater for high achieving high school students, college students, and those who wish to enter the field vocationally.

In-line with our educational programs, Dive Mentor strive’s to create “ambassadors”, wherein we encourage divers to engage, educate, and inspire other divers and non-divers interested in diving, to specifically participate in beach and underwater-clean-ups. These ambassadors organize the collection and removal of non-integrated trash from beaches and bodies of water, as well as, engage in other activities that will positively impact the Ocean and conserve and preserve it for future generations.

The instructors and divemasters who mentor other divers through our organization are mature, experienced, dedicated professionals who hold multiple agency certifications. The minimum requirements to become a Dive Mentor is Divemaster certification, in good standing, with at least 300 dives in a variety of settings, five specialities certifications, and possession of a current BLS, ACLS, and PALS provider certification.

Full status Instructors must have a minimum of 500 dives, hold at least five speciality instructor certifications, BLS, First Aid, and Emergency O2 Provider instructor certification (or equivalent), and must possess current advanced medical provider training.

Each candidate must undergo a comprehensive evaluation that includes personality tests, a back ground check, and both academic and skills evaluations. Those who pass are accepted as provisional Dive Mentors, but must complete a rigorous training program and must provide evidence of Professional Level Dive and Liability insurance.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Dive Mentor, please contact us here.

Dive Mentor believes there is a considerable difference between a training program, coaching, and mentoring. With the latter, relationships are valued as a very powerful means to longer-term personal development in a given environment. Mentoring by definition has more inherent value, as it is based on a mutual desire for development towards the mentee’s (the person being mentored) personal and professional goals and objectives.

Mentoring is concerned with long-term development and focuses on implicit, intuitive subjects and behaviors. While we do focus on tasks and learning, and we do “coach” students during “training”, our mission and purpose as an organization (and as individuals) is to help prepare other divers to enter into and positively influence the diving industry.

As a responsible and morally conscious organization, we ensure that all students who train with Dive Mentor are covered by Diver Alert Network (DAN) under our professional membership during their course, or until they obtain membership. DAN is a group of not-for-profit organizations dedicated to improving diving safety for all divers.

Unlike many diving organizations, schools, and dive shops, we exist purely for public benefit—not to create a profit for owners or stakeholders. Because our mission is charitable in nature, we utilize income brought in through courses, product sales, fundraisers, and donations to help others learn to dive and in many cases become professionals themselves. Our financial assistance programs are reserved for those with the greatest need, but we evaluate all applications on a case-by-case basis. As with other schools (think trade schools, colleges, and universities) only applicants who’ve actually been accepted into a program may apply for financial assistance.

Dive Mentor’s Mission is to educate, inspire, and mentor others to be change agents. We do this through a variety of innovative, fun, and exciting marine-based adventure programs. That’s it. Nothing else. No distractions. Nothing to steal our focus. And we’re guided by very simple principles: treat others with respect, be kind, protect marine wildlife and fragile marine habitats, and ensure students have access to the highest levels of professional and safe education, while having lots of fun. This is our mission, this is our focus.

Dive Mentor, Inc. was founded exclusively for educational, scientific, and charitable purposes as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, and is fully recognized by the IRS as having Public Charity Status under section 509(a)(2).

Dive Mentor, Inc. operates multiple training locations and schools in the United States and abroad. The name of our schools are universally known as Dive Mentor, but may also have a branch identifiers (ie., Dive Mentor Cozumel, Dive Mentor Trogir, Dive Mentor Port Orford, Dive Mentor Boca, etc.). Each branch is chartered by and reports directly to our central US administrative office, which is controlled by a all-volunteer Board of Directors. But each Branch also has it’s own leadership structure and is managed locally per Dive Mentor’s Bylaws and the Branch’s Charter.

Dive Mentor, Inc. was founded by a group of professional divers who have tens of thousands of hours of combined under-water time in recreational, commercial, public safety, and military diving who all feel a powerful calling to protect the ocean, marine animals, and fragile marine habitats. They not only love to dive, but strongly believe in ensuring students have access to the highest levels of professional education while having lots of fun.

Dive Mentor’s primary focus is on sharing scuba diving and the ocean with two main categories of the public: 1) those who may not otherwise have access to SCUBA diving—especially underprivileged teens, the disabled, or those who are land locked and have no access to the Ocean; and 2) Educating future generations of advocates to take on leadership roles that will positively impact the future of the Ocean and the diving industry. Our programs include introduction to diving and marine conservation, open water diving, advanced diving and specialties, rescue and medical courses, and both Divemaster Internships and Instructor Development Courses that lead to professional-level certification. We cater for high achieving high school students, college students, and those who wish to enter the field vocationally.

In-line with our educational programs, Dive Mentor strive’s to create “ambassadors”, wherein we encourage divers to engage, educate, and inspire other divers and non-divers interested in diving, to specifically participate in beach and underwater-clean-ups. These ambassadors organize the collection and removal of non-integrated trash from beaches and bodies of water, as well as, engage in other activities that will positively impact the Ocean and conserve and preserve it for future generations.

The instructors and divemasters who mentor other divers through our organization are mature, experienced, dedicated professionals who hold multiple agency certifications. The minimum requirements to become a Dive Mentor is Divemaster certification, in good standing, with at least 300 dives in a variety of settings, five specialities certifications, and possession of a current BLS, ACLS, and PALS provider certification.

Full status Instructors must have a minimum of 500 dives, hold at least five speciality instructor certifications, BLS, First Aid, and Emergency O2 Provider instructor certification (or equivalent), and must possess current advanced medical provider training.

Each candidate must undergo a comprehensive evaluation that includes personality tests, a back ground check, and both academic and skills evaluations. Those who pass are accepted as provisional Dive Mentors, but must complete a rigorous training program and must provide evidence of Professional Level Dive and Liability insurance.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Dive Mentor, please contact us here.

Dive Mentor believes there is a considerable difference between a training program, coaching, and mentoring. With the latter, relationships are valued as a very powerful means to longer-term personal development in a given environment. Mentoring by definition has more inherent value, as it is based on a mutual desire for development towards the mentee’s (the person being mentored) personal and professional goals and objectives.

Mentoring is concerned with long-term development and focuses on implicit, intuitive subjects and behaviors. While we do focus on tasks and learning, and we do “coach” students during “training”, our mission and purpose as an organization (and as individuals) is to help prepare other divers to enter into and positively influence the diving industry.

As a responsible and morally conscious organization, we ensure that all students who train with Dive Mentor are covered by Diver Alert Network (DAN) under our professional membership during their course, or until they obtain membership. DAN is a group of not-for-profit organizations dedicated to improving diving safety for all divers.

Unlike many diving organizations, schools, and dive shops, we exist purely for public benefit—not to create a profit for owners or stakeholders. Because our mission is charitable in nature, we utilize income brought in through courses, product sales, fundraisers, and donations to help others learn to dive and in many cases become professionals themselves. Our financial assistance programs are reserved for those with the greatest need, but we evaluate all applications on a case-by-case basis. As with other schools (think trade schools, colleges, and universities) only applicants who’ve actually been accepted into a program may apply for financial assistance.