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.
Methodology
Different agencies take different approaches to this program creating both a disparate level of indicated diver competence both within most agencies[clarification needed] as well as from agency to agency. The specific methodologies of the main agencies are as follows:
IANTD
IANTD awards their Elite Diver Recognition[1] to a diver who completes:
IANTD Advanced Open Water Diver.
Three IANTD specialties: Deep, EANx, Rescue and Navigation.
Any two other IANTD specialties.
NAUI
The NAUI Master Scuba Diver course[2] is one of such courses
that has both skill based and academic component. The course was designed by Paul Heinmiller (NAUI 5141L) and Phil Sharkey (NAUI 4505L),[3] to meet a specific need that had been identified by the NAUI membership: a clearly defined course that provides, assesses, and certifies for all the academic and skills training required of a NAUI Instructor, excepting topics covering teaching and supervision of students and certified divers, topics that are part of NAUI's Divemaster and Instructor Training Courses. The NAUI Master Scuba Diver course involves training in the theory and practice of:
Completion of 4 SDI, TDI, or ERDI Specialty Courses or equivalent; only 1 course without dives, may be credited towards the master diver development program, with the exception of nitrox