Every Diver Can Become an Underwater Magician with this New PADI Distinctive Specialty
One of the newest PADI Distinctive Specialties, Scuba Magician, was unveiled at DEMA 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Since its debut, more than 181 instructors, 13 resorts and countless students have signed up to become Scuba Magicians. Designed to be taught by PADI Instructors with no prior magic experience, the course created by Chef Anton — an award-winning magician and PADI MSDT, aims to both educate and entertain.
PADI Course Director Rich Hopkins said, “Scuba Magician will revolutionize the way scuba is taught and learned. In my 25 years, I have never seen a more effective presentation.”
Courtesy Lezlie RinitiThe Scuba Magician demonstrates the effects of nitrogen absorption while explaining the importance of doing your safety stop.
Scuba Magician follows the Five M’s: Magic Makes the Message More Memorable. When you’re teaching, that’s exactly what you want, says Anton. As an instructor, he detailed how he regularly used magic in his courses as a way to teach scuba, even tackling tough topics like nitrogen absorption and narcosis to help students better grasp the concept. But it wasn’t until he experienced a particularly drab dive day at a site known for phenomenal diving that the idea for the specialty course began to take form. After leading a dive in poor viz and experiencing a strong surge, he decided to showcase a few of his magic tricks to entertain the divers during their safety stop. “Instantly, I could see a difference in their demeanor. Their eyes were filled with that look of childhood wonder, bubbles were coming out of their regulator as they were laughing” he said. After they surfaced, one diver even declared it was “the best dive ever!”
Anton quickly realized that his magic tricks helped to enhance an otherwise not-so-memorable dive. When the tour participants asked if he could show them a few magic tricks that they could in turn share with friends, it was at that moment the Scuba Magician course was born.
Anton spent about a year creating the course, testing his tricks and teachings on several scuba instructors that acted as his first-ever Scuba Magician students.
Courtesy Lezlie RinitiAnton reminds two Divemaster candidates to always be aware of their surroundings. In this scenario the demonstration involves teaching them to not be so laser focused on the deck of cards that they miss the chosen card inside his mask.
According to Karl Shreeves, PADI’s Education and Content Development Executive, the process of developing a specialty is straightforward for PADI Instructors but upon completion, the specialty must be submitted to their PADI Regional Headquarters for review and approval.
Anton created a crew pack that includes the Scuba Magician handbook, It-Ain’t-Magic Kit, video instruction library, exclusive access to the Inner Secrets database, the distinctive specialty outline and rights to teach the course.
“Besides teaching the Scuba Magician course, instructors learn a completely new and innovative way to teach all diving," says Anton.
For more information, check out scubamagician.com and Scuba Magician on social media.
