HELP - DiveMaster Internship advice needed!!

[AndyC1123]

Hi guys,

I have just completed my PADI Advanced Open Water course and am now looking to take the next step and complete my Divemaster Internship, and maybe do my Underwater Videography course as well.

I'm a 24-yr old female with 15 logged dives (Aegean Sea, Turkey and Red Sea, Dahab), and my main interests outside of diving are other adventure/activity sports, reading and travel. I have spent the last 2 years working overseas in Europe for an Activity Holiday specialist, and rather than going back to a regular 9-5, I would rather have a bit more excitement and variety in my life so am looking to do my DM Internship.

The problem I've got is that there are so many providers out there that I don't really know where to start!! Having said that, I think I have narrowed it down to about 5 different companies/organisations.

So, here's where you guys can help me....
Has anyone done their DM with either: GVI (Mexico), Coral Cay (Phillipines, Tobago or Cambodia), Davy Jones Locker (Koh Tao), Gapyear Thailand Internships (Koh Tao), or Mermaids (Koh Tao), as these are the options I've narrowed it down to myself.

Also, if anyone has any general advice, that would be great!

Happy diving!
Andy

 

[sierra23]

You might do rescue diver and get some more logged dives in first.

 

[robint]

Wow, this question gets asked about once a week it seems. It would be a good idea to do some reading here on ScubaBoard, your answers are here. Read, read, read.

 

[JohnQPS122]

Hi Andy,

Sierra23 is on the right track, the next step after PADI Advanced is not Divemaster, it's Rescue diver, and more than 15 dives. The requirements are on their web site. You must complete:

PADI Rescue Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)

Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (or qualifying first aid and CPR training from another organization) course completion within the past 24 months.

Have at least 20 dives to begin the course and 60 for DM certification

Have Fun! I don't know why you're planning to travel instead of doing it locally, but all those locations sound nice!

 

[AndyC1123]

Quick update for you all...
I've pretty much decided on doing it in Thailand, probably on Koh Tao (because thats where I can get the best videography course). So any advice on who's best to go with, and who's best to avoid for the DM part?

 

[keithdiver]

Why don't you log yourself at least 100dives or more,so you don't have to be rescued yourself! What is the rush?

 

[sierra23]

Hey Andy:

Yes, keithdiver is RIGHT on. A few specialty classes - Peak Buoyancy is pretty much a GIVEN if you want your filming to be super!!! Having a certificate helps but learning only comes from experience and safety should be your priority always on every dive. Dive shops want dive masters that have the knowledge to help and advise their clients. Some of this experience comes from the courses but most of it comes from diving experience. Logged dives in all conditions will be a good thing to have before doing a DM course. Taking it slow is the way to go. Happy Fishes.

 

[marine9]

I agree 100%.
Being only 24 and having only 15 dives, you have a great deal
of time and much to learn before Dive Master.
Take your time and enjoy diving first.
Learning is not a race to Dive Master.

 

[Buffalobob]

I could not agree more on the last post

 

[Interceptor121]

Maybe the young girl wants to be a pro?
You need 20 dives to enroll a DM class and 60 to gain certification. You should have experience of navigation, deep and night dives at that point.
Where I work we take lots of people from AOW down to DM but it takes time (at least 3 months) and effort (the DM job can actually be physically demanding)
I would recommend you to do your experience with a dive shop that actually can give you work at the end of your internship.
I don't mean to be negative about the set up in Thailand but over there you can even pay to become an MSDT, which to me means that it gets so easy to be an instructor on paper but not one that someone would actually employ that you need to pay to get 25 certs so that a normal operation would actually hire you. Crazy!
Also to consider that to be a videographer you don't actually have to be a DM or a rescue diver.
Diving with a video camera is a completely different subject especially if you do it as a pro and means all times diving on your own and carrying with you heavy suitcases with gear and a computer.
To be a good videographer takes long time but to shoot a decent video that you can sell maybe not so long if you already know how to shoot a decent video on land and how to edit it and author it
Good luck!