I have just gotten a job in the Caribbean.. excited, scared!

[Web Monkey]

Terry,
You should brush up on emergency procedures.

It wasn't me. My emergency procedures are just fine, and right now, diving where I live requires the use of a snowplow to get to the shore.

Terry

 

[Don Wray]

They may be speaking of a Discover Scuba Diving course when they state "mini-course." Here is the description of the Divemaster's role:

Independently conduct Discover Scuba Diving (2003 revised program) in a pool or in confined open water to a maximum depth of 6 metres/20 feet if qualified as a Discover Scuba Diving Leader.​

Qualification includes completing an internship after certification as a PADI Divemaster that consists of conducting four separate Discover Scuba Diving pool or confined water experiences (with actual participants) under the direct supervision and guidance of a PADI Instructor. (See Discover Scuba Diving Leader Internship Completion Form in the Pros’ Site at padi.com.)

With that being said and after reading your questions, I highly recommend you re-read your Divemaster manual, re-read your Rescue manual, practice, practice, practice your rescue skills and then, do a blunt self critique of your diving, rescue and leadership skills. You can find your self in deep fecal matter quickly if your not prepared. Only you can honestly decide if you are ready for this challenge, and I promise you, it will be a challenge. If your history has not been assisting with classes where a variety of students are taught, you probably aren't prepared. If you haven't observed students closely, anticipated and prevented a problem at depth, you probably aren't prepared. It has been said many times on this board get experience before ascending into the ranks of a dive leader, Divemaster or Instructor. Until you have been there and seen how quickly a student that has been doing great, all of a sudden, during a skill they have performed flawlessly over and over in confined water, then in open water they panic and you have 2 other students there with you, will you be able not only to handle the student with the problem but also the others with you. Remember, panic can be contagious. If there is a doubt, you are not ready.

You should study the Instructor's manual thoroughly and know exactly what you can and cannot do. Dive op's will sometime tell you to do something that is not correct and if your not up on the rules, you can again find yourself in deep trouble.​

Sorry for the long response but your profile is not complete enough to be able to gauge exactly where you are in your leadership abilities.

If they have a Course Director on site, you can take the Digital Underwater Photography Instructor's course, the Emergency First Response Instructor course, the Emergency Oxygen Provider course and increase your resume by being certified to teach those, in addition to the classes a Divemaster are already authorized to teach.

Good luck with your self assessment and best of luck if you decide to go ahead with this venture.
​

 

[dcamargo]

Great. Thanks for the replies. Will take everything into consideration.
By the way it wasnt that school roatan man...this is the site of the place where I ill be going Buceo en Colombia - Cartagena Malpelo Gorgona Bogota Nuqui San Andres Providencia Islas del rosario - Diving Planet .... right now it is low season so maybe every other day they have scuba divers. During high season they say it s everyday. Pay is not very good...but the experience I just cant pass up!

Now I do have to look after my family...I think ill give it a shot for a month and if it doesnt meet my needs maybe I will teach english there (until we move back to Canada). Now I do have to get studying! For some reason Ive always had in my mind that DMs have to teach theoretical classes (where I got my DMs I was taught by rescue divers). I guess it is important though to be up to date on the theory of scuba in case someone asks and so forth. Thanks for the tip about what to study and practice..Im gonna give this job a shot and Ill post and let you all know.

 

[Web Monkey]

Now I do have to look after my family...I think ill give it a shot for a month and if it doesnt meet my needs maybe I will teach english there (until we move back to Canada). Now I do have to get studying! For some reason Ive always had in my mind that DMs have to teach theoretical classes (where I got my DMs I was taught by rescue divers). I guess it is important though to be up to date on the theory of scuba in case someone asks and so forth. Thanks for the tip about what to study and practice..Im gonna give this job a shot and Ill post and let you all know.

Before you do anything, you need to find out what agency you're certified with (PADI?) and specifically what certification you hold (do you have a PADI or other C-Card that says "DiveMaster" on it?) and specifically what certification the dive operator expects you to have.

Although I'm not up on PADI procedures, I do not believe that "rescue divers" are able to teach the DM class or issue certifications, so I'm not really sure if what you have is what you need in order to work as a DM. It would be terrible if you left your home and moved to a different city, only to find that they can't hire you.

Terry

 

[Prostar]

Get used to lots and lots of lifting.
Get your rest any chance you can.
Be nice to the people, especially when you are tired and don't feel like it.
Remember, you are working for those tips.
Oh, and learn knots.
And one more thing. When you tie off the stern of the boat to a cleat on the dock, move away while the captain powers the bow around. Those cleats do rip out.

 

[Garrobo]

Evidently you have some sort of permiso to work in Columbia as an English instructor. I would advise you to inquire to the government authorities as to whether this would contain an extension to perform any other type of work in country. The Columbian authorities (along with those of other countries south of the border) have a bad habit of throwing expatriots into a dungeon for the slightest cause and leaving them there until someone comes up with some cash. You don't want this. A Columbian jail is nowhere to spend your diving season. Very detrimental to your well being and sun tan. Another thing to consider if one is planning to spend much time in one of these countries is the kidnapping rate of foreign workers. This is a favorite pastime of the local mara's. They consider anyone from the US as a millionaire or whose family or employer could aquire large sums of money to get the rest of your body back. Their favorite target is children since one is more apt to go to extreme lengths to save one of these as opposed to one's loving wife. I know how you feel about wanting to stay in a country as beautiful as Columbia, just as I did for a long while about Honduras. I finally came to my senses one day when a bunch of mara's machine-gunned a local transit bus just down the road from where I was staying, raped several of the girls on board, kidnapped the American who was later found dead and as per usual robbed everyone. Of course this could happen on occasion in one of our fine cities like Detroit or Cleveland but this type of thing happens on a rather consistant basis south of the border. On the other hand, good luck with your enterprise.

 

[Jayde323]

Since you are a DM, you can request access to the "Instructor to Instructor" panel. You will hit more your target audience there and may get more of the answer you are looking for.

 

[ShakaZulu]

They certainly do mention a "minicourse"....I would not get too excited about the money, do you know yet what you will be paid? I think it may not be enough to support a family, but what do I know. Then again, you're in Columbia, might be looking at getting into the export business Looks like you may need to brush up on your Spanish too, English not too good...

Spanish and scuba diving minicourse (EB1): This is an Spanish course in the mornings, followed by a scuba diving mini-course in the afternoons. This course is recommended top those traveling to Cartagena for one week or less and wishing to improve their Spanish and at the same time to scuba dive without having to take the complete scuba diving course.

The course has been designed under these standards: this program provides non-divers with the opportunity to dive before developing the complete course.

This experience presents scuba diving as a pleasant and attractive activity, and generates sensations of comfort and security as well as a sense of belonging.

The course is specially recommended for people traveling to the coastal region for a few days, and therefore don’t have enough time to take the complete course. It is also suited for non certified escorts.

The course includes:

- All Nueva Lengua services
- Spanish course of your choose
- 1 scuba diving theoretical session plus practice in the swimming pool. The class is given preferably in Spanish but English may be used if your Spanish level is not enough yet.
- Transport to El Rosario islands
- Immersion in open waters at El Rosario islands and instructor’s company during immersion
- Rental of scuba diving equipment
- Insurance covering accidents during immersion