I have recently decided that I want to commit to trying to become a dive professional. I have been looking at several of the PADI GoPro programs and was wondering if anyone had any opinions on any of the programs. The 2 programs that I have found most interesting so far have been the Utila Dive Centre off of Honduras and the Oceans Unlimited Dive Centre in Quepos, Costa Rica. I would like to be in a Spanish speaking country because I would like to develop an ability to speak and understand Spanish. I took Spanish in college and developed an ability to read and write a little and understand a professor that repeated herself until you understood her, but probably never could have held a real conversation.
The Utila Dive Centre interests me because they seem to have the best background in Marine Ecology. I have a BS degree in Marine Science. I also think that they may be better when it comes to the diversity of diving during my education and job placement than some. Oceans Unlimited interests me because I think that I would be more likely to develop ties to some of the local people and be more likely to develop a small grasp of Spanish. Georgia King with the dive center also sent me an email that went far beyond the form letters with a line or two to me as an individual that I have received from some places. Angel Navarro with Pro Dive Mexico also has done this and so it would not be hard for the right person to convince me that they were my best choice either.
I know that there are many great choices beyond these 3, and I have no doubt that I would cherish the experience with any of them, but I only want to pay for it once. I am currently going through SSI's Stress and Rescue certification, and will be done before I go on to a GOPro program. I will go at least through my Instructor certification and will probably go on through the MSDT program. I am mainly concerned with the PADI program but would be interested if anyone had any opinion on any of the other programs and particularly SSI.
Thanks for any advice or information that anyone might have.
Eric
The Utila Dive Centre interests me because they seem to have the best background in Marine Ecology. I have a BS degree in Marine Science. I also think that they may be better when it comes to the diversity of diving during my education and job placement than some. Oceans Unlimited interests me because I think that I would be more likely to develop ties to some of the local people and be more likely to develop a small grasp of Spanish. Georgia King with the dive center also sent me an email that went far beyond the form letters with a line or two to me as an individual that I have received from some places. Angel Navarro with Pro Dive Mexico also has done this and so it would not be hard for the right person to convince me that they were my best choice either.
I know that there are many great choices beyond these 3, and I have no doubt that I would cherish the experience with any of them, but I only want to pay for it once. I am currently going through SSI's Stress and Rescue certification, and will be done before I go on to a GOPro program. I will go at least through my Instructor certification and will probably go on through the MSDT program. I am mainly concerned with the PADI program but would be interested if anyone had any opinion on any of the other programs and particularly SSI.
Thanks for any advice or information that anyone might have.
Eric