A canadian in Thailand

[St-Valliere]

Hi!
My name is Steve and I come from Quebec, Canada. A few months ago, I decided to quit my career as an IT Manager, sell everything I owned and use the money to travel the world.

3 months before I left, I figured I would like to take on scuba diving so I could enjoy more than just the usual sceneries, discover a whole new world. I was lucky enough to meet and befriend awesome instructors who helped me get certified before I left and who turned my interest into something I really enjoy.
I am now a fairly unexperienced Advanced Scuba diver but have come to find out that I will probably want to dive for a living.

The first 4 months of this trip were spent traveling most of Europe on a motorcycle, from Ireland to Poland, all the way down to the greek islands and back into Ireland. I only went diving in Santorini, but have been itching to get to SE asia so I could do it all the time.

I am now sitting in my Bangkok hostel trying to figure it out all. I think I will leave to Koh Tao in a few days to visit the different dive centers and hope I will find the right people with whom I will want to spend the next few months getting all the way to DM.
I could go anywhere in Asia to do this, so if Koh Tao is not the place for me, I will start looking at other places. Any suggestions or advice is appreciated! As I am now without work, money is an important factor and I would also love to find a place that would be willing to accept my help as an alternative way to help me pay for these courses and/or accomodation as I have all the time in the world. I am a very honest person, laid-back, smart and dedicated. I am fully bilingual in French and English.

Anyways, this is me. Happy to be part of this community and I am hoping I will be able to start contributing soon enough!

 

[wedivebc]

Hi Steve,
Koh Tao is a good place to meet divers and especially DMs and instructors. Literally hundreds of them, get my drift? If money is a concern talk to a DM buy him a Heineken and ask how much he paid for training and how much he makes. A large percentage of tourists in Thailand are European where tipping is less common so don't expect huge tips from your clients. If you just want to dive and have a great time then that is a good place to start.

 

[St-Valliere]

Thanks Dave for the advice!
I understand that Koh Tao might not be the best place to work as DM, I was mostly thinking of doing my cert and carrying on somewhere else after.
Considering I want to keep traveling after this, long-term employment is not on my criteria list after DM.
In hindsight, I suppose it makes me less desirable for an internship.
In any case, I still need to do EFR, Rescue diver and log 20+ dives before DM. It should allow me enough time to gather more info and make a smart decision.
Have a great day!

 

[wedivebc]

Thanks Dave for the advice!
I understand that Koh Tao might not be the best place to work as DM, I was mostly thinking of doing my cert and carrying on somewhere else after.
Considering I want to keep traveling after this, long-term employment is not on my criteria list after DM.
In hindsight, I suppose it makes me less desirable for an internship.
In any case, I still need to do EFR, Rescue diver and log 20+ dives before DM. It should allow me enough time to gather more info and make a smart decision.
Have a great day!

May I suggest if you are going to intern at a dive shop maybe go to somewhere other than the PADI equivalent of a puppy mill. Koh Tao has more PADI instructors than taxis.
Now Khao Lak is near the Similan ISlands and the diving will certainly be better

 

[decompression]

Agree with Dave, Koh lak is a more laid back area with great opportunities and a low cost of living. Great diving and both daily dives and liveaboards. Hit the Google and make some contacts. Sometimes the best approach is to dive with a company, get to know them, see their operation and see what you can offer and sell yourself. Best of luck!