Divemaster in Sipadan

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Messages
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Location
Melbourne
# of dives
Hello,

I am an instructor and my Boyfriend wants to do his dive master. We want to go to Sipadan as I have heard so many amazing things about the diving there. I want to know what dive company you would recommend as the best place to do a PADI DM.

I know that getting permits can be difficult to get so I don't want to go anywhere that struggles to get enough permits. It's also important to get very professional training somewhere with a good reputation as he will want to be able to get DM work afterwards it's not just about the card and having a good time. Although obviously a un atmosphere is essential to the experience.

Also where is the best area to be based. We don't want to be too isolated it would be great to be able to a a little social life but we a much more focused on the diving and want to be in the best location to be in the water as much as possible.

And finally as I am an instructor I was hoping I would be able to get some freelance work while he dose his DM and even assist in his training. Do you think there would be any operations that would be open to that?

Thanks in advance for all your help !!!
 
Perhaps right now you may want to look at either Indonesia or Thailand as an alternative - bit of a political situation at the moment in the sipidan region.
 
Not taking into account the political stuff , we stayed and dived with Scuba Junkies on Mabul and had a wonderful time there. We are now big fans of the Philippines....can't say enough good things about Liquid Dumaguete on Negros. Sea Explorers in Malapascua and in Dauin are also superb. As much as we all love Thailand and its food and beaches , the diving is sadly going down hill rapidly. They have had great mantra and whale shark sightings this year's but there is loads of dead coral.
 
... if you're an instructor, why not do your boyfriends' DM or if that's uncomfortable (which I would understand) work it out with another local instructor that you'll take on some of their coursework in exchange for taking your boyfriend on as an apprentice? Probably save yourself a bundle in travel and you'll be able to control the quality of his education to a much higher degree than sending him off to an instructor mill.
 
Thanks for the advice and I have researched the resent events and we are currently optimistic that the situation will have improved by the time we go there. I also think it is important for the areas themselves for tourists to continue visiting then to enable them to go back to normal as soon as possible.

I agree that Dumaguete and Malapasqua are amazing but I really want to go somewhere new. We have both been to Thailand and Indonesia before also.

As for teaching him myself I would obviously love to do that but I am not working at a dive shop at the moment. Also I think its a very important part of the DM training to work alongside as many different instructors as possible as everyone dose things slightly differently.

I have been looking at scuba junkie but have heard some very mixed reviews about them. Also been looking at Bornoe dives which seem to have a very professional reputation but they seem like a very big operation which is not always the best learning environment.

I'd also Like to know a bit more about what it is like to stay/live around that area (outside of the current situation)

Thanks again :)
 
Thanks for the advice and I have researched the resent events and we are currently optimistic that the situation will have improved by the time we go there. ...
I'd also Like to know a bit more about what it is like to stay/live around that area (outside of the current situation)
Couple of comments:
You may have researched recent events, but I don't think you clearly understand the situation if you're optimistic about things getting better anytime soon.:wink: I say this because I still go there to dive even though I know it is not safe.
Mabul is quite an isolated place to live (all basic food items, except coconuts, are brought in daily by boat). Semporna has a little more variety (and a good pizza shop), but for most westerners I know, life will still feel very limited. Personally, I think that if you want quality training AND you want a pleasant, relaxed environment for after-diving activities (you don't want to train at a center where you are consumed by the work), then you should look elsewhere.
Reality sucks.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

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