Where to do a Divemaster course/internship?

[MortUK]

Hi all,

I pretty new to diving, Did my PADI and Advanced last month on Koh Tao, Absolutely loved it.! ;o)

I'm planning an 8-10 week diving trip beginning of 2010 and was looking to doing a Divemasters course.. I was hoping to stay in one place for 6-8 weeks to do the whole thing. I'd obviously need to do a Rescue Divers course too.

I just wondered if anyone had any advice on where in the world to go.? Was considering Thailand, Indonesia, Caribbean, Australia etc... But i'm pretty open to any suggestions.

Mort.

 

[scubapatton]

consider Roatan, Honduras. If I were younger and had the freedom to do such an adventure, I would definitely think of Roatan.. It is still relatively cheap, dives are inexpensive, the people are very friendly and the locals understand the tourism value. The govt has also set up a marine park system so the diving will be ketp vibrant for a while. My wife and I went there for Christmas week last year and had a blast.

 

[DevonDiver]

Add the Philippines to your list

As a destination....it is like Thailand was 20 years ago... unspoilt, uncommercialised for tourism and has an amazing variety of diving.

When picking a school for the DM course, aim for a center that will give you the maximum training value. If youe primary goal is to develop your depth of diving experience and skil...then avoid the 'sausage factory' dive centers that run DM 'progranmmes'. Instead, look for a smaller, but very professional school, that will take you under its wing and offer mentoring and development on an individual basis.

 

[halocline]

I did mine at coconut tree on Roatan, and I enjoyed it. There are also some popular training places on Utila.

 

[Ex-Aquanaut]

Thaialnd is great. We offer two Divemaster intership packages that includes Rescue, DM, lots of specialty courses, all your books, certification fees, equipment (if needed) and private accommodations.

See our all-inclusive, full-featured Aquanauts Complete Internship and budget-priced Aquanauts Value package at the link below.

 

[almitywife]

can i ask why do you want to do your DM's. what do you hope to acheive from it other than a card and where do you hope it will take you?

 

[MortUK]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies...

I'm In a job where I can retire with a pension at 44 years old... Which is about 10 years away... I'm looking into maybe over the next few years getting up to Instructor level and do a bit of teaching when I retire.. Somewhere hot would be nice... ;o)

I have 2 months off and was going to travel doing some diving along the way.. Having looked into it i'd be i quite fancy doing a Divemasters, It'd be the first step on the way to Instructor.. Although i'd like to get some diving experience before progressing from DM.. But with 2 months off it seems like a perfect opportunity to do a DM.

I was thinking of Thailand, But i did my OW and AOW there 6 months ago on Koh Tao.. It was fantastic and i'd go back in an instant, but i'd like to see the world a bit and try new places....

 

[300bar]

Do your rescue and DM in the place where you're going to use it.
Best training IMO you'll get just back home.
Looks like your from the UK so do them in the UK.
The harder the conditions the more you'll be likely to learn.

IMO when your a good DM in the UK,you'll be a good one where ever.
If you're a good DM in the tropics,you'll suck in the UK.

Not joking you,I've seen "tropical"pro's diving the Dutch waters and they came out (within 5 min.) SCREAMING. While our students said they had good viz. They said there was NO viz.

 

[Jimmy P]

If price is a concern, I believe the two cheapest spots are Utila, Honduras and Ko Tao. I paid 28,500THB at Ko Tao.. Obviously you already know how the diving is in Ko Tao.

 

[SubMariner]

Hi all,

I pretty new to diving, Did my PADI and Advanced last month on Koh Tao, Absolutely loved it.! ;o)

I'm planning an 8-10 week diving trip beginning of 2010 and was looking to doing a Divemasters course.. I was hoping to stay in one place for 6-8 weeks to do the whole thing. I'd obviously need to do a Rescue Divers course too.

I just wondered if anyone had any advice on where in the world to go.? Was considering Thailand, Indonesia, Caribbean, Australia etc... But i'm pretty open to any suggestions.

Mort.

No doubt you don't want to hear this, but 6-8 weeks is not enough time to become a competent DM. Especially if you're not even at RD yet.

Becoming a GOOD dive pro takes a while. Give the process its due & you won't be sorry. (Neither will your charges.)

JMHO,