Why not do my DM on Koh Tao?

[Bubble Dragon]

Hi guys, need some advice.
I'm a Rescue diver with +100 dives (mainly Red Sea) & a real love for UW photogaphy.
Since I just lost my job (again) I want to use this opportunity to do my DM-internship somewhere nice (topside & UW) & preferably take a course in videography afterwards. I'm looking at staying out for about 6 months, hopefully working as a DM or videographer.

Since I can't really leave before Dec'10-Jan'11 I'm thinking of Koh Tao. On the one hand, I know the diving isn't thàt great overthere (biodiversity), but the place should be good for training in a cool atmosphere & a pretty good chance of work afterwards? So far, I'm considdering Crystal for the DM & Liquid Media for the videography.

Now my question is, are there better places for me to do this & why? I'm open to all other places that have good (or better) diving/training/people/prices/parties/... even outside of thailand or Asia.

So please: enlighten me

Thnx in advance,

Bert

 

[DevonDiver]

Hey Bert,

I'd definitely recommend both Crystal and Liquid Media. The videography course there is awesome.

Koh Tao is an excellent destination for the lifestyle, vibe and dive-culture. Unlike other Thailand and Asia destinations, it is almost completely focused on scuba diving. It isn't commercial and tacky like other places, but at the same time has a vibrant nightlife and friendly social scene.

The dive industry is very busy there... so you can be assured that you will get lots of hands-on experience with real students and divers. However, it is more of a 'training factory' than other more luxury orientated destinations, where the diving is more relaxed and pampered. The majority of divers/students on Tao are backpackers - so it is fun to mix and dive with a younger crowd, who are carefree and fun. The sheer size of the dive industry there, means there is some chance of getting work afterwards... but that's all dependant on what reputation you can make on your DM course!

Below water, the dives are mediocre for SE Asia. There is a chance of whalesharks, barracuda, turtles etc. Chumphon Pinnacle often has big sharks. However, the majority of training sites are over-dived, coral damaged and reduced to the 'usual suspects' of reef fish. There's not much interesting macro stuff there surprisingly.

diving - 6/10
training - 6/10 (DM) 9/10 (videography)
people - 10/10
prices - 9/10
parties - 10/10

Koh Tao is a nice balance. The diving is just OK, but the island vibe is awesome.

If you weren't so concerned about 'dry land' aspect of a destination, then I would recommend Borneo for your DM course. Scuba Junkie, at Semporna/Mabul, in Sabah also cater for the backpacker crowd. The location is pretty boring compared with Koh Tao in respect of nightlife, bars, parties etc.... but the diving is simply amazing.

Mabul/Sipidan
diving - 10/10
training - 6/10
people - 8/10
prices - 7/10
parties - 4/10

 

[Bubble Dragon]

Hey andy, thanx for your detailled reply! Would you maybe recommend on doing the 2 courses in seperate locations & if so wich would you do first? This had also occured to me, but I didn't know if that was a good idea? Ofcourse it's easier to make a name for yourself if you hang around longer in the same spot...
Since you gave both locations a 6/10 for the training, I was wondering which places you would rate higher for that?

Other people's views on this are also welcome ofcourse!

 

[DevonDiver]

Hey andy, thanx for your detailled reply! Would you maybe recommend on doing the 2 courses in seperate locations & if so wich would you do first?

There would be pros and cons to doing that. Don't underestimate how easy it is to transit around SE Asia. There's a great network for backpacker buses and regional flights.

I've travelled the length and breadth of Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia by bus. They are easy to book at any one of the thousands of tourist offices along the backpacker 'trails'.

For instance, when I journeyed from Koh Tao to Mabul, it took an overnight ferry from Tao, then a 1 day bus down Thailand and into Penang, Malaysia. I spent a few days chilling out in Penang and then took another 1 day bus to Kuala Lumpur. The next morning I flew to Sabah and was collected at the airport by the dive center. The whole journey cost less than $150.

This had also occured to me, but I didn't know if that was a good idea? Ofcourse it's easier to make a name for yourself if you hang around longer in the same spot...

As far as I know, the DMs in Mabul don't get paid for working. They just get free food and accommodation. Most are very happy with that...as they are getting some of the best diving in the world every day.

Doing the DM course on Mabul would give you some great diving...maybe take 3 months to do that? Then take 3 days to travel to Tao and sign up on the video course? Once you finished the videography... you'd have the option to DM or video, depending on the work you can get. That's achieveable..

The quickest way to get work on Tao is by going 'freelance'. Print out some CVs and spend your days walking around the dive centres seeing if there is work. You can get busy quickly that way. If you do enough work for one centre, and they like your work ethic and professionalism, then you might get offered full time work.

If you have a variety of languages, you will find work easier.

Since you gave both locations a 6/10 for the training, I was wondering which places you would rate higher for that?

I was basing that globally, so that others could add recommendations using a common scale.

An example of my definition of 10/10 training is the Rescue Course that I did with a former British SBS diver. It was an awesome course. I also did my DMT course in the UK. It was spread over 12 months and I did a lot of speciality dive training and some more advanced life-support training etc etc. I feel that was of higher standard than what I saw in Tao.

So...to add to your options:

Stoney Cove, UK
diving - 2/10
training - 10/10
people - 4/10
prices -3/10
parties - 1/10

 

[TomLansford]

Hi Bert

Here is a second recommendation for Crystal.

There are many companies for video training on KT, too.

I'd be happy to give more detailed tips if you decide on KT ...

Take care and good luck

Tom

Hi guys, need some advice.
I'm a Rescue diver with +100 dives (mainly Red Sea) & a real love for UW photogaphy.
Since I just lost my job (again) I want to use this opportunity to do my DM-internship somewhere nice (topside & UW) & preferably take a course in videography afterwards. I'm looking at staying out for about 6 months, hopefully working as a DM or videographer.

Since I can't really leave before Dec'10-Jan'11 I'm thinking of Koh Tao. On the one hand, I know the diving isn't thàt great overthere (biodiversity), but the place should be good for training in a cool atmosphere & a pretty good chance of work afterwards? So far, I'm considdering Crystal for the DM & Liquid Media for the videography.

Now my question is, are there better places for me to do this & why? I'm open to all other places that have good (or better) diving/training/people/prices/parties/... even outside of thailand or Asia.

So please: enlighten me

Thnx in advance,

Bert

 

[daveray]

check out Buddha View Scuba Diving Koh Tao Thailand | Buddha View IDC Diving Resort for the divemaster. They seem to have the right mix of plenty of courses going on, great training from the course director Mark, and an excellent atmosphere. Chalok Baan Kao, the southside where Buddha is, has to be one of the best long term accommodation places on the island. They have an in house videographer, Tim. Also heard good things about oceans Below with Adie and Elisabeth.

 

[jkaterenchuk]

I would suggest you call Chris Clark the owner of ACE Marine Images.

ACE Marine Images, underwater video and photography, Koh Tao | About ACE

They offer some of the most complete and comprehensive UW Video and Still courses available anywhere. They have been around the longest and have trained a large portion of the other video trainers on the island. Their course exposes you to every facet of the UW Video profession and you graduate with the skill set to take up a job in the profession if that is your objective.

John

 

[Phuket diver]

Hi Bert,
I would recommend you to go to Ban's Diving fo your divemaster course, they have the best program on the island, they have 2 padi course director to run the program, they offer unlimited diving with their course. The dive center is on the beach, you can't get better than that. They have a team of videogapher, if you want to learn from them.

Diving in Koh Tao is fine, good place to see whale sharks, barracuda, grey reef sharks, nuddibranches, and on land is beautiful.

The island is not very big, so maybe you should take one day to see all the different dive centers.

The other solution is Phuket where you can have some beautiful diving in the similans while doing your divemaster

Have a good time with your course

 

[DevonDiver]

....they have the best program on the island,

That's a very sweeping statement.

Have you conducted an un-biased, in-depth and comparative, assessment of every DMT program run on Koh Tao?

Or is this just an enthusiastic and personal / subjective recommendation to use the dive center where you trained?

If so, please make that clear, for the risk of misleading the OP....

.they have 2 padi course director to run the program,

Course Directors do not run the DMT program. This is delegated to one of the permanent senior instructors.

they offer unlimited diving with their course.

That's definitely a good aspect to look out for. Not every dive center offers this, so it is worth asking about.

The chance to go fun-diving with fellow DMTs offers a great chance to apply your teaching, reinforce the training and get more practice with dive leadership.

The dive center is on the beach, you can't get better than that.

As are 99% of the dive centers on Koh Tao.

Ban's does have a nice infrastructure though... but the bar regularly stays open until the very early morning... and that makes it a bit noisy for me.

They have a team of videogapher, if you want to learn from them.[/QUOTE]

Unless things have changed recently, they aren't in-house videographers... they are supplied by one of the dedicated videography companies and are graduates of their training course. You would need to go directly to that videography company for an internship. The only videography training available within the dive centers is the standard 'PADI Videographer' Course.... which is nothing like a professional internship.

 

[Bob Murphy]

Ok, end argument. Go to several dive shops and see who/what you like and dislike. You may find a smaller outfit suits you better, maybe you are able to get more involved, more of a personal touch. Maybe you want the "bigger" feel.
Make your mind up using your own judgement. A few of the shops may even offer a gratis "have a look" dive.

I would never per-book and risk the disappointment.