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Wow, that's a very large search area to cover! I'd advise doing some more in depth research and narrowing it down to a handful of options. Otherwise you're just going to get lots of answers suggesting a whole range of different places and confuse yourself even more! Having been to Malapasqua...

I've read this thread with interest, and you've already been given some great advice and opinions. For my 2 cents worth I have a number of concerns both with your instructor(s), and with your own diving actions. Instructor issues - allowing you to be in an overhead environment during your...

As predicted in the very early stages, many differing opinions here. None of which are particularly right or wrong, its just personal preference. But yes, having one should be considered mandatory, that we can all agree on! Even on dives where you are not navigating, or have a guide, its always...

Never heard of it either, although having read your description and seen the video, I wouldn't mind diving it myself! Was there a mooring buoy at the site or did the boat anchor using its GPS markers? I guess a few emails to local operators could give you further details about the frequency of...

I normally use a combination of the lighter trick and follow up with toothpaste. I've found depending on the brand of mask sometimes once is enough, sometimes a few more times to completely get rid of any fogging effect from leftover residue.

Then its the same thing no? If a student starts a course, and does not complete at the time, they should be given referral documentation, on the basis it is completed within a 12 month period. Or do you mean with the same dive centre? If a student was to start a skill intensive course like OW...

Agreed. Check out the medical form and see a specialist before committing. It may not be want you want to hear but taking your OW may not be the most prudent thing for your health. But we (for the most part) are not doctors and therefore the decision is not ours to make. Try contacting a...

Yes, as Scott said, the completion date for all programmes must be within 12 months, with the exception of adventure dive training records and specs. For OW, Rescue and DM, the 12 month rule applies. That being said, if you start one of these courses and leave it 10 months say, as an instructor...

Yep, 24 months is the expiration on most first aid courses (Resct Right, EFR etc etc). Never looked at it online, but in my understanding there is a practical element to the course (CPR, rescue breaths etc), so not sure how you'd do it entirely on line. I also have to admit that I'm not a huge...

Years Diving/years certified doesn't necessarily mean too much though. Many divers get certified early in life, take many years off and come back to it later. Also many divers who are less avid - or more logistically and/or geographically challenged - may have been certified for many years, but...

Wow, thanks for such a great write up. Well done on your course, we really enjoyed having you guys around. I'll make sure your comments get passed on to all of the staff members you mentioned, they'll be super happy to know you had such a great time with them. We hope to see you again in the...

Nothing groundbreaking or unexpected, and nothing you should not have been told by your instructor when first introduced to computers. The main ones are: Never share a DC between buddies or buddy teams (bit of a no brainer really) Use the most conservative computer for NDL's, safety stops etc...

To be fair most dives are multilevel dives. I don't know many divers who would do/need to do a 'square' profiled dive as per the PADI RDP tables. Although the tables suffice perfectly well for entry level, once you get on to more advanced (ie deeper) level, dive plans that are perfectly safe and...

I love and hate this thread in equal measure. Awesome to see where folks are diving, but now my 'to dive' list has just got a few lines longer! Here's some of my fave pics of the land and Sea of Koh Tao, and one of our boats at Sail Rock, my favourite dive site.

It's difficult to answer your original question as costs for both courses, and general living costs vary in pretty much every country and location. So its very difficult to put an estimate on what getting up to Instructor level would cost you. I'll be 100% honest, many people cannot make a...

I think you've been given some sound advice so far. Personally I'm happy using a computer to monitor ascent speed, and train my students to do this from OW dive 3 onwards. That being said the only way to get better is to practice practice practice. So yes, practicing is a good idea, but as some...

It depends where you are based I guess. The system that Bob outlines above is great if you know all of your scheduling and students so far in advance. If you cater for tourists it gets a bit more complex as you may not know schedules, numbers and instructors to teach each course so far ahead. We...

I have dived with Bull sharks on several occasions, but only in clear viz. I have never had any close calls, or circumstances when I felt on edge or unsafe. That being said, I'm not sure I would be nearly so confident in bad viz conditions or in a thermocline.

Sounds like an awesome experience. It may have made for a busier day for you afterwards, but its something that boy (and most likely, you) will never forget, and such a great thing that he was not excluded because of his condition. Having taught an autistic student in the past, I get...

Lol, was about to get in there with a Speedo comment, but Dirty Dog beat me to it. So what to wear....anything that's neither nothing or a speedo. Sometimes you may need to undress in a public place, and there's some things your buddy and dive crew just don't need to see!