Best Dive master Internships ??

[Aaron Brown]

I am currently looking for some advice on where the best place to do my DM internship? Any experience you can offer up would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[diversteve]

"Best" is so subjective that you'll get a hundred opinions but Roatan, Utila, the Keys or Thailand seem to be popular here. I've been to Roatan and Utila recently - you'll probably have a choice of about a dozen programs on either island. Some on Roatan even offer DM-program specific accommodations while you're taking classes. Most of Utila does by default also - there's a lot of cheap housing in town.

My other advice is do the PADI program, it will make you more immediately employable.

 

[scubawithmike]

Hey Aaron,

I suggest you look at Cozumel and specifically www.divemasterinternships.com this internship is way different than any other out there and has a great success rate and excellent instructors. I know, I own the place and train the instructors. Check us out and let me know whet you think. You can contact me directly if you like at info@divemasterinternships.com

Cheers,
Mike Sobel
PADI CD 184319

 

[RJP]

The correct answer is "it depends" really.

It depends on a few things:

1.) Do you just want a DM internship experience, or do you actually want to become an active DM?
2.) Is DM as far as you want to go, or do you want to go on to instructor?
3.) If you want to become an active DM/instructor... where do you want work in such capacity?
4.) What's your current level of dive experience?

I'll not take issue with any specific warm-water internship facilities, but suffice to say you're almost always be better off doing your DM and instructor work in similar conditions as where you want to actually work. Especially if you don't have any experience diving where you want to work either.

 

[scubawithmike]

The correct answer is "it depends" really.

It depends on a few things:

1.) Do you just want a DM internship experience, or do you actually want to become an active DM?
2.) Is DM as far as you want to go, or do you want to go on to instructor?
3.) If you want to become an active DM/instructor... where do you want work in such capacity?
4.) What's your current level of dive experience?

I'll not take issue with any specific warm-water internship facilities, but suffice to say you're almost always be better off doing your DM and instructor work in similar conditions as where you want to actually work. Especially if you don't have any experience diving where you want to work either.

Well you are right it does depend.

1) Do you want to be taught to be a real working DM or just a slave for some dive shop that teaches you to be a DM when they have time to and not on a full time basis. An internship will have you in the program every day
2) It does not really matter if you want to go on to be an instructor or not to take a DM course or internship. You will be taught to be a great DM no matter what your future plans in the dive industry are.
3) To learn how to be a DM/instructor will make a huge difference in where you learn how to do this. Learning in a dive shop that caters to only weekend lake diving or just cold water diving is not always the best thing you can do for a career in the industry. By working in a resort location you will see many different types of boat trips, dive clients, and many courses to assist on. Not to mention great conditions for diving. Do not get sucked into the "if you can dive in my conditions you can dive anywhere" statement. Also, some dive shops will only hire you if you did your course with them. Well, that should be a reason to do your course elsewhere, just saying.
4) Your current level of dive experience does not matter if you have decided to go on to be a Divemaster. I have taught 100's of Divemasters and some from non-diver and others who are rescue with 100+ dives. It is all about you and not how many dives you have or what your certification level is now. Again, I could give you examples of both but would rather not in this forum.

Look at all your options and do what is best for what you want not what any one, including myself, say.....

 

[RJP]

Do not get sucked into the "if you can dive in my conditions you can dive anywhere" statement.

But the converse is certainly not anything to get sucked into

The fact that you can dive here...

Means precious little if you intend to DM here...

 

[scubawithmike]

It really does not matter where you learn and where you intend to work. If you are trained correctly you will be able to handle any situation you are faced with as a Divemaster. I have worked as a Divemaster and Instructor in 9 different countries all with very different conditions and I just had to learn to deal with it. However, if you really want to be a DM in the conditions that the photo you show above is, then I suggest you look for a different place to work but I guess low vis and cold water are fine for some. For me as a recreational diver I like to have a great time diving and see tons of fish and corals so for me I just don't get it

Thanks for sharing your work conditions RJP. My hats off to you for working in these conditions.

Where I am from we dive every day 2,3 or 4 times a day leading 6 to 8 fun divers and teach/assist on course with 4-6 students in strong currents. Trust me you learn control very fast