Dive Master training in Australia. Some advice please!

[TomGoodacre]

I’m in a lucky position to be able to take 4 months of work (early December ‘07 – March ‘08) and want to use this time to start to work my way up the professional PADI ladder – ultimately completing my DM course.

I’m looking at doing this in Australia (on the GBR if possible). I assume I should be looking at Cairns if I want to dive on the GBR? Has anyone who’s done something similar got any advice or recommendations of dive schools I should contact?

I’m Advanced OW PADI qualified and have only 35 dives so the thing I need most is experience without having to pay a fortune each time I want to dive. I’m therefore looking for school which will offer a course which isn’t hugely intensive i.e. one which will give me time to gain experience. Are there many schools that will offer unlimited dives during the duration of a course?

I’m really just starting to put the feelers out. This is going to cost a fair bit so I want to get it right. Any advice to point me in the right direction would be really appreciated.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Bubble Junky]

Are there many schools that will offer unlimited dives during the duration of a course?

In Cairns, most dive schools seem to offer a more 'regimented' course, usually over a set three week programme - check Deep Sea Diver's Den. You'd be better looking around S.E. Asia, for the more flexible 'unlimited dives'/long term internship options, but send a few e-mails around Cairns, I might be wrong.