Divemaster Help!!!!!

[joddie]

Ok I live in South Korea and have been diving here alot and I finally found a local shop that is great we have a 5 meter pool and a full service shop but..........I speak english and the owner is korean and although he does speek english its not that great and there is the language barrier. I want to do my divemaster course here and he wants me to also so i can help with other americans that I bring into the shop not a problem he gives me deals on everything and he really wants me to be an insructor for him next year. Ok so to the point do you think I will be missing out on the vitals of my courses with him because of the language barrier or do you think I will be ok? I have no problems diving at all and am very calm and pretty understanding when he teaches( I am NAUI and he is a PADI CD) BIG difference all ready but none the less I get the job done but sometimes I dont understand why this and why that and thats where we have problems. I really want to do my courses here in korea because the conditions here are pretty rough so my diving elswhere would be similar or easier.........

So what do you think do it now or do it in the states?

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[stu_in_fl]

sounds like as you have a shop who wants you to do the DM and then in future the instructor course, it would be good to do it with him - I'm assuming you would switch to PADI (if that is what the shop is) as upto DM is doesn't really matter which agency you are with but for DM (and instructor), the course is different depending on the agency and you should be learning whichever agency you will be teaching or assisting with. I just finished the PADI one so that;s the only one I can give any info on...

Coursework - reading the books, watching the videos etc. would all be in English and so as long as your ok with more 'self study' you should be fine - you may have a few more issues if you need him to explain anything in depth (physics being the one most people struggle with if anything). As for practicals and skills, the thing you could miss is any useful tips of the trade if you are not able to communicate so well, e.g. what to look for that students often have trouble with, how to explain them how to do things easily etc. - he may be able to show you these or you work through the communication barrier

Good luck

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Like Stu said all of the materials will be in english so a lot of what you need will be there. If your instructor isn't able to communicate the explanations you need as effectively as you would like just write them down and bring them here there are plenty of instructors and divemasters as well as experienced divers who can help you. This might also be a good opportunity to expand your knowledge of the korean language.

Good luck!
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[miketsp]

It really depends on you and how intuitive you are. Some people need instructors to lead them through things, others just need somebody to point out that a thing exists and possibly where to find information.
A student that already has a solid understanding of gas laws for example doesn't actually learn anything new on a diving course. He just requires somebody to point out (or remind him) that they are applicable in certain situations.
You have a situation where the owner is keen for you to do it with him and there is a commercial advantage in the arrangement - make the most of it.

 

[joddie]

Thanks guys I really feel like I should do it here and I beleive it would be to my advantage to do the course here also I really dont need someone to hold my hand, I am pretty self suffeceint and yes I should have the latest english manual cause he hasnt had an english student since 1990 so he ordered it all last week. So I think I will be good to go on that.

Again thanks and when I have problems ( Wich I hope I dont) I will post them on the board

 

[jbisjim]

Stu said it well.

I had a friend who did their DM in Mexico and all their materials were in english. She had Naui and SDI certs and her DM was PADI it went well.

Good luck