Divemaster in SE Asia

[UTS]

Hi everyone,


Does anyone have experience with DMTs from the following centers (or do you have other suggestions?):

Asia Divers in Puerto Galera - Some good evaluations, a couple of awards, great sites, pricy

Crystal Divers on Koh Tao - Good prices, lots of dives, sadly no currents (draw back concerning training)

Scuba Junkies in Semporna - Good prices, lots of dives, possibly bad organized, great sites



I am looking for a 2-3 months program of educational value with lots of "hands on" training and experience - and naturally a lot dives. Small or big shop. Parties, bling bling and drunk diving not required


BR

Ulrik
Denmark


Edit: These are the centers I've managed to narrow down to so far. Please don't make this another "the state of training is awful"-thread. I am looking forward to acquire the tools to become an experienced, responsible diver and Divemaster. The learning process doesn't end with the course.

 

[CODMAN]

Hi Ulrik,
I didn,t do my DMT with Asia divers, but while i was in Sabang got to see their setup. They are a very pro dive operation and serious about training. I'm sure doing s DMT with them is a good solid choice!

I, along with a few others here, did it with Divedojo. A much smaller, more personal dive operation. Had a blast doing it. the diving in Sabang is great and very varied. You'll love it.

Although not specifically about Asia divers, there are a few threads on here about doing your DMT in the Philippines. http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/philippine-paradise-divers/271628-divemaster-phillipines.html Check them out and do a quick search. There is a lot of usefull information.

One piece of advice I give to everybody considering a DMT. Whoever you think about training with, call them in advance and talk about their course and how they go about it, and what their philisophy is. Since there is a lot of training and the course is long, it is of upmost importance that you get along with and see eye to eye with your instructor and that your objectives are compatible with the way the course is conducted. The enjoyment and success of the course will greatly depend on this!

If you have specific questions about the DMT and Sabang, feel free to ask.

Cheers!

Hi everyone,


Does anyone have experience with DMTs from the following centers (or do you have other suggestions?):

Asia Divers in Puerto Galera - Some good evaluations, a couple of awards, great sites, pricy

Crystal Divers on Koh Tao - Good prices, lots of dives, sadly no currents (draw back concerning training)

Scuba Junkies in Semporna - Good prices, lots of dives, possibly bad organized, great sites



I am looking for a 2-3 months program of educational value with lots of "hands on" training and experience - and naturally a lot dives. Small or big shop. Parties, bling bling and drunk diving not required


BR

Ulrik
Denmark


Edit: These are the centers I've managed to narrow down to so far. Please don't make this another "the state of training is awful"-thread. I am looking forward to acquire the tools to become an experienced, responsible diver and Divemaster. The learning process doesn't end with the course.

 

[UTS]

Hi Cod,

Thanks a lot for your answer!

I tried looking up Divedojo, however, their website has been down for a while. Edit: Ah! I found a thread related to the dojo.

I checked the thread your refer to out a week ago when most of the posts were from 2009, but I can see it's still alive ;-)

 

[sonar]

I dove with dojo as well

great operation. Asiadivers is bigger but general opinion rates divedojo higher

Also dove with scubajunkies; nice operation but old gear, bit less organized and, important to me, there is not much to do outside diving in semporna.. + a big hussle with permits, also for DMs so you will end up diving marbol a lot which is a great site/ area but not like sipidan

 

[UTS]

How about Ethei?

I see you all praise his enthusiasm and professionalism when it comes to diving. That is exactly what I am looking for. Do you happen to have his e-mail?

 

[DivinRich]

Asia Divers in Puerto Galera - Some good evaluations, a couple of awards, great sites, pricy

Crystal Divers on Koh Tao - Good prices, lots of dives, sadly no currents (draw back concerning training)

Hi,

I'm looking into the same thing, and my research shows Asia Divers and Crystal pretty close in price.

I've actually got a broken down cost sheet from Asia Divers that includes course materials and PADI fee's. If I was to take out the course materials and PADI fee's then it looks like they are similiarly priced, but I don't see where the fee's and materials are covered in Crystals posted prices.....did your quote from Crystal include fee's and materials ?

Anyways, just trying to figure out if you've actually determined that Koh Tao would be that much cheaper all things considered. I've travelled extensively in Thailand but was planning my next trip/training in the Philippines. I think the day to day costs are pretty similiar in both places (assuming a long term rental in both places), visa's, beer, etc.

Rich

 

[sonar]

phipinnes is more expensive..

ussualy better value though; rooms are better but there are no 2$ rooms, travelling by boat is more expensive than minivans/ trains, local food is a bit more expensive than local thai food but western food/ touristy places are way more expensive

dont know where you from but to western people its still cheap ofcourse

 

[DivinRich]

phipinnes is more expensive..

I didn't mean to bring up the cost of living in this thread, I meant the cost of diving/training.

I realize it's possible to stay in Thailand cheaper, but I'm also of the opinion that over a long stay (6 months) without moving around - the day to day cost will be pretty close.....visa extensions are easy in the philippines, beer is cheaper, a long term place to stay should be fairly close in prices (maybe $100 more in Phils - $3 a day). Thailand will require more effort/$ to keep visa current, Koh Tao is a days trip away for a visa run, etc.

Also, I can either stay in a $10 a night room and drink $5 worth of beer, or stay in $5 room and drink $10 worth of beer, it's still $15, right ?

 

[UTS]

Hi,

I'm looking into the same thing, and my research shows Asia Divers and Crystal pretty close in price.

I've actually got a broken down cost sheet from Asia Divers that includes course materials and PADI fee's. If I was to take out the course materials and PADI fee's then it looks like Crystal would be cheaper, but I don't see where the fee's and materials are covered in Crystals posted prices.....

I've been emailing with Crystal (Koh Tao) and Asia (Puerto Galera). Both have certification and materials/manuals included in price.

Furthermore, Asia Divers has limited DMT to 4 weeks with extra payment for "experience weeks" at a cost of $245 per week. Crystal, in contradiction, gives unlimited diving. That is, free fun diving during the course and after. Judge yourself:
"During your training you are free to join any of our daily trips whenever you feel like a break amd the best part, at any time in the future you return to Crystal Dive Resort you can dive for free, unlimited number of dives" (E-mail, 4th of March 2010).

I'd just like to have some currents and some continental plates to get more of diving challenge, hopefully granting more experience

 

[sonar]

Visa's aint that easy.. I arranged mine back home (holland) and, as I recall, you can extend it one or two times for a few weeks but there is a limit to it. You better look into that.. It might depend on your origin.. Thet tried to screw me over big time when I wanted to extend mine (long story). Understood Thailand was difficult with it as well..

If you dive with divedojo you can do your DM over a longer period with all dives free.. you just have to make an arrangement about it..

A long term room will cost you somewhere between 5 (offcentre) and 20$ a day. I paid like 8$ a day for a simple but very clean room with a fan, cold shower and free towels & cleaning.