Divemaster Training in Thailand

[paul35]

Hi everyone,

I'm considering taking a few months out and training as a DM in Thailand (probably Phuket / Khao Lak, starting in December this year). Does anyone have any experience or advice regarding which outfits are good and which to avoid? Or any other advice re: Divemaster internships? Places to stay? Pitfalls to be aware of?

Thanks!

 

[jiveturkey]

My suggestion is to choose the option to pay for your class rather than work off your tuition. You'll get to dive more and you won't get abused as much. You'll finish at your own pace instead of having a shop squeeze labour out of you. I've seen quite a few DMT/slaves working in Thai dive shops.

And ask about what sites the shops visit regularly. I did my training on Phi Phi and had to pay another shop to take me to the King Cruiser wreck because my shop didn't dive there.

 

[paul35]

Thanks Greg, that sounds like good advice. Who did you train with on Phi Phi?

 

[jiveturkey]

I trained with Moskito Divers. The instructors were professional and the boats and facilities top notch. My only complaint was that we ignored some really great dive sites. Of course, that was several years ago. They may include them now.