DM - almost desided where to go...

[Batfish]

Quite a laugh reading the first messages on this post! Poor glamourpuss just wants advise and starts a debate on the value of the 5star rating. Just about any dive centre can be a 5 star centre, so to really see if they're any good you have to go and talk to them, and more specifically, talk to the person who will be your instructor.

When I did my DM, it was in a school with 6 instructors and the DM training was done by all 6, giving us trainees the chance to see many different instructors at work. We were encouraged to hang around at the dive centre and learn not just theory and skills, but people management, and "how to run a dive centre".

Sure location is important, but the DM course is a commitment, so you need to be comfortable with the people in the school. It's not really a course you should book by email and by looking at photos of palm trees (I know you know that already). Go and see the places for yourself. Do you get a good feeling from them?

Also, time is important. Yes, you can do the course in 2 weeks, but does this make you a DM? I have a couple of trainees right now who have plenty of time to dive/study/hang around. I think 6 weeks is a sensible time to do the course. Try to assist with as many courses as possible. You really learn when you are diving with beginners. Get as much out of your course as you possibly can, not just the minimum requirements, or you become one of those people that MikeFerrara mentioned - certified but useless.

What Belushi said is good. Get experience of things that are not actually part of the course, such as equipment maintenance, fish identification, boats, ropes, compressors. It'll make you a far more employable DM.

There's more to it than is written here.

Enjoy learning!

 

[ptango]

so did you make your choice?

I just picked up this thread, as I'm about to do the same as you. I even had a similair shortlist

 

[drbill]

Glamourpuss... I think you over-reacted to the comment about 5-Star facilities, possibly due to language differences. The advice given was sound and would help open you to considering other operators. I sensed no hostillity in the original post, only in your reaction to it.

I've been to Koh Tao... a dive factory. Too many divers in too small an area although thyere was some interesting diving there. Real need for better diver education on how to dive reefs properly to minimize damage. I did enjoy my 10 days there though (although liked Phi Phi and the diving there even more).

Koh Phangnan as I remember it doesn't have m,uch local diving and travels to the Koh Tao sites.

I've been in touch with Rainbow Divers and would like to dive there some day. Have talked to two divers who were born and raised in Nha Trang and they suggest the diving there isn't great.

Wonder why (as a Dutch citizen?) you aren't considering a location like Bonaire?

Dr. Bill

 

[Zippsy]

Don't Americans have a saying about beating a dead horse to death? This argument about 5 star resorts ended many moons ago. All glamourpus and, now, ptango want are comments on a few shortlisted dive shops or SPECIFIC recommendations on other good ones in the area.

I think everyone is - and was - trying to be helpful but they are looking for more specific answers rather than looking for a debate.

Peace, love and bubbles,

the zippster

p.s. to ptango - Sorry I can't help ya although I do know the folks mentioned by aamalcolm at Salang on Tioman and I know they are very good. That's Malaysia though and I know you are looking in Vietnam and Thailand.

 

[ptango]

Absolutely right about the 5 star debate.

But I have taken on board some of the advice regarding Thailand and Vietnam. I just shortlisted them as I love those countries, I agree about Koh Tao being a diving factory though, I dived with Planet Scuba (SIDS) and was not impressed with most of the instructors, although I did enjoy diving there. Koh Pha Ngan is just such a beautiful place...

That's why I was interested in what glamourpuss decided in the end

I'm going to look into some centres in Malaysia and Indonesia though.

The problem is I'm really on a budget and although the diving in Vietnam is not too highly thought of, it is MUCH cheaper to train there than anywhere else I've looked.

If I could find somewhere with the prices of Vietnem, the attitude of Koh Pha Ngan, and the facilities of somewhere like Emperor Divers in Egypt, I'd really be getting somewhere

 

[TheManta]

Hi Glamourpuss,

I did my OW and AOW diving Sydney's temperate waters in '82 AND '83 and most of my diving through the years has been in Sydney's temperate waters.

In 2001 I did my Diver Rescue and my DM whilst I had an extended holiday (vacation) in Thailand.

I did my DM with Big Blue Diving on Ko Tao. I found them to be extremely reliable and the instruction was great.

I agree with one of the posts that Ko Tao is a dive factory. But but then again if I'm doing a DM course I would want to have exposure to as many divers/students and everything that entails.

Which ever way you decide to go. I wish you the best of luck and hope you enjoy yourself.

Should you decide to do your DM in Ko Tao, drop by Big Blue and tell Michael, Alfred from Sydney says "Hi".

The Manta (aka Alfred)

 

[alc16]

Glamourpuss,

I was at Buddha-view in April to do my AOW. The school is big, has a high turnaround of students and seems, at times, to be like a cattle market (in terms of numbers of people, sorting out of equipment etc).

Having said that, we used two instructors (both very competent, great communicators & had great stories post-dive), plus a variety of trainee DM's (quality varied but I gave them the benefit of the doubt for being trainees). Although there were several "classes" per boat, our own class only had 3 students (plus myself). Although the equipment used varied in terms of quality, I felt comfortable - think i'd use my own next time if I went back there.

Spoke to the trainee DM's (individually) and they were all positive and only had good things to say about their own course, so the impression I got was that they were happy with the way things were going.

Personally, if I decided to do a DM course, i'd pick a smaller place - I did some fun-dives with Tropical Dive Club on Koh Phangnan several days prior to moving onto Koh Tao for my AOW and this is a small operator. Was speaking to a Kiwi chap who was doing his DM - he was obviously enjoying what he was doing, plus being a small operator, the students, instructors & fun-dive customers would all mingle. This, to me, felt like an ideal setup. Not hectic like Buddha View.

So two contrasting venues and setups.

Best of luck.
Alan

 

[Zippsy]

Dear Friends,

This is getting pretty funny. I think you mean to start your messages "Dear ptango," because he's the one that is currently asking the question. If you read the dates of the posts, you may notice that glamourpuss gave up diving many years ago when she started having grand-children. (o.k., I exaggerate a little bit). I am sure ptango appreciates the input though.

Best regards to all,

the zippitty-doo-da man

 

[maccajim]

I was in koh tao last year and buddha view is the biggest busiest sought of Macpadi factory on the island. Mostly over 20 divers on most boat dives meaning u see more divers then anything else. also specialise in teaching japanese groups.

I suppose you get a lot of experience with new divers but no serious divers dive with them mostly only first time O/W dives, they don't really need DM when an instructor goes on the dives.

 

[Ganzoe]

Dear Glamour girl,

I too want to do my DM course sometime next year....I suppose the most important criteria for me when I choose where I want to do my DM is the people who I am going to be with for the next 6 weeks or so....personally I would go to a place I have already been and actually enjoyed the diving experience there....which could mean the dive sites were good and people working there such as instructors and DMs were helpful and friendly....I also agreed with the fact that you should get exposure to other things such as equipment fixing....videography and photography....driving a boat and using the compressor.

Personally, if I were to do my DM course, I would probably go Sipadan...firstly the people there are nice and there is a videography company there where you will have a chance to meet experts in that area......secondly you get people from everyone around the world going there and you will definitely get to chance to mingle with all of them....Thirdly the food there is great!!! Another point is there are 3 dive centres operating there on the island...so you will have opportunities to meet other instructors and Divemasters.....Oh yeah...given that its very deep in that area...you can also get experience with deep diving...hehehe...if you are up for it......when I was there I was staying at PSR....the instructor there is called Andy Chia....he is a very nice bloke....another guy there Khris who works in ScubaZoo a underwater photography and videography company will give you plenty of ideas in that area.

Hope this helps....don't worry about the PADI 5 star rating thinggy...I am sure you didn't mean to put that in your original message....some people just like to talk bull****...cheers!

AG