CODMAN
Contributor
If I may add my 0.02$, having just finnished up my DM course in the Philippines...
If you really want to be able to work there, I would strongly advise you to do a full Instructor course (IDC). Here is the basis of the oppinion that was formed after many a long discussion about this with knowledgeable people in the industry there.
As a divemaster, you'll be pretty much hired as a dive guide. That's all. So to be a good dive guide (and be an interesting candidate), you need to know the local dive sites like the back of your hand. That takes time and lots of money. And no, don't think for a minute they will hire (and pay) a newly graduated DM with the intention of letting him slowly build this experience! They want it now, and there are plenty of dive guides with experience out there... So either you'll need to spend 3 months there paying to dive, to gain the experience, or you just won't be interesting for hiring dive shops!
Now, Instructor is a different story. because even if you aren't the best dive guide out there (or you don't have sufficient experience yet), you can go to a pool or confined area and give courses (which is lucrative for the shop). So you can be usefull for a dive shop without the dive site knowledge of the locals. And then, all while being a good employe for the shop, you can learn the local sites and the fauna and also become a good dive guide! So doing the instructor course will greatly increase your chances of being hired in my oppinion.
As for the gear, watch out! Many shops want their instructors using the same gear as the shop. So buying in advance might be a bad idea if you are going to do the IDC course. Wait, and negociate equipment with the shop while shopping around for an internship.
Anyways, this is my oppinion on it! I wish you luck pursuing your dream!
If you really want to be able to work there, I would strongly advise you to do a full Instructor course (IDC). Here is the basis of the oppinion that was formed after many a long discussion about this with knowledgeable people in the industry there.
As a divemaster, you'll be pretty much hired as a dive guide. That's all. So to be a good dive guide (and be an interesting candidate), you need to know the local dive sites like the back of your hand. That takes time and lots of money. And no, don't think for a minute they will hire (and pay) a newly graduated DM with the intention of letting him slowly build this experience! They want it now, and there are plenty of dive guides with experience out there... So either you'll need to spend 3 months there paying to dive, to gain the experience, or you just won't be interesting for hiring dive shops!
Now, Instructor is a different story. because even if you aren't the best dive guide out there (or you don't have sufficient experience yet), you can go to a pool or confined area and give courses (which is lucrative for the shop). So you can be usefull for a dive shop without the dive site knowledge of the locals. And then, all while being a good employe for the shop, you can learn the local sites and the fauna and also become a good dive guide! So doing the instructor course will greatly increase your chances of being hired in my oppinion.
As for the gear, watch out! Many shops want their instructors using the same gear as the shop. So buying in advance might be a bad idea if you are going to do the IDC course. Wait, and negociate equipment with the shop while shopping around for an internship.
Anyways, this is my oppinion on it! I wish you luck pursuing your dream!
