Getting certified overseas

[alphonsis]

A friend of mine is planning on getting certified during a trip to Singapore. She has narrowed down her choices of dive agencies to the following two. We would appreciate any information or experiences people have had with either.

Gill Divers
Home - PADI Scuba Diving Centre (Singapore) - Gill Divers

Simply Scuba
SimplyScuba - Come dive with us


Thanks in advance!

 

[Eskasi]

Singapore?? You are better off getting certified in Cali as the diving conditions in Singapore are quite bad. Unless she wants to travel up to Malaysia. Monsoons are about to start and the only decent diving may probably still be found in Borneo, East Malaysia.

 

[alphonsis]

yeah, she's staying in Singapore, but the dive companies take charters out to Malaysia for the certification dives.

 

[Traminer]

Its a long ride out to the certification seas from Singapore. Am still recovering from the butt-breaking overnight trips to Aur/Dayang just to get certified. No fun if you don't get any sleep the night before in the coach/ferry ride over. Better if she gets away during the long weekends in Oct or Nov to Phuket or Bali for better waters and less tedious classroom/pool work.

Monsoons only starts around mid October... still plenty of whale sharks in Aur but you have to fight the weekend crowds for it.

 

[dive_lover88]

I agree with Traminer.

Heading up to Aur/Dayang for a weekend is a marathon. The travel is a killer...but i kinda like it
If i'm not wrong, there are trips to aur up to the 2nd wk of nov.

Sorry, but i have not dove with the dc u stated.

 

[Kmakay]

Hi,

I just got back from Singapore 2 weeks ago. I had checked out both of those ops for a weekend trip up to Tioman but ended up going with a 3rd option - Scuba Seahounds.

We had a great trip and had a student getting their open water and 1 getting their advanced. They had their own dive instructors and great care was taken to ensure their skills, ability, briefings, etc.

Although I didn't do my training with them, I did see them in action and was impressed.

Here is their website if they want to check on them also - Welcome to Seahounds Scuba Singapore


Here is a link to the pictures from that weekend PictureTrail

 

[Live_in_Sin]

I dive with Seahounds often.
I highly recommend them specially if you want to take courses.
You were in good hand to learn diving. Steph is a Course director so his instructors are well trained. things I like to dive with them is that they are very cautious about safety procedures and Eco / conservations. and Steph has ample knowledges of diving, marine creatures etc....

 

[alphonsis]

Wow, thanks for all the great information and resources!!

I'll pass this all along. I'll report back when she gives me her dive report.