I am about to do a Divemaster internship in Raja Ampat, any advice ?

[SuperRocket]

Hi folks, first time posting on scubaboard but I have been lurking for quite a while. I am going to Raja Ampat for a 4-month divemaster internship in a few days time. I have read a lot of threads on scubaboard about why NOT doing divemaster internship is a good idea and I fully understand the situation. Well let's put those arguments aside for now please and focus on how to make myself a better divemaster intern for the next 4 months.

I have sorted all the travel related stuff out including transportation, visa, accomodation etc. I have my own full set of gear including B&W style BCD (maybe this is going to be problematic for pool skills demonstration but perhaps I will find a jacket BCD rental then). But I know there's simply no substitution for valuable experience of actually being a divemaster and thus I am asking the scuba board members for help to make me aware of certain things that you wished you knew when you were going into the divemaster program.

I am 23 years old rn and maybe I am indeed young & stupid. But I know maybe I will never get another chance to do the divemaster internship at one of the world's best dive destinations in the future. So I'd better do it now. Million thanks in advance for all replies.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

Well let's put those arguments aside for now please and focus on how to make myself a better divemaster intern for the next 4 months.

First, get about 200 or more dives under your belt in as many different enviroments as possible, there's no substution for expierence. You are looking at doing what is known as a "zero to hero" internship. Are you looking to get a job as a DM? because divemasters don't make money for a dive shop, instructors do.

 

[TMHeimer]

I had about 150 dives when I started the DM course, which seemed to be about the right amount for me. Included were quite a few specialty courses as well. Internships may be a good idea, but I wouldn't do that with so few dives. You didn't ask, but I'll say a good way to go is to take the regular course in the place you'd like to work as a DM. I have the unusual advice that accumulating many dives in the place you'd like to work is better than having experiences in all kinds of places/situations. If I'm taking a course I want the instructor/DMs to be experts on everything about the place where the course will be. DMs usually work for free air and other perks (though in some places like our shop, we were paid about minimum wage). If you are looking to get any pay you most likely would have to become an instructor. Do you have Rescue Cert. yet?

 

[SuperRocket]

First, get about 200 or more dives under your belt in as many different enviroments as possible, there's no substution for expierence. You are looking at doing what is known as a "zero to hero" internship. Are you looking to get a job as a DM? because divemasters don't make money for a dive shop, instructors do.

Thank you for the comment and advice ! I fully understand your point and potential hazard of "zero to hero". I am not looking for any employement as a divemaster post my internship nor am I concerned with making any money from diving. I am solely doing this for the experience and this is the critical reason I chose this valuable internship opportunity. There have been some threads on ScubaBoard about the sheer difficulty of finding divemaster internship opportunities in Raja Ampat. Plus beside the next few months I won't have extended periods of vacancy available to me in the foreseeable future. So I did not hesitate to take this opportunity. All I try to do rn is to make the best use of this opportunity. Thank you again for your kind advice !

 

[SuperRocket]

I had about 150 dives when I started the DM course, which seemed to be about the right amount for me. Included were quite a few specialty courses as well. Internships may be a good idea, but I wouldn't do that with so few dives. You didn't ask, but I'll say a good way to go is to take the regular course in the place you'd like to work as a DM. I have the unusual advice that accumulating many dives in the place you'd like to work is better than having experiences in all kinds of places/situations. If I'm taking a course I want the instructor/DMs to be experts on everything about the place where the course will be. DMs usually work for free air and other perks (though in some places like our shop, we were paid about minimum wage). If you are looking to get any pay you most likely would have to become an instructor. Do you have Rescue Cert. yet?

Hi TMHeimer thank you for the comment and advice, I have been reading a lot of your posts and it has been very helpful. I have about 80 dives rn and few specialties. I have concentrated my diving at Malaysia as well as the red sea. You do have a strong point of knowing the environment where one is going to be DM in as the DMs I met during my training and diving are absolute experts. Unfortunately I haven't dived in indonesia before and is scheduled to finish my rescue course right before the start of my DM internship. I have booked the rescue course in Padangbai Bali and will head to Raja Ampat after I finish my course in Bali. The internship does offer a nice room & board (same rooms as customers). I currently have no plan to seek employement or monetary gains in the dive industry after my divemaster internship as I am doing this solely for the experience. Thank you again for your kind advice !

 

[Redtwo]

Really cool. 4 months diving in RA must be amazing. All the best. And with 80dives and some more to come beforehand you should be fine. You will get a ton of experience there and indeed a once in a lifetime opportunity!

And given that you don't seek a life time employment in the dive industry you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Enjoy an awesome 4 months!

And i don't know what kind of bcd you have. I did my divemaster in a Aqualung rogue (back inflated bcd) and that was not problem. Only a true back plate wing (which i also dive) is maybe a bit more unpractical for demonstrating students because of the crothstrap and the lack of buckles.

 

[chrisch]

.... I am solely doing this for the experience and this is the critical reason I chose this valuable internship opportunity. .....

... focus on how to make myself a better divemaster intern for the next 4 months.

You have answered your own question. If you are doing this for your own pleasure then the goal is simply to enjoy the experience. You have paid for entertainment and that is what to expect. Go have a great time and do not worry if your perfomance is good or bad to the school - you are there for your benefit not for their needs.

You are the customer and the customer is always right. If you are unhappy you can walk away.

I hope you have a really good time. It is a good venue and you have a long vacation.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

Never leave.

 

[SuperRocket]

Really cool. 4 months diving in RA must be amazing. All the best. And with 80dives and some more to come beforehand you should be fine. You will get a ton of experience there and indeed a once in a lifetime opportunity!

And given that you don't seek a life time employment in the dive industry you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Enjoy an awesome 4 months!

And i don't know what kind of bcd you have. I did my divemaster in a Aqualung rogue (back inflated bcd) and that was not problem. Only a true back plate wing (which i also dive) is maybe a bit more unpractical for demonstrating students because of the crothstrap and the lack of buckles.

Hi Redtwo thank you for the kind comment and I will definitely enjoy it. The BCD I have is XDEEP ZEN with weight pockets and aluminum backplate. The dive resort I will be interning at does offer Aqualung Jacket style BCD for all divemaster interns to use for free. But I really like the feeling of a XDEEP BCD, the feeling that as if the BCD does not exist at all underwater ! Also XDEEP V-shape crotch strap is so comfortable on the surface. I guess i will just switch to the resort Aqualung BCD whenever necessary for skills demonstration then. Thanks again for your kind advice !

 

[SuperRocket]

You have answered your own question. If you are doing this for your own pleasure then the goal is simply to enjoy the experience. You have paid for entertainment and that is what to expect. Go have a great time and do not worry if your perfomance is good or bad to the school - you are there for your benefit not for their needs.

You are the customer and the customer is always right. If you are unhappy you can walk away.

I hope you have a really good time. It is a good venue and you have a long vacation.

Hi chrisch thank you for the kind comment. Well the caveat is that I am NOT paying the dive resort I will be interning at neither will they pay me anything. Thus it's called a divemaster internship. I guess if it were me paying them for the opportunity it's usually called a divemaster course. In this internship situation I will not be treated as a customer but as one of the staff. So I guess my performance does matter, but not to the extent that they will be threatening to fire me for it. I will definitely try to enjoy the whole process after all Raja Ampat is a truely exciting dive destination !