August West:
Hi Gang,
I am new to the board and have not really gotten much in the way of responses to my questions
.but persistence is a virtue. My question is if anyone knows of any good dive shops in which I can get my Divemaster certification this summer. I am looking at either Central or South America only.
Don (above) i.m.'d me to your question. I may know the CA area well, but we have to come to a meeting of the minds- you and the dive industry, that is. I write this response not so much to you, and experienced diver with good credentials per your profile, but to other 'newbie diver' posters as well.
If you have enough money to support yourself and pay for the course, I could suggest several operations on Roatan or Utila. If you are looking for a trade for work deal, it could take years of slave labor on your part.
You can complete a DM certification in two weeks IF you are an experienced, comfortable diver and if you take the First Aid/CPR portion back home. Then you would have to pre-study all of the certifying agency materials and do all of the knowledge reviews and pretty well memorize the Encyclopedia of Diving. You should master the tables (and if PADI, the wheel as well). You could get Rescue Diver and D.M. in that two week period.
There would be no benefit to being in paradise, even if you extended that process to fours weeks. You would be drained.
If you have some reserves of cash, I would suggest ProDive in Ft. Lauderdale (and while you're there, continue on thru OWSI, it's the same book work). [you already are rescue/medic and live in Florida, anyway] There is no better operation in the USA.
For a couple of bucks more you could do Utila, many select the College of Diving. Throw in a few mor Lempiras and you could do it at Dockside Dive Center at CoCoView staying nearby in an inexpensive lodging, training with the PADI facility there.
I have observed this two week process at Dockside and it wasn't pretty, but it was indeed effective. DDC at CCV is owned by Patty Grier Rutledge who grew up on Ralph Erickson's right hand. (Ralph had something to do with PADI). She was instrumental in implementing, critiquing and perfecting may of PADI's processes at the street level.
They will beat you senseless. Anyone that goes through that process could easily pass the OWSI IE in-water tests. The only thing they would need to polish would be classroom presentation skills, then they would have the OWSI in a short time at any IDC. This is a first class experience with no bailing wire and twine.
Go to
http://www.cocoviewresort.com and click on PADI's Dockside Dive Center. They can arrange to have the pre study materials sent to you in Florida right then and there.
The Bay Islands College of Diving at the Utila Lodge is at
http://www.roatan.com/utilalodge.htm
If you want NAUI, The well respected NAUI god Tim O'Leary at American Diving of S Padre Island TX started classes on the North side of Roatan, I think at Bay Islands Beach resort
www.divesouthpadre.com or find out through NAUI.
