Hello!
I am currently an AOW diver who wants to gain confidence and experience diving so that when I start a masters in marine conservation next year I will be able to focus on my research and not on my diving technique.
I am leaving for an 8-12 month backpacking trip around Southeast Asia and originally decided to do a divemaster internship while there. I have looked at "eco" divemaster internship packages and thought I was settled on mabul, but am now considering a normal DMT on malascapua; but I am also considering going the other direction and just diving in lots of places and obtaining my master diver certification instead. My only concern is that some of the eco options out there may be geared towards people with a little less background and experience in conservation than I have.
I also do want to spend time in one place rather than traveling town to town frequently and I would like to be based at one dive center for a while to build relationships with fellow divers and to be apart of a community.
Ideally I would like to assist in marine conservation (and learn reef survey techniques etc.) but I cannot make up my mind as to where and what I should do! Any suggestions based on your experiences as to where in Southeast Asia I can maximize my diving to gain confidence and experience and also be involved in marine conservation projects/awareness (all while living on a moderate budget)? If anyone has done an eco divemaster internship your feedback would be greatly appreciated!!!
Cheers!
I am currently an AOW diver who wants to gain confidence and experience diving so that when I start a masters in marine conservation next year I will be able to focus on my research and not on my diving technique.
I am leaving for an 8-12 month backpacking trip around Southeast Asia and originally decided to do a divemaster internship while there. I have looked at "eco" divemaster internship packages and thought I was settled on mabul, but am now considering a normal DMT on malascapua; but I am also considering going the other direction and just diving in lots of places and obtaining my master diver certification instead. My only concern is that some of the eco options out there may be geared towards people with a little less background and experience in conservation than I have.
I also do want to spend time in one place rather than traveling town to town frequently and I would like to be based at one dive center for a while to build relationships with fellow divers and to be apart of a community.
Ideally I would like to assist in marine conservation (and learn reef survey techniques etc.) but I cannot make up my mind as to where and what I should do! Any suggestions based on your experiences as to where in Southeast Asia I can maximize my diving to gain confidence and experience and also be involved in marine conservation projects/awareness (all while living on a moderate budget)? If anyone has done an eco divemaster internship your feedback would be greatly appreciated!!!
Cheers!