PADI Divemaster - Instructor - Best places around the world for training

[westonjazz]

I have the ability to take 3-4 months off from real world work and go somewhere to obtain my Divemater and Instructor certifications.

I've looked at Utila, Cayman and a couple of other places for training.

Can you help with providing some of your experiences you had with dive training centers from around the world? I'm looking for great top notch instruction, unbelievable diving and a place that would be interesting to stay for several months. Staying in dorm-like accommodations would probably not suit me well. Neither would spending a fortune on local apartments.

What was it about the dive center instruction, diving experience, and area where you staid that you liked?

I'm 45 years old and will not do well with large groups of 20 somethings partying all the time.

Any input would be helpful.

 

[Oldbear]

Westonjazz,

3-4 months off of "real world work" just to go diving...Wow, that is awesome.

Last April/May I took about 6 weeks off "real world work" to do my DM and spend time with my GF. I just completed a 7 year contract in the Middle East and Honduras seemed like a good place to recharge my batteries.

I choose Utilia Dive Center to do my DM after reading reviews and I could not be any more happier with UDC. Here is my review of the UDC DM course http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ba...ew-utila-dive-centers-divemaster-program.html

For the most part Utilia is a single street that wraps around the bay (yes there are some side streets that do offer some things). There are apartments that that can be rented fairly inexpensively with weekly rates. Andy from UDC recommended the Lighthouse to stay at...my GF and I loved it. I think the rates were around $300 per week, but I do not remember them exactly. The Lighthouse I have been told is one the nicer places to stay, so others might not be that expensive. There are many restaurants and markets on the main street. We loved Big Mamas. We also cooked in our room to save some money (microwave). UDC is also affiliated with the Mango Inn so you get a few free nights there while you decide on other arrangements.

I was 48 when I did my DM at UDC and was not the oldest diver either. At NO time did I ever feel left out or alienated by the younger crowd. Yes there are "party places" in Utilia, but there are also quiet places too. Contact Andy Phillips with UDC and he can help offer more information...he truly cares about the individual diver. He was such a great help to me when I was planning my DM months before I was ready to start it.

If you have the budget, I would recommend doing the DM at Utilia and the IDC in the Caymans or vice-versa. While I have not been to the Caymans yet, I did research a “real world job” there once and the Caymans appear to be more expensive than Utilia. I have also seen some divers do the DM at one of Utilia’s schools and the IDC at another. But if you want to do both at one Dive Operation I strongly recommend UDC.

On another very important note on instructing...if you plan on instruction locally, you might think about an IDC there in California (especially with a shop that might bring you on as an instructor). The IDCs are less about ddiving and more about teaching methodology. Some shops prefer to training their own instructors. Perhaps gain alot of diving experience, do your DM with a DM internship and take specialties like Tech and rebreathers at UDC and than do an IDC locally...just food for thought.

Currently I am taking the AI course locally and I am coming back to UDC to do my OWSI and IE this spring…maybe we will see each other there. Please feel free to PM if you have any other questions.

Good Luck with the training and enjoy the classroom.

Happy Bubbles,

~Oldbear~

 

[Allan C Smith]

I wouldn't worry about the 20 somethings. I did my IDC at Rainbow Reef in Key largo. Our group was about half old guys and half young guys. The youngest was 20 and the oldest was 67. The first night the old guys moved around so that we could split the two apartments one for old one for young. But after a few days we were such a bonded group that the old guys were spending most of there time in the young guys apartment. Point is the people that get in to this line of work generally want to have a good time and are easy to get along with. Good luck in you decision.

 

[RJP]

The best place to do your DM and instructor training is wherever it is that you'd like to actually be a DM or instructor when you're done.

 

[Oldbear]

The best place to do your DM and instructor training is wherever it is that you'd like to actually be a DM or instructor when you're done.

There is a lot of truth to what RJP says. But I also think there is a lot to be said by trying different "classrooms" and instructors.

I think if you plan to make a full-time career out of the diving profession than yes either go with a "very" reputable school where you might want to work or thru a dive operation you want to work for. But if you want to do continuing education and self-fulfillment than I would look at a "very" reputable school anywhere other than where I live...see and experience something out of the "ordinary".

I have one of the industry’s best dive instructors here in Metro Denver and I would like to take a course or two from him; but since I am not, nor indent to be a full-time professional. I want to dive and take courses in other parts of the world as part of my life experiences. Places I have been diving and taken coourses include Thailand, Italy, Greece, the islands of the Caribbean, Dubai and the U.A.E., Kuwait and Mexico. Most ofthe cirriculum (which for me has been PADI & BSAC) is the same everywhere, but it is the people and locations that makes them special.

That is my 2¢…it works for me...

~Me~

 

[westonjazz]

Thank you, Oldbear. That was actually very helpful. I had some people tell me that if I were going to go to Honduras, that Roatan has some good dive operators, the area is a more scenic, diving is about the same as Utila and there might be more interesting places to see outside of the diving experience. Not sure about all that, but your comments on UDC caught my attention enough for serious consideration.

Westonjazz,

3-4 months off of "real world work" just to go diving...Wow, that is awesome.

Last April/May I took about 6 weeks off "real world work" to do my DM and spend time with my GF. I just completed a 7 year contract in the Middle East and Honduras seemed like a good place to recharge my batteries.

I choose Utilia Dive Center to do my DM after reading reviews and I could not be any more happier with UDC. Here is my review of the UDC DM course http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ba...ew-utila-dive-centers-divemaster-program.html

For the most part Utilia is a single street that wraps around the bay (yes there are some side streets that do offer some things). There are apartments that that can be rented fairly inexpensively with weekly rates. Andy from UDC recommended the Lighthouse to stay at...my GF and I loved it. I think the rates were around $300 per week, but I do not remember them exactly. The Lighthouse I have been told is one the nicer places to stay, so others might not be that expensive. There are many restaurants and markets on the main street. We loved Big Mamas. We also cooked in our room to save some money (microwave). UDC is also affiliated with the Mango Inn so you get a few free nights there while you decide on other arrangements.

I was 48 when I did my DM at UDC and was not the oldest diver either. At NO time did I ever feel left out or alienated by the younger crowd. Yes there are "party places" in Utilia, but there are also quiet places too. Contact Andy Phillips with UDC and he can help offer more information...he truly cares about the individual diver. He was such a great help to me when I was planning my DM months before I was ready to start it.

If you have the budget, I would recommend doing the DM at Utilia and the IDC in the Caymans or vice-versa. While I have not been to the Caymans yet, I did research a “real world job” there once and the Caymans appear to be more expensive than Utilia. I have also seen some divers do the DM at one of Utilia’s schools and the IDC at another. But if you want to do both at one Dive Operation I strongly recommend UDC.

On another very important note on instructing...if you plan on instruction locally, you might think about an IDC there in California (especially with a shop that might bring you on as an instructor). The IDCs are less about ddiving and more about teaching methodology. Some shops prefer to training their own instructors. Perhaps gain alot of diving experience, do your DM with a DM internship and take specialties like Tech and rebreathers at UDC and than do an IDC locally...just food for thought.

Currently I am taking the AI course locally and I am coming back to UDC to do my OWSI and IE this spring…maybe we will see each other there. Please feel free to PM if you have any other questions.

Good Luck with the training and enjoy the classroom.

Happy Bubbles,

~Oldbear~

 

[westonjazz]

Any other Divemaster and or Instructor experiences from anyone else? I'm particularly interested in hearing about great dive operations around the world with world class diving. Maldives, Micronesia, Philippines, Thailand, and other places I might not have considered. Anyone else?

 

[rick00001967]

it gives an old guy hope to hear about other older fellas doing their dm or instructor at such an age. good on them. i am so jealous of you all.

weston......makes sure you do tons of research before you decide. there are a lot of operations that really over charge for what you get. make sure you know exactly what is included and what exactly is not included for the price you pay. if you are going for a long period of time, consider possible language barriers (or perhaps you intend on learning a new one which is a good idea to make you more employable world wide), living standards and conditions (you don't want to spend months in a sh*t hole), cost of living in the area (make sure you look at all options apart from the ones the dive shop suggests), health insurance requirements in case of an accident abroad (diving or non diving), and how easy is it to get there from home and back.
i have no personal experience doing what you are planning on doing. but i did some research hoping one day i would have the chance.
good luck. i envy you
rick

 

[Islandheart]

EASE, Vero Beach, Fl.

 

[scubafied]

I did my Instructor training in Bali with Blue Season Bali. You can arrange a number of packages with them depending on your needs (diving and housing wise) and how much time you have. They run a very large operation (PADI CDC) with multiple groups going to different sites all around Bali's coastline as well as neighboring Nusa Penida. There is a huge variety of dive sites and conditions that can be experienced there and I was put through my paces by the currents there on many occasions. The local life (above and below) can only be defined as exotic and completely surreal; I can't wait to go back.

Their DM program involves putting the DMT's in charge of the respective groups they are assisting Instructors and qualified guides with for the day, as well as general hospitality/customer service. That includes everything from checking equipment in/out for each dive guest, getting their tanks/weights on the trucks and then greeting and sizing the guests when they arrive and finally throwing the kits on the trucks as well. You will also do bus briefings (general introductions to everyone on the bus as well as directions to photo ops and bathroom breaks) on the way to the dive sites as well as boat briefings, dive site briefings and briefings for the communal BBQ they throw every week for the entire shop and customer base. Very safety oriented so they run Rescue scenarios/drills in water every 3rd/4th day during the entire length of your program. The ages of the participants varied between 18 and mid 60's and the diversity you get training with other people is good for you if your considering trying to get work with your certs. You can choose to live in your own apartment and most of them were quite nice as well as the Balinese hosts that ran them. Your days will start early and end late and you will be exhausted at the end of the day just like your "real job".

Their Instructor program was just as intensive but the days don't start quite as early. They had 3 CD's while I was there that all had a number of years behind them not only as CD's but as Tech Instructors not only within the PADI system but with other entities as well. At no point was there a lack of information. They run a mock IE a few days before you're actual one and I found it far more difficult than the actual IE. The training was not only intense but they always found ways to make it fun as well.

They were very informative throughout the booking process and it all went smoothly with visas and everything else involved. They are located in Sanur which is often referred to as "snore" because it's a haven for families and couples so it tends to be far quieter than out on the bukit. You usually have one day off a week and most of the trainees would get together for something a little more than tame as far as drinking went on those night but every other night was usually just a beer or 2 and dinner and then home to study. There are a few bars there to satisfy your thirst, loads of restaurants with any type of cuisine you desire and a quick cab ride will get you to Seminyak or Kuta if you require some variation in your nightlife. If at anytime during your training, you find yourself at a local watering hole and a fellow trainee says the words "Scoota to Kuta?!", turn and run the other way for no good will come of it.

Good luck with your decision and your training.