PADI Instructor Internship

[I-cap-I]

Hi, I hope someone can give me some good advice (and I am new to this forum stuff so if this is in the wrong place or anything then apologies in advance).

I am currently certified to advanced level (though with few dives) and am intending to undertake an internship to Instructor level with the view to employment (hopefully in the area which I do my internship).

I am after any advice as to where I should go. I have a leaning towards Thailand as I know both the people and the country are great (though never dived there).

I know the diving in Egypt is very good, but the rest of the place for me leaves a little to be desired.

I am really open to any helpfull suggestions.

The longer the internship the better as far as I am concerned (more time more dives * ).

I am hoping to go imminently, though by the end of summer at most.

Sorry this is a bit vague, but then I suppose I am.

Many thanks to you all.

 

[Diver0001]

Where do you live? Have you considered doing your internship locally?

R..

 

[I-cap-I]

Yeah,I live in the uk. Its cold. Too cold. I am looking for warm, sunny and good training.

 

[marinediva]

Hi I-cap
I did kinda what you are looking at doing three years ago. I did my rescue, through to MSDT in Thailand over eight months. roughly 800 dives in total. It was fantastic. Unfortunately the dive school changed the way they did DM during my MSDT stage because people were taking fun dives instead of assisting. Not sure of present packages being offered.

Please be careful in regards to Thailand at the moment. WHislt 90% of the diving is not near Bangkok, where most of the trouble is occuring, I do feel this is esculating and it would only need the death of a King to see the country go into civil war. The King is not in the best of health.

Before I choose Thailand I spent at least 100 hours on the net researching where I wanted to go.
The cost in Australia was at that time 30% more expensive than most of St East Asia, and then I also looked at the style of operation. Some stores in Qld offered good opportunities to dive everyday, especially in Cairns but most were Week-end training which did not suit me at all, because of the nature of my work. Even if I had chosen to go to Cairns there was still the cost of living expenses whilst not working. Australia is not the cheapest place to live.

SOme other places I came across which I found interesting were in Malaysia, and Bali.
I had been to Bali before and for personal reasons I decided against Malaysia at that time.

From Australia the airfares to Asia are very reasonable, from what I am aware the scope of where you could possibly go for a reasonable price are by far heaps more choices.

I truly suggest you research places yourself and then find out from others if they have been there and what it is like.

Be aware there is an element of divers here who are very negative in regards to this type of training. Which is unfortunate as I really do not believe they have any idea of the experience that is being gained. ALso be aware diving is a business when you are teaching and like all businesses it involves marketing. Just because the marketing looks good does not mean the teaching is.

If I had my chance to do it again, knowing what I do now about the dive industry, I would actually do up to DM in one country and then move to another to do my IDC and IE, and finish with my MSDT at that shop.

There are plenty of dive shops who would like to employ fresh instructors straight out of IE as it is perceived they have no bad habits and can teach by the book and they regularly advertise on the Padi Pro site, some very close to you back home.

I hope this all helps and best wishes for your journey.

 

[Hillmorton Scubie]

Having dived in Egypt (Sharm) many times, this has a large dive industry. Perhaps someone who has been a divemaster/instructor there could offer their insight.