Summer Divemaster internships

[thomaspies]

Hi Chaps,

Just a quick question, I'm qualified as a Rescue diver and BSAC Diveleader and am looking to take part in a divemaster internship programme this summer. I've searched the net and can only seem to find courses that are based around a prepay basis as oppossed to a work basis; there is the potential to work off a course for 4 weeks in the same area of Indonesia i worked this summer with the charity Operation Wallacea, but i would like to experience new areas.
No real preferences to the area, but I've heard the colder reefs of S.Africa and Mosambique make for pretty amazing diving!

Any suggestions for work based internships? If anyone has any contact details i'd be much obliged!
Any suggestions or experience of Divemaster internships across the globe?

Your invaluable help is, as always, much appreciated!

Regards, Tom

 

[thisisandrea]

I did a DM traineeship in Cairns where I worked for 4 weeks to pay for the course and then took 4 weeks to do my DM. I definitely would not recommend doing it that way. The four weeks working were basic slave labour - spent most of my time in the galley or cleaning the boat. We were told that diving was a priviledge and got very little chance to do any.
Then during the four weeks when I was actually doing my course they still treated me like unpaid help and I was constantly arguing with them to let me follow the instructor and the DM programme when they wanted me to change beds!
The people who paid for their DM course and who were completing it at the same time were treated completely differently. If I had my time again I would pay for the course.

 

[thomaspies]

Cheers for the heads up Andrea! it does seem a bit too good to be true , i guess i just bite the bullet and pay!

Thanks again, regards,
Tom

 

[thisisandrea]

I think that it depends a lot on the operator. I had heard stories that before I did my internship the trainees were doing lots of fun dives and so they had really cracked down by the time I started and I think that it had just gone too far the other way.

I know that if you do a traineeship you will always end up with the jobs that no-one else wants to do - and that is fine. I have no problem filling tanks etc but I just got fed up as I spent most of my time in the kitchen or doing laundry on the liveabord boat when I was actually trying to do my Dive Master course.

I also think that it can be very sexist though and am sure that the girls were treated differently to the guys.

The other problem with working for the course is the length of time that it takes. We worked for four weeks but then with scheduled days off etc it was at least a month and a half. Then the course itself took a month. This meant that I was not being paid for two and a half months. I would have been better off financially working in a regular job for the first month and a half and then paying for the course.

I did have fun and a lot of the other trainees and instructors etc were great - but I just did not realise that most of what I would be doing would be out of the water and completely unrelated to diving.

I dont want to put you off and I dont want to say that every dive operator does this - just check it out before you sign-up and if possible chat to other trainees who are already there.

 

[rawls]

Thomaspies...I'm currently working on my divemaster cert. in NC. My instructor (can't remember if name posts and dive shop posts are acceptable) let me pay as I go. I have already paid my course cost in that it was only $250, but she would have let me pay it over a longer perion of time if I had wished. As far as working as opposed to paying, I would think there would have to be operators who would allow you to do that...if that's what you are thinking about. Like the old saying goes...If there's a will theres a way"...good luck. It's good to know someone else doing the course.

 

[rawls]

thisisandrea...I have been asked, since I started my DM course, Do I know another name for dive master...I said...no I don't...They said it's dock $itch I have been cleaning my share of boats too. I know how you feel. The way you have been treated however, sounds very disrespectful. I do my share of grunt work, but I am treated respectfully and I am already starting to do lectures. I hope you can find a good fish head pie to give to them when you are done with the course.

 

[thisisandrea]

I have no problem with cleaning the boat etc and I know that DMs in training (and qualified) will usually end up doing the jobs that no-one else wants to do.

The issue that I had was the difference in the way that we were treated from thost who had paid for their course with cash.

When doing the 30 days work-off I was prepared to do whatever was needed but once I had finished my 30 day work-off and therefore "paid" for the course I felt that I should then be treated in the same way as those who had paid for their course with money. But this was not the case.

There was a two-tier system on the boats where those who had paid for their course in the regular way were treated as guests on the boat. They eat with the other guests, were given preferential treatment, got to dive as much as they needed as part of the DM course.

Those who had worked for the course were still treated as crew - even after the 30 day work-off. And as such, were expected to do lots of additional duties.

For example, I could be told that I could not follow the instructor as part of my programme and that I had to change beds/cook/clean etc. Once the 30 day work-off is over I do not feel that this should be the case. I was struggling to get the chance to do things like the mapping exercise as I could never get the opportunity to get into the water.

Similarly at the end of the day, people who had paid for their DM course would walk off the boat as a guest. Those of us who had done the work-off were "crew" and were expected to stay back and clean the boat.

I am prepared to put in the work as much as the next person, but I ended up getting a second rate DM programme because I had worked off the course rather than paying for it.

But...all over now!

 

[tiburon72157]

Andrea, sorry you had to go through all that crap. But in reality, what did you really expect? Chances are, when someone puts themselves in to a situation where they need to "work off" their debt, they will be exploited by scumbags. Hopefully the rest of your diving industry experience goes much better! I respect very much the fact that you finished the program, and didn't allow them to break your spirit. Congrats!

 

[daniel f aleman]

The best way to take Divemaster is to do it with an instructor rather than with a boat operation or resort. And, as noted above, you get what you pay for, BUT, you should not pay more than US$ 800 for Divemaster.

Here's the general requirements:

* Be at least 18 years old Proof of 40 logged open water dives (i.e. log book)
* Current medical exam for diving signed by a physician
* Advanced Open Water Certification
* Rescue Certification
* Current CPR certification and Current First Aid certification
* Experience in Navigation, Night, and Deep Diving; Search & Recovery
* Provide own scuba equipment of leadership quality
* Purchased Course Materials
* Attend all class, pool and open water course dates
* Complete a watermanship evaluation; swim test, snorkel test, survival float
* Log a total of 50 open water dives by end of course
* Served apprenticeship time and practice teaching
* Pass a comprehensive final exam
* Divemaster Candidate has 6-months to complete the course

And, most instructors will work a payment scheme for you.

 

[rawls]

Andrea...Like Tiburon said...You went through alot of crap you didn't deserve. You paid for the course. I like the term Tiburon used...Scumbags But you will be ok and a great dive master simply because you know how some people get treated by, again, scumbags. I think those you help in the future will be great divers too....