Thinking of taking Intern Instructor Course

[harang]

Does anybody here know of any reputable Diving Schools offering interns courses like IDC, and offering job placements? I've heard of a few in Thailand, Phuket, Phi Phi and Pattaya like; Mermaids, Aquanauts etc...I guess the most important element for me is to get the proper training to be an Instructor.

Also, can you shed some light on your experiences if you did, and why would you recommend anybody to take their course there?

I'm also confused on taking IDC or should I take MSD. Which ones would get me more employable in the diving world?

I would appreciate only responses pertaining to my questions.

Thanks

 

[TMHeimer]

IDC gets you a cert. to teach. MSD gets you a wall cert. and does nothing to get you employed. To make any real money you would consider Commercial diving which apparently involves tons of training and is a risky and possibly short career (10 years?). Obviously, you should get more experience just diving first. Then you may think of the Rescue-DM-IDC route.

 

[harang]

Like I said answers to my questions...guess you didn't read.

First, maybe I explained myself wrong, but if you think you can't make money with an (OWSI), and a MSD, I think you're wrong.

Second, I don't remember saying anything about "making any real money" and commercial diving. Not interested!
I said; "which courses I would have to get to be more employable in the diving world"?

Third, mentioned what would be some good places to take Scuba Dive Instructor Training Internship "which should get you more experience while you're taking it"

Last...I asked which of the two, were better to get employed (Instructor or MD).

 

[Hepcat62]

Last...I asked which of the two, were better to get employed (Instructor or MD).

I'll let other people respond to the rest, but please be mindful of the difference between Master Scuba Diver (MSD) and Dive Master (DM) with most agencies I'm aware of. The former is NOT a professional certification, and really has little to no bearing on your employability.

The latter is the entry-level professional certification for most agencies, and is generally a required step on the path to becoming an OW instructor. Your employability is probably high, so long as you don't care about receiving money in return. What money you do receive (if any*) is likely to let you break-even on expenses at best. I'm sure things are different in very high-volume resort locations, but even then you stand a much better chance at making any money at all as an instructor.

* Note - I'm talking about money specifically earned by performing DM duties. Obviously if you are paid to work in the retail part of a dive operation and are happy with those wages, then being a DM makes you a potentially more attractive candidate (though less so than an instructor).

 

[Crowley]

Hi Harang - I used to work for Mermaids in Thailand (I also did my training there as an intern) so I have seen it from both sides of the operation. If you want specific info on Mermaids please feel free to PM me, but I will also say that I left 2 years ago and so don't really know what it's like there these days (I had a blast though! )

I think it's a great environment in which to learn your trade - experiencing a busy working dive centre for maybe 6 months or more with like-minded people and the vast wealth of information and experience that their staff can provide is worth every penny you spend if you apply yourself to the program correctly; much more so than simply undertaking an Instructor Course.

Ask questions, ask LOTS of questions! Make sure you know:
1. What the school is offering you for your money
2. What is NOT included in the price
3. What is the local area like? You might be living there for half a year.
4. Living expenses (some centres include accomodation in their prices)
5. What working experience can you expect to receive as an intern

Make sure you know what you are letting yourself in for. The life of a full-time instructor is often very hard work, for not much money, although it's VERY rewarding if you're passionate about it.

As mentioned above, MD or MSD for PADI is a recreational program; some internships will include this certification as part of their program but DM (DiveMaster) is the first professional certification. Work for DMs does exist, but is often unpaid in return for free or discounted training. Scuba Instructors are much more valuable assets and employees to a dive centre because they can do more things, and MSDT (Master Scuba Diver Trainer) is an added bonus because it means you can teach more stuff. In many locations, the most valuable skill you can possess is multiple languages.

Hope that helps,

C.

 

[Satyre]

Third, mentioned what would be some good places to take Scuba Dive Instructor Training Internship "which should get you more experience while you're taking it"
Last...I asked which of the two, were better to get employed (Instructor or MD).

Hello
I believe you need to make sure first you understand the Go Pro path (I will discuss the PADI one)
a) Usually an IDC is not done through an internship. You need to pay you IDC (the Course Director: CD)
b) The 1st step of becoming a Pro is the DiveMaster (DM). Many shops offer a DM Training program as an internship. Sone shops have their DMT to pay others accept that you work as a DM in exchange of your training (make sure your know all the contract term before starting).
c) An IDC (Instructor Developpment Course) is taught by a Course Director (CD) and at the end of it you have to take the Instructor Exam (IE). If you pass the IE, you become an Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI)
d) After becoming an OWSI, you can become a Speciality Instructor. An OWSI can teach every diver level from Open Water Diver (OWD) to DM. A speciality instructor can teach one or more specialities (ie: Nitrox, Deep, Night....)
e) A Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) is an OWSI that can teach at least 5 PADI specialities and has certified 25 students (any level).
So an MSDT is an OWSI with a recognised level of futher education and experience/expertise.

So, to answer your question a MSDT may be more likely to get a job but you have also speciality Instructor with a lot of experience that have never bother to apply for the MSDT rating.
And it also depends on where would you like to work.
If you plan to work in a ressort where people come for vacation, a diveshop manager may rather prefer to hire an OWSI speaking several languages rather than a MSDT that speaks only one language.
On a boat an OWSI with sailing experience or engine expertise may win over the MSDT.
In a Local Dive Shop, an MSDT is I guess more likely to get the job

Hope you have your answer

PS: a MSD is a Master Scuba Diver (MSD), this is the higher rank of recreational Diver. It is not a professional so an OWSI will always be prefered over an MSD

 

[Crowley]

Hello
a) Usually an IDC is not done through an internship. You need to pay you IDC (the Course Director: CD)

I think the OP is referring to participating in an IDC as part of a diving internship program, where you spend six months earning qualifications that allow you to attend the instructor course, not actually an "IDC internship", as it were.

Otherwise - yes - what Satyre said!

C.

 

[TMHeimer]

Like I said answers to my questions...guess you didn't read.

First, maybe I explained myself wrong, but if you think you can't make money with an (OWSI), and a MSD, I think you're wrong.

Second, I don't remember saying anything about "making any real money" and commercial diving. Not interested!
I said; "which courses I would have to get to be more employable in the diving world"?

Third, mentioned what would be some good places to take Scuba Dive Instructor Training Internship "which should get you more experience while you're taking it"

Last...I asked which of the two, were better to get employed (Instructor or MD).

I see you have gotten some good replies explaining stuff. I did not elaborate as such, but answered your question about MSD, which I have, and is useless. That is why I am in the DM program. I would guess you could find employment doing work such as cleaning boat bottoms (which some do), but you need no special certifications to do that. I think I answered that OWSI can get you employed as a teacher but MSD in and of itself gets you nothing. Good luck.

 

[harang]

Hello
PS: a MSD is a Master Scuba Diver (MSD), this is the higher rank of recreational Diver. It is not a professional so an OWSI will always be prefered over an MSD

Thanks for your reply Satyre but I don't appreciate your manner and your little ego. Everybody here has the right to ask questions (even those that may not know all the answers), without calling somebody a dork. This proves that you are either very immature, or you think you know more than the average guy by name calling when he's asking a question that he doesn't know. Then I would say that is the equivalent of a 12 year old child trying to think he's better than someone else when he lost all his marbles.:depressed: You may know a little bit about scuba diving but don't forget....this site is also for average scuba diver that doesn't know it all as the "Discussion Rules" say:

This forum is intended to be a very friendly, "flame free zone" where divers of any skill level may ask questions about basic scuba topics without fear of being accosted. Please show respect and courtesy at all times. Remember that the inquirer is looking for answers that they can understand. This is a learning zone and consequently, any off-topic or overly harsh responses will be removed

I would suggest that you read the Basic Scuba Discussions guideline again.

 

[harang]

First, I have to apologize to some of you....maybe I should have posted my question in the "New To Diving" forum. But I thought maybe I'd get more answers here, since there is more mbrs. Looking back at my questions... I might have got some of the scuba terminology wrong like MSD, MD, OWSI and so on. I'm just an OW divers with little experienc who took his course 10 years ago, and never really pursued diving since. Now, I really want to take this further to a higher level, because I really like to dive and maybe making a career of it.

Thanks to everybody who still tried to answer my questions even when I got mixed up with scuba abbreviations MSD, MD, IDE, and different certs. Now, I'm going to learn all of these before replying.

I'm still learning!