Ultimate place to do my Divemaster

[orenbvip]

I'm leaving on vacation for Nov-March. I plan on doing my Dive Masters. What would be your ultimate location? ( I get a ticket anywhere I want as a work bonus).

My criteria:

* Cost: has to be less than $3,500 month with living. Plan on taking a Month maybe more
* Diving: Has to have diverse and good diving and unlimited diving is very nice.
* Fun: I'm a single guy so fun is important to some extent
* Work: being able to work/help out would be nice.


Places in considering:
-Palau (top pick but dunno if its possible or can afford it)
-Sipidan
- Malapascua
- Rotaan

Places I've been but dont want to do my DMT:
Thailand : cheap and fun but diving isnt that great, and No koh Tao!
Bali: nice diving but terrible people on land.
Komodo: Amazing diving but too remote
Lembeh: My fav place i've been but not good for a DMT and beyond boring o land
Pula Weh: CHEAP and good diving but could not spend a month on one tiny beach.

I'd love to do Galapagos but I don't think I can afford it.

 

[flots am]

I'm leaving on vacation for Nov-March. I plan on doing my Dive Masters. What would be your ultimate location? ( I get a ticket anywhere I want as a work bonus).

If you plan on working as a DM where you live, I'd suggest somewhere around the Great Lakes.

If you just want the card, go wherever you're happy.

flots.

 

[blue steal]

Have you considered the Philippines.

 

[orenbvip]

Have you considered the Philippines.

Very much so. what do you recommend?

 

[Dave1981]

I did Utila. It's a bit cheaper than Roatan, the crowd is younger so lots of fun. Dive shops everywhere so plenty choice, and also good times to be had with many people doing exactly the same as you. If you really want you could do 4-5dives a day.

The diving's good, but crowded. From your original post I'd say it fits the bill better than anywhere else I can think of.

 

[jc63_]

I'm stationed in Guam and just finished mine.

You can get a place to live and a boonie car for under 3.5k a month.
Diving...wrecks, coral, not a bad place, and Siapan + other islands are a hop skip and jump away...
Fun...new crop of Japanese tourists every week...if you have yellow fever, good times (a good part of them come here to dive so internships ++++)!!!

 

[blue steal]

I'm leaving on vacation for Nov-March. I plan on doing my Dive Masters. What would be your ultimate location? ( I get a ticket anywhere I want as a work bonus).

My criteria:

* Cost: has to be less than $3,500 month with living. Plan on taking a Month maybe more
* Diving: Has to have diverse and good diving and unlimited diving is very nice.
* Fun: I'm a single guy so fun is important to some extent
* Work: being able to work/help out would be nice.

I would recomend you check out Puerto gallera in Mindoroa, PI.
Asia Divers is big and Atlantis, but the smaller shops can give more personal service, like Action divers or Mark at Searider.
Cost would be less than your amount
Diving is diverse, great, and you can dive, dive, dive
Fun, single guy in the PI, oh yeah....
work maybe, help out for sure. english spoken everywhere, if that is your langauge

 

[Doc]

I'm leaving on vacation for Nov-March. I plan on doing my Dive Masters. What would be your ultimate location? ( I get a ticket anywhere I want as a work bonus).

My criteria:

* Cost: has to be less than $3,500 month with living. Plan on taking a Month maybe more
* Diving: Has to have diverse and good diving and unlimited diving is very nice.
* Fun: I'm a single guy so fun is important to some extent
* Work: being able to work/help out would be nice.

Most DM Courses are in the $500+ zone.

Your post is vague. "Cost: has to be less than $3,500 month with living. Plan on taking a Month maybe more" is rather open ended and ambiguous, but it's a basis for consideration.

Airfare is free? I would go to the South Pacific.

The Philippines would be the cheapest and allow a lot more of your budget for frivolity, which isn't such a bad thing if you don't let it cloud your mission. Puerto Galera, as mentioned above, is my choice, but actually Sabang Beach, right next door, is where I would point. I did my DM in 10 days, but I really didn't entertain any distractions.

You can "work/help", but don't expect to be paid, not really.

Here is an interesting approach, if you want to concentrate on the craft, itself: $1400 with housing in a world class resort Roatan Divemaster Internship at Dockside Dive Center, Western Caribbean

There are all sorts of ways to go, but did you say, free airfare? The mind reels.

 

[Bubble Junky]

For Malapascua, check out Thresher Shark Divers. Also might be worth checking the websites of these dive centres too: Scuba Junkie & Blue Planet.

 

[orenbvip]

I hear good things about Puerto gallera but cant find too much about the diving?