So, you’re a PADI Rescue Diver.
Are you thinking about a diving
career and getting more diving, responsibility and challenge?
The PADI Divemaster Internship route
leads to all of these things.
What is this?
The PADI Divemaster course is one the most
challenging and rewarding courses that you can take. It’s the first level on
the PADI professional ladder and it is a tremendous achievement. It opens doors
all around the world and gives you a worldwide possibility of traveling
profession.
But, it’s not so easy! You are going
to work your way up along with your instructor(s)
What does it involve?
The PADI Divemaster internship route
is one of two choices that you can make on the road to becoming a PADI
Professional. They both lead to to same certification, but with one small (but
very big) difference. PADI Divemaster interns work with real students and
certified divers. The non-internship route mostly simulates
students and certified divers.
And I can tell you ….. There is a
huge difference! Nothing substitutes repetition on practice.
You, the intern, will get the chance
to see real problems as they happen. You will see the way an instructor deals
with problems first hand. This is invaluable. Though not everyone’s
preferred choice it was the route I took, so let me tell you why I loved it…You will become an integral part of
your chosen dive center. You will become multiple instructor’s shadows. You
will prepare enough equipment to drive the actions into your muscle memory. You
will lift more weight than a gym addicted fruitcake and you will learn more
dive theory than the books alone can provide; You will understand the entire
operation of a successful dive center using hands-on experience.
How hard is it?
You will feel out of your depth at
times. You will be in your element in others. By the end of your internship you
will “bleed PADI” as the PADI family is now your family. It is your tie
to the diving world, your bond to the diving professional community and your
ticket to a successful diving career.
Like all PADI courses the Divemaster
course has three elements.
- Independent Learning – Self Study
- Classroom sessions
- In-water Practical sessions & Assessments
A divemaster candidate must do a lot
of self-study and home preparation to ensure they are ready to sit the final
exams and practical assessments.
The jump in knowledge from a Rescue
Diver to a DM candidate can be daunting. It may make you think that you’ll
never understand it all. Don’t sweat. You just have to know how to take the
steps to increase your knowledge slowly.Your instructors are going to help you.
They are there to guide you. They will show you how to find the answers to all
your questions.
The internship program usually takes
longer than the simulated one. You will work with all members of staff and each
instructor likely has their own way of doing things. Each will teach you
something different on any given task until you, the Divemaster Candidate, have
picked and chosen the way that works for YOU.
You may be strong in some areas, but
weak in others. The internship route will highlight, isolate and drive your
weaknesses, turning them into strengths. You will be someone who every student
looks up to. When you start to assist instructors on courses you will be
introduced as “Our Divemaster Candidate” and everyone in the classroom
will look at you in awe. They will feel privileged and curious when you join
their group. They will ask you questions and you will give either enthusiastic
answers or motivated tutorials, all under the watchful eye of your instructors.
Why would you choose this road to
becoming a dive professional anyway?
Internships allow you to work with
real students in real time. Their
problems are real. On a simulated open water course you will work with
professionals faking problems. They could be the best actors in the world, but
you still know they can clear a mask of water, no matter how much
flapping about they do. Real students will get upset when they struggle with
something. You are practicing how to help them achieve success and the real
deal is the real deal.
By the end of your course you will
be able to calm people down, help them learn, guide groups of divers, be
prepared for any problems and manage an emergency. You will likely become
another students mentor, and so the cycle of diving addiction continues…
If you haven’t already guessed. I’m
a huge fan of the Divemaster Internship route. I chose that route
myself, and I strongly believe that it made me the instructor I am today.
Go on, do it.
Have the confidence to say “bring
it on” because you can do it. By the time your Divemaster
application is sent to PADI Head Office you will be the fittest you’ve ever
been and will have done the best dives you’ve ever done.
Contact us and we will be glad to orient you thru a successful dive career.
Leo Saldunbides - PADI Platinum Course Director # 184808
Leo Saldunbides - PADI Platinum Course Director # 184808
+238 953-2154 - Whatsapp / Viber
Skype: saldunbides
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