Scuba Diving Internships FAQ's - Page 4

Scuba diving internship frequently asked questions continued. Please do also feel free to mail me personally any time for expansion on these answers and answer any further questions that you have.

Dive Internship FAQ's - Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3 - Page 4 - Page 5 - Page 6

Q. Do I need to have a dive medical examination?

A. If you are reasonably fit then it is fair to assume that you will be able to dive with no problems. Once you turn DMT (Dive master trainee) you will need to have a physical examination here (approximately $3US - not expensive) in order to be signed off as a professional diver. 

Before you begin any PADI diving course you will need to complete the PADI medical form. This is a very simple form that has "YES" and "NO" answers. You will be asked a series of simple questions with regards to your medical history. Simply answer them truthfully. If any of the questions are answered with a "YES" then a doctor will need to be seen prior to your diving - This is a PADI policy (and a good one). 90% of divers (or non-divers) that have to see a doctor CAN STILL dive - it is just a precautionary measure. You can see the diver medical check here.

"To the Top"

Q. Are flights and transfers included within the cost?

A. Air Flights are not included within the cost of the dive package. This would be virtually impossible for us to do unless we only accepted interns from certain countries. As we have such a broad range of dive interns from Canada, US, South America, UK, France, Germany, Holland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand - it would be very difficult to have a fixed price. The dive package price is for all of the activities and accommodation whilst here. Transfers to Pattaya from Bangkok Airport can easily be arranged for you. We can arrange for a car transfer to collect you at Bangkok airport (Suvarnabhumi Airport) and deliver you to Jomtien and the dive facility - that is as long as you wouldn't like a night in Bangkok first!

If you arrive at night then you shall be taken directly to the diver accommodation. If you arrive day time then you'll come to the dive shop and be inducted from there.

"To the Top"

Q. I am interested in becoming an Instructor, or possibly a PADI MSDT / PADI Staff instructor. What exactly is the difference between the three?

An OWSI (Open Water Scuba Instructor) is the first instructor rating in the PADI diving system. The dive instructor rating allows you to teach Open Water, Advanced, Rescue diver, Divemaster and Assistant Instructors. This is a great rating and one that allows those serious to enter the dive industry for dive employment.

An MSDT is an OWSI with specialty areas of instruction and also a minimum of 25 students under their belt for teaching diving experience. An MSDT will be an instructor in 5 specialty diver areas - these might be Wreck diver, Deep diver, Enriched Air diver, Night diver and Drift diver for EXAMPLE (Many to choose from - see PADI dive specialty courses). An MSDT will have certified 25 student divers to gain the MSDT rating. The divers can be trained in any area of diving. At Mermaids we like to ensure that the MSDT candidate gets a good spectrum of teaching experience by teaching Open water, Advanced, Rescue, DM and the specialty areas. This gives the the MSDT great overall experience preparing them to teach these courses when actually employed in a dive job.

As a PADI Staff instructor you will gain your first taste of 'instructor training'. At this point you shall be working with the PADI Course Director running the Instructor Development Course. Assisting the PADI CD and grading the new instructor candidates on their performance as potential instructors. This is a fantastic program. Not only does this diver rating show a dive center that you have some very good experience and take diving seriously - it also opens a few more doors as many dive centers offer IDC's. Due to this if you can be useful to the CD (usually the shop owner) on the IDC's your estimation in the the employers' eyes will increase. This rating will make you very employable.

"To the Top"

Q. What is the cost of living in Pattaya, Thailand? AND how do I get money?

A. Pattaya can be very reasonable or very expensive depending on what you are doing (and how you are doing it). The everyday prices for food and beer etc is very in-expensive indeed. An average (but tasty) western meal will cost approximately $2US. If you like Thai food then you'll save even more money - a good dish of Thai food can be as little as 50 cents. Beer is extremely cheap also, priced at $1US up to $3.50US depending on what and where you are drinking - this is what I mean by "Pattaya can be very reasonably priced or expensive". If you are in the expensive (but not necessarily better) pubs, clubs and restaurants every night then money can slip through the fingers. If you enjoy a beer, a good feed and good company each day in a moderately priced place then bank on $10US per day. I personally live on around that figure each day now - ok so sometimes we have a little wild time and I might spend $30US - just don't tell the wife:-)

Check the "cost of living in Pattaya page" - especially for those day to day expenses.

A budget for spending money can realistically be $300-$400US per month (this is with your accommodation paid for). Bear in mind that you get fed very well on the boat each day also. You wait until you taste the food...it's seriously good!!!

CAN I use ATM's or other banking services in Pattaya? - funds can be easily accessible in Thailand as long as you are prepared. Travelers cheques (Checks) can be good as they are secure and tend to achieve good rates of exchange - certainly better than cash.

If you wish to use your ATM card to withdraw money from your home bank this is indeed possible. Please ensure that your local bank in the west is informed that you will be withdrawing in Thailand. In the past we have seen a few cards stopped due to the banks thinking that fraudulent withdrawals were being made. If you inform your local bank of your travels then this problem can be avoided.

Generally the ATM's are Cirrus, VISA and MasterCard. If your card does not have one of these symbols then do not despair as you can still withdraw money form a "money changer". A "money changer" is a banking service where you can take money from your cash card by signing for it. You will need your passport and your card. With these two things you will be able to withdraw up to $500 daily (generally).

Opening a bank account:

For those dive students on an education visa opening a bank account here in Pattaya has not been an issue. As long as student visa is held, we can assist with an address to gain your bank account. This will allow you to transfer funds across and not pay daily ATM charges etc.

"To the Top"

Q. What else is there to do in Pattaya during my time off?

A. Now you've got me, where do I start? Pattaya hosts so much entertainment in one concentrated area that it is amazing. If you like sports and recreations then there is everything from Jet Ski-ing, Go-Karting, Football, Tennis, Table Tennis, Hash Running, parasailing, windsurfing, beach volleyball and Squash to mountain biking, climbing, scuba diving:-), paint balling, mono ski-ing, gymnasiums, swimming, massage, flying, exploring, paragliding, Off-roading (motorbike and 4x4), Badminton, Rugby, bowling, serious drinking:-), darts, snooker and pool leagues and cinemas - sorry there's more but my fingers hurt. Pattaya can cater for all tastes of recreation and sports. All of the interning pupils find additional sports and recreations to be involved in.

Over and above the day time activities Pattaya boasts a hive of activity of an evening. There are so many restaurants in town that you can eat at a different one every night for a year. The many clubs, pubs, bars and discos all have their own special attractions providing something for everyone.

There really is not a more fun place to be whilst learning something that you love. Our fantastic team have invented many a way to have great fun here - check out a few pictures.

Some of the guys and gals join me on a "Friends Trip" diving holiday to the Similan Islands (Phuket Thailand) from time to time - check out A Friends Trip (there are many of them documented).

AND of course we give you a "special" introduction to Pattaya on your arrival!!!

"To the Top"

Q. Is the qualification recognized world wide or only in Asia? - Can I get a scuba job in many countries?

A. All of the diver courses that we run are recognized world wide. As a PADI dive master or (OWSI) PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor you are internationally licensed to teach scuba where ever there are diving facilities. You will be affiliated to PADI whom are the largest recreational diving organization in the world with in excess of 70% of the recreational scuba market share. PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) is seen to be the market leader and with your professional dive qualifications you'll be able to work and dive in the majority of the top diving destinations in the world. There are sites out there that assist with scuba dive job placements as any norm employment agency would assist. Great sites such as Dive4jobs.com and Diversjobs.com - allow you to post your dive resume and search listings. Once a PADI professional you will have access to the professional area on the PADI web site also which is a superb resource for dive jobs and dive careers.

Diversjobs.com have an exclusive partnership with Mermaids Professional Divers. Diver employment has never been so readily available until October 2006. Divers-jobs offer Mermaids divers an exclusive suite of scuba diving work offers and dive employment internationally.

"To the Top"

Q. I wish to learn Thai. Is it hard and shall I have time for Thai lessons in Pattaya?

I have no reason to say that I did not learn most of my Thai in shops and restaurants in the early days. Not saying that I am:) but speaking with many different people from different parts of Thailand and speaking literally the same stuff - can confirm or make unconfirmed what you know/understand. This environment for learning should not be relied on as correct - but a framework and certainly interesting into Thai society. 

There comes a time where you really need to learn to read and write. Certainly read. To read and actually spell allows you to remember so much more vocabulary where many of the words sound (to us) exactly the same. To spell is to be able to differentiate between the Thai words. It's no longer in publish as the Bangkok Post Publishing company (printing books) is no longer in operation. However if you can gain a copy of " Essential Thai" by James Higbie you'd really, and I mean REALLY be doing yourself a great favour in learning Thai. The learning is progressive, easy and the transliterations superb and easy to understand. As you progress you can use such tools as James Higbies Grammar Reference also (This has been invaluable!). I swear - If I dedicated to using this method all along I'd be even further advanced.

Never rule out Benjawan Poomsun Becker's Basic, Intermediate and Advanced learning books also (Fantastic!). These had a great impact on my learning of reading - certainly the intermediate - Advanced books - and again the transliterations that she uses are superb. (Personally I found the tapes (as with Higbie) to not really be helpful but possibly personal taste.

Like anything, learning Thai takes practice and dedication. I know of guys (REALLY) that have been here for 30 years that could not ask a direction. Yet I am astounded by some of the scuba diving interns ability to pick up the basics quickly and be very polite with the staff.

Thai lessons can be found in many areas of Jomtien and Pattaya – language schools are as common as 7-11’s. There is no reason why you should not be able to learn Thai here in Jomtien or Pattaya alongside the diving program. With many Thai teachers around you can easily find a good one that will work on your schedule.

Dive Internship FAQ's - Page 1 - Page 2 - Page 3 - Page 4 - Page 5 - Page 6