Do you spend day after day at work, dreaming of life on a Tropical Island? Do you long to do what you LOVE doing every day and actually making a career out of it? I know I used to, and many moons ago I traded the work boots in for fins and set off on the biggest adventure of my life…an adventure I’m still on today that’s taken me down paths, or shall I say, depths I thought I would never go. That’s why I get so excited about teaching my students the PADI Divemaster Course, because it’s not just another certification, it’s your ticket to a life of adventure, to live like a local wherever you are and dive every day of the week. So, here are my 10 reasons to become a PADI Divemaster.
1) Make Money…. While Travelling
One of the great reasons for becoming a PADI Divemaster, is funding travel. Many jobs are seasonal so flexibility is fantastic, allowing you to spend maybe 3 months in Thailand, then take off to Bali for another 2 months then on to a live-aboard in the South Pacific. Or is a working holiday in Australia more your thing, maybe you’re looking for a long-term position, then possibly a year-round season like the Caribbean sounds better to you? The World truly is your Oyster.
2) Become a Skilled, Confident Diver
Maybe you’re in a job you love, and a place in life where you don’t want to drop everything and head to the sun, that’s totally understandable. Taking the PADI Divemaster course will without doubt make you a much better diver regardless, not just from consistent dive time and learning how to manage other divers, but you will learn more about Dive Equipment, Physics and Physiology, the Ocean and Environment, how to read Currents and Tides, how to map dive sites and you will perfect those essential rescue and CPR skills.
3) Meet and Work with like-minded people from all over the world
One of the greatest things being a dive professional has done for me is it has introduced me to incredible people I would never have met otherwise. Most have been part of the vibrant and passionate teams of people I’ve worked with around the world, some have become friends for life and one even became my wife. You never know what to expect at that next location, but one thing is for sure, wherever you work in the world you are guaranteed to be working with a truly international crew who love to dive.
4) Live Like A Local
If you’re like me, you love to travel. But not like your typical tourist drifting from the same old bars and tourist spots to another, you like to really discover a place, and find out who and what makes a town tick! Becoming a Divemaster allows you to truly experience what it’s like to live in paradise. Quite often you will end up in places you may never have thought you would, or even heard of, that’s all part of the adventure.
5) Incredible Marine Life Encounters!
It doesn’t take long to realize that if you’re diving everyday over a significant amount of time, it’s inevitable that you will have some amazing encounters with marine life. Right here in Campbell River, we often see Whales before we even hit the dive site, so while other people are on their daily commute, you may have already seen creatures that others can only dream of. During my time in the Caribbean, Loggerhead Turtles, Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays, and Moray Eels were just a few examples of the diverse marine life I got to encounter every day. I even got to witness baby Hawksbill Turtles hatching on the beach!
6) Dive…Dive….Dive
One thing you’re guaranteed is a huge amount of diving opportunities. The Divemaster course is very hands on and there will never be a day you won’t be able to dive. Most days will be at least 2 -3 dives and shore dives are always available.
7) Investing in yourself
Even if your reasons for taking the Divemaster course are purely personal, any investment in yourself can never be a bad thing, and gaining a qualification while doing something you enjoy is even better. Adding a professional diving qualification to your CV/Resume demonstrates to future employers that you have interests outside of work, are personable, can deal with high pressure situations, are safety conscious and have great leadership skills. These are all great qualities, no matter what your chosen profession.
8) No two days are the same
The Divemaster course is jam packed with skills to fill every day. You will always be learning something new. If you go on to work as a dive professional, everyday will be different, from diving with different people to diving different dive sites, enjoying different marine life…everyday!
9) You’re always learning new skills
Diving is a relatively small part of a dive operations engine, and as a Divemaster you will be an integral part of keeping that engine running. As such, you will learn many other topside skills you may not already have. Since becoming a dive professional I have learnt lots about boat handling, boat mechanics, fibre glassing, inspections, gear repair, compressor maintenance, business management, I even helped build a Nitrox Blending System…the possibilities are endless.
10) Get involved in ocean conservation!!
Unfortunately, we live in times where the health of our oceans has never been so important.
As a dive professional, you will be on the frontlines in the fight to bring the issues facing our changing ocean environment to an audience who don’t get to experience it first hand, and educate new divers who may be previously unaware. In most locations, there are conservation projects and local research organizations that allow you to get hands on experience with protecting the future of our Oceans.
If you would like more information on our PADI Divemaster Course or any other questions please contact us at info@divesafe.com and we will get you started on your biggest adventure yet. Happy Diving.
Reggie Latham. Head PADI Instructor/ DCBC Dive Supervisor
