Recently, PADI introduced a revised Divemaster Course programme to better prepare the next generation of dive professionals.

As the first step from Recreational diving to Professional level diving, the PADI Divemaster course is the foundation for a career in diving and one step away from becoming an PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI). The course is a combination of knowledge development, practical application and water skills development. The changes in the divemaster course are subtle but make a big difference – lets have a look at some of the changes and how it affects our future dive leaders.

Knowledge development

Knowledge and understanding of diving related topics is hugely important for any Dive Professional. A divemaster is expected to make decisions using sound judgement and act how a “prudent divemaster” is expected to act. These are ambiguous terms but it does emphasize the importance of having a good foundation of knowledge and skills to be able to apply in diving related activities. Good decisions are based on a persons knowledge and experiences and the changes in the divemaster course are aimed at giving a newly certified divemaster a better foundation to draw upon.

The new divemaster manual is now a more streamlined manual, which has incorporated several topics from the Encyclopaedia of Recreational Diving to provide a complete knowledge base in a single, easy-to-read manual. Topics such as Physics, Physiology and Dive Theory are presented in an easy-to-understand manner. For additional in-depth information, the Encyclopaedia is of course still included. For those that want to spend less time in the classroom whilst in Thailand there is the option to complete all the Divemaster knowledge on E learning and also practice the Dive Theory on line in preparation for your exams.

Practical Application

This portion of the course consists out of several components. The changes in the new course are aimed at better preparing a candidate to actual diving circumstances and providing them with a broader dive experience.

There are several workshops where students role-play scenarios in a controlled environment and respond to problems during divemaster-conducted activities. This experience is very valuable. When a divemaster finishes with the course, he/she will have already seen what can go wrong in real life scenarios. This is closing the practical gap between the Divemaster programme and the Instructor Development Course (IDC).   Several practical skills have been included to provide a divemaster with broader experiences. Examples are Search & Recovery skills and Deep diving skills.

This additional training will make a student a more experienced diver and as the first step from recreational level to professional level, experience is a key element for success. The changes in the Divemaster course are mainly aimed at providing students with more experience. Like the PADI Rescue course, a divemaster will already have a stronger base in terms of experience to draw upon and in our opinion be better equipped to deal with real-life scenarios, whether they’re responding to problems or making good decisions based on sound judgement.

For more almost twenty years I coveted my Scuba certification.  Justifying a new hobby, especially one such as scuba diving, is impossible without including my wife.  Unfortunately she was uncomfortable in the water, let alone under it.  Add children to the mix and it becomes impossible right?  Not so fast.

I did gain my PADI Open Water certification as did my wife, 11 year old daughter and 10 year old son.  Together we gained a new way to experience the beauty of life and the sea achieving it all with Scuba Cat Diving in Phuket, Thailand. I can’t say this would have come to fruition without Sarah, and the support of the entire professional staff.

Deb, Connor and Alexa

My wife, Deborah and I took our children, Alexa and Connor, out of school in the U.S. and embarked on a one year trip around the world.  Deborah is a professional portrait photographer and I a travel writer and filmmaker (http://www.coastlines-tanlines.com).  Together we set out to create a book of fine art, which we recently published called, “Portraits of Our World” (http://www.portraitsofourworld.com).

We wanted to avoid Europe and the typical destinations, instead focusing on Southern Africa, the Middle East, India, SE Asia and Australia.  We home schooled each step of the way using our daily life as the laboratory.  The value of the scientific education our kids received while completing the course of study at Scuba Cat Diving was unparalleled for their age.

We began our research as the phase of our trip that would take us to Phuket, Thailand  drew closer.  Sitting in a hotel room in the hills of Kerala, India I suggested we consider all getting our PADI Scuba Diving qualifications.  My wife laughed, neither of the kids knew how to swim!  Oh yes, that swim problem…

Choosing the right company to do your certification with can be daunting.  We used our slow internet connection in India and were more confused then when we started.  Undeterred we came up with a short list, deciding to visit each once in Phuket.

Our first order of business after arriving in Phuket was to find a home to rent.  This minor detail dispatched we headed into town to sign up with one of the companies on our list.  We were immediately impressed with Scuba Cat Diving.  The staff was welcoming, the facilities were clean, the PADI instructors professional and they showed great willingness to certify the kids seeing them as a wonderful challenge, not a burden.

We were never concerned with the classroom work for the kids.  They were doing extremely well in school, which is what allowed us to take them out in the first place.  We studied with them in the evenings after a spicy Thai meal and ensured they paid attention in class.  They completed all of their exams on their own, as required, with no issues.  There was still that swimming problem…

"like an elephant’s skin on a mouse"

Classroom complete and with the pool work next, Sarah gave complete focus on ensuring that the kids succeeded.  What patience and perseverance she had!  We had problems all around.  My son at 10 was no larger than most 7 year olds. With no fat on his body he would quickly become to cold to proceed.  The wetsuits were not small enough for him so we combined two at a time.  He looked like a miniature Michelin man.  Both my daughter and my wife struggled with the underwater mask clearing drill, to the point of both almost walking away.  Eventually my son did walk away, with one day to go, my hear sank.  He had no problem with the water, he was just too cold and fed up with it.  Keeping me in check, Sarah let him walk.  The next day she cajoled him into trying again, he agreed and ultimately passed the pool phase.  There was still that swimming problem…

Will you be my buddy?

Once the pool is complete the open water work begins.  One must pass a swim test in order to enter this last phase.  Ours was to swim around the dive boat one time.  We could no longer put off that swimming problem.  Let me tell you what motivation can do for a soul.  We had the good fortune to rent a very nice home while living in Phuket, one with a large pool.  Every day after dive school, the kids would practice swimming in this pool.  When the big day came to swim around the dive boat they did with no problem.  My kids were ecstatic, my wife and I proud and Sarah relieved (that all her hard work had not been for naught).

The remainder of the PADI dive course went without a hitch and the whole family gained their PADI qualifications.  The kids were limited to depth for a few years thereafter due to their age but every operator we dove with honored their credentials.  I was so impressed with Scuba Cat I personally continued on to get my PADI Advanced Open Water, Deep Diver Specialty, Wreck Diver and Enriched Air Specialty.  The only reason I did not gain more education was that my time in Phuket had come to an end.

Certification complete - Smiles all around

Since their training Connor and Alexa have had the great fortune to dive on The Great Barrier Reef near Herron Island.  They also got their first night dive in Kona, Hawaii watching manta rays swoop over their heads.  The ray’s mouths were bigger than the kids.  Most recently they dove near Coiba Island in Panama, which is the northern most island in the Galapagos chain.

We are quite proud of our children’s accomplishments and experiences diving.  None of which would have been possible without the professional attention of Scuba Cat and most especially Sarah.  I recommend that if you are looking to learn to dive, refresh your skills or increase your certification you do it with Scuba Cat.  All I ask is when you are done diving for the day, you lift a cold Singha and mention me in a toast.

Another big thank you to Jelena Rsumovic who completed her internship with us during 2011. She  completed all PADI courses with Scuba Cat Diving from PADI Divemaster to PADI Instructor.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI Instructor Internship

“I had a very professional and organised environment where I completed my divemaster and instructor internship. The divemaster course was the hard one, but today like an instructor, I feel very confident about the skills that I had learnt. I had the opportunity to guide customers on the boats, assist courses etc. I have 200+ dives now, and I am thankful to Scubacat, Vince Callaghan my instructor on divemaster, Christophe Pace, my course director on my IDC and Sarah Kench – general manager of Scubacat for providing me all the support, experience, excellent education and made me the dive instructor I am today. PADI should be very proud of this PADI Dive Centre”

A big Thank you to Bruce who completed his IDC Gold Package with us this year.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI IDC

“Sarah ensuresthe Dive Centre runs efficiently and has a very professional team. A true centre of excellence – PADI please consider following their model. I’ve dived in Egypt with 2 CDC’s and they are not half as good as the Scuba Cat operation. We had our program mapped out from Day 1, the dive centre staff all made us welcome and most importantly as a TEAM they supported everyone of us on the course.

PADI – the way the world learns to dive

SCUBACAT – the way PADI should encourage all centres to work!”

Take the Master Scuba Diver Challenge with Scuba Cat Diving, Phuket, Thailand

For the rest of this year apply for the PADI Master Scuba Diver rating  - FREE!

PADI Master Scuba Diver is the highest rating you can achieve as a recreational Scuba Diver.

Let Scuba Cat Diving, Phuket, Thailand help you to join this elite class of Scuba Divers,

You must be able to show 50 logged dives and have completed the following PADI Courses :  Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver & five PADI Specialty Courses

Take the Master Scuba Diver Challenge with Scuba Cat Diving, Phuket, Thailand

Take advantage of Scuba Cat Diving’s Exclusive Summer Course Specials available until the end of September 2011

For more details on achieving this rating for this rating ask Sarah!