Best dive center to do a Divemaster / Intrsuctor internship on Koh Tao
Replies: 9 - Last Post: Nov 8, 2012 1:17 PM Last Post By: MickeyDee
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Best dive center to do a Divemaster / Intrsuctor internship on Koh Tao
Hi guys, if you live / work on koh tao, I really need your help for this one! I know that there is a lot left to personal opinion, but I am planning a three months stay in Koh Tao to complete my PADI Divemaster and IDC internship (I am already Rescue Diver and EFRI).I am a Serious diver looking for the best training possible and mostly, best value. I am Not a party-goer, would actually rather smaller classes and I not looking to go with a "factory dive shop".
I have been looking at a few dive shops but it is really hard to make the right decision before actually beeing there.
Right now, I am debating between two of them:
Crystal Dive Resort
http://www.crystaldive.com/
Big Blue Diving
http://www.bigbluediving.com/
I understand these are two of the big schools, but it is not as easy to find the smaller dive centers that offer the same value packages for IDC from home online.
I could really use your help if you have done business with them, or if you happen to know another, better dive center I might have missed!
What do you think? And I would appreciate full disclosure if you are working with a dive shop.
THANK YOU for your help!
PS: I am also looking for a 3-4 months accomodation for early 2013. Was hopping not to have to stay in a small fan room cramped in the resort for many months.
1
I live somewhere else in Thailand so can't help you with this decision. But what I would recommend is:go there, check out all the DC's, have a chat with some of the more experienced instructors there, talk to some fresh instructor who have done their IDC with the recommendations, also ask them about accommodation, and make your mind up on the spot.
3
I did my IDC elsewhere and I conduct DM programs on Phuket, but while I'm not physically on Tao, I can recommend Master Divers for your training. They're a smaller school and quite serious. Even so they have a lot of fun, such as making appealingly comical videos underwater to promote conservation awareness. Write to them and ask them for a proposal with the costs, taking into account your EFRI rating and so on, and I'm pretty sure they can offer competitive rates. They'll also assist you with finding housing. Let me know if you want a personal introduction and I'll put you in direct contact.5
Hello there! Thank you for your suggestion of Master Divers. I have indeed heard good reviews about them. After looking at their website, there is indeed an IDC section to it. Now I am not sure if they offer the course themselves. I would gladly take you up on that introductry offer if you are able to contact them directly and see what kind of package they can offer compared to the big schools.http://www.master-divers.com/idc.htm
