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Private Scuba › Courses › Go Pro › Divemaster › Internships

PADI® Scuba Diving Internships

Signing up for a scuba internship is one of the best ways to get maximum experience when going from non-diver to Divemaster - or zero to hero (PADI Instructor).

So, as a dive intern you will have many questions that need answering as you progress on a career to becoming a scuba diving professional.

So, What is an Internship in Scuba Diving?

Simply put, an internship works in the same way as an apprenticeship (e.g. for a medical intern at a hospital).

A student or trainee can work at an organisation to gain experience or to meet requirements for a qualification - sometimes for free.

As a result, you will have the ideal opportunity to learn new dive skills and meet people with similar interests.

You also get to enhance the positive attributes that may lead to career advancements in scuba diving.

Scuba diving internships are tough, and the training will challenge your resolve and commitment at times. Even so, the PADI Divemaster Internship program will result in more diving with greater responsibilities as you aim high for your dream job.

Scuba Internships Focus on Personal Development

You should be looking for an internship package that offers you a special development process. You should receive thorough and intensive training in preparation of a meaningful career in the scuba diving industry.

This kind of scuba training is not a quick program. Most diving internships last for three to six months. As a result, stretching it out helps young people to become the best PADI® Divemaster by developing the knowledge and skills they need.

Note: Diver internships are popular with young adults after they finish college or University. They will often take a year out to focus on learning something new that may enhance their future livelihood.

Divemaster Internship: Free vs. Paid

Nowadays, there is fierce competition to fill job vacancies of PADI Divemasters and Open Water Scuba Instructors (OWSI).

When Dive Centers market courses as 'free divemaster internships' they will appeal to divers on a budget. But, the advert can be somewhat misleading.

The school will be trying to attract individuals with divemaster training as part of a lengthy travel plan. Be warned, scuba internships differ - depending on whether you will be paying for it or you get a course as a free intern.

Let's dive in a bit deeper:

Sign up for an internship package and you'll maximise hands-on training. You will experience a variety of different diving environments through PADI Specialties and other skill sessions.

All this helps to make you more 'dive employable' when you join the ranks of professional level scuba divers after completing your traineeship.

How Long is the Divemaster Internship?

Divemaster interns should allocate at least a few months to complete the apprenticeship. Even so, some divers will work as an intern for the best part of a year.

In general, it will depend on your current certification level (usually Rescue Diver) and your personal ambitions for achieving the grade.

By far, the most popular intern program in the scuba industry is the so-called journey from 'zero to hero'. It means someone will be going from a non diver to an instructor.

This type of placement typically takes at least six months to complete and might include all of the following as part of a pay-as-you-go package:

• A full set of scuba diving equipment to keep after completion.
• Basic accommodation at the dive resort (or close by).
• Study materials and PADI certifications for each course requested.

Note: Another section contains more information about the PADI® DSD Leader Internship training and how it can increase your income by making you more employable.

Internships for PADI Divemasters

In general, the three main elements of a scuba diving internship are going to include the costs of the courses, the equipment, and the living accommodation.

Very often, the price for these expenses must be paid for in total (prior to the start of your training) and is almost always non-refundable.

Scuba diver internships can cost up to US$7,000 in Pattaya, Thailand.

So, the financial burden of failing to complete the program could seriously 'damage your wealth'. Reasons can include:

• Accident
• Illness
• Changes to your personal situation
• The unthinkable (not everyone is meant to be a dive professional)

The scuba equipment that you get to keep is usually rental standard. Hence, you may choose to top up the costs and go for the highest quality gear available on the market.

Very often it will need upgrading or replacing sooner than later. So, as you try out different manufacturer's gear, and begin to choose favourites for quality and reliability, the likelihood is that you will buy newer equipment during your courses.

In case you were wondering:

Use some caution when choosing whether to accept free accommodation as part of the package. You may end up sharing a tiny room with other interns - full of dive gear, study materials, and laptops.

Internship programs tend to be offered most by larger Dive Schools and Career Development Centers (CDCs). This is because of the resources and facilities that are needed to conduct prolonged and intensive training - with regular student courses for you to perform an assisting role.

Scuba Diving Internships with Real Divers

You will need to have a steady supply of real customers taking real lessons from the full range of PADI certification courses. This is a huge advantage that large, busy dive shops have and smaller ones can't always provide.

So, it's worth considering the quantity of expected entry level and advanced level courses that they can anticipate to have available during your scuba diving internship.

Here's a quick checklist for interns:

• Are you already a certified diver and if not, what courses will you need to take?
• How much will you need to pay in total and when do you need to pay it (do they accept credit cards)?
• Does the dive shop include PADI materials and how much will you need to pay for PADI membership fees?
• What (if any) scuba diving equipment do they include in the package?
• Will they include adequate living accommodation and when can you start the internship?

The experience of being involved in a development process of this type is one that provides excitement, challenge, and a steep learning curve. As such, the major long term benefits are easy to see for anyone with aspirations of becoming a dive professional.

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