Description

Scuba Qualifications:

There are different diving qualification levels, each of which is prerequisites before undertaking the next level of diving. The main qualifications are outlined below:

1. Level 1 - PADI Open Water (1 week) - this four-day course gives you your basic license to dive anywhere in the world to a maximum depth of 18 meters. It consists of studying five academic modules, with four open water dives and additional confined dives.

2. Level 2 - Advanced Open Water - this course takes two to three days to complete (depending upon the electives chosen), with certification allowing you to dive to 30m. You need to complete five dives, choosing from night dive, deep dive, underwater photography or videography and more.

3. Level 3 - Emergency First Response (EFR) - this non-diving qualification is a pre-requisite course for all divers, looking to go beyond Advanced Open Water Level. It teaches you both primary and secondary care, which involves learning how to resuscitate someone, develop CPR skills, identify how to treat someone etc. This course is completed at the same time as the Rescue Diver qualification on this program, though in most cases it is conducted separately.

Level 4 - Rescue Diver - included as part of the EFR program above, this four-day program requires you to complete five academic modules that enable you to be a competent rescue diver. You learn emergency management, how to identify equipment problems, ways of identifying diver stress and panic, and how to administer diver first aid.

Level 5 - Divemaster - this professional qualification is the most sought after of all diving qualifications and a starting point for a scuba diving career. It allows you to work in a scuba diving school/center and to work alongside Instructors, teaching real students. The course takes eight full weeks (42 dives) to complete and covers a wide range of theory, practical instruction and dive mentoring. We offer four programs which include this qualification, depending on your experience. You must have completed 60 logged dives overall to achieve the Divemaster qualification.

Level 6 - Instructor Development Course - this course takes 11 days and requires all students to have completed the modules/qualifications above. The course is split into two main parts; the first is the Assistant Instructor program, where you help to train students in various modules and you assist the main instructor. The second part is the OWSI (Open Water Scuba Instructor) Program. The purpose of these two different parts is to prepare students with business skills and all other necessary skills to work in and/or run a dive center. To qualify for the Instructor Course you must have completed Open Water at least six months prior to starting the Instructor Course, and you must have completed 100 logged dives overall.

Diving Add-ons or Alternatives:
If you already hold some diving qualifications we also offer a paid videography internship - this allows you to train to be an underwater cameraman and then receive paid work opportunities recording people's first diving experiences. It's a great way to get extra dive experience and to subsidize your travels!

Dive Equipment:
If you are training to be a PADI divemaster, included in your program fee is a full set of diving equipment to keep; this is very important for anyone looking to pursue a career in the diving industry. The dive equipment includes:
1. Wet-suit
2. Buoyancy Control Device (BCD)
3. Regulator and gauge
4. Kit bag
5. Dive knife
6. Safety Pack (signalling devices)
7. Fins
8. Mask and snorkel
9. Wetsuit boots
10. Safety marker buoy

The equipment consists of some of the leading brands in Scuba Diving equipment including Scuba Pro, Mares and Seakodive. If you already possess your own set of equipment, then the cost of the equipment you possess can be subtracted from the program. If you wish to upgrade some of your equipment to higher performance gear (not necessary but some may choose to), then this can be done locally at the start of your program. The cost to do this varies, according to which items you upgrade.

Highlights

Learn to Scuba Dive or advance your diving experience in one of the best dive spots South East Asia has to offer. Staying on the beautiful island of Koh Tao, you can complete a wide variety of diving courses from open water programs to the elite professional qualifications of PADI divemaster or PADI instructor.

Travel Types

• Ecology
• Environmental Studies
• Eco Tours
• Scuba
• Tours
• Volunteering

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

• Admin (hospitality, Sports)
• Internship Programs
• Marine Science
• Sports
• Travel / Tourism
• Zoology & Wildlife Sciences

Cost in US$:

from USD 569.00

Program Fees Include:

What's Included in the Program:

* All accommodation
* All meals
* Professional instruction
* Course materials
* Your own diving equipment to keep (included in some program options only)
* Pre-departure assistance from a travel adviser

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Guest House

Real Gap Experience's Mission Statement

We offer over 250 projects and travel options in over 35 countries. So whether you are interested in volunteering, community work, conservation, paid work overseas, teaching English, learning a new skill, adventure travel or sports and expeditions, you will find what you are looking for with Real Gap. Not only about we passionate about responsible travel, we also want to make sure you have a good time too! Our travel advisers have traversed the globe and taken their own gap years, so they can give you all the advice you need to plan yours. You will also get support from both our on-site and office staff who understand the needs and expectations of Real Gap travelers.

Year Founded

2005