Career in Diving
The Career Internship Program
General Information 2013
Introduction
There is a huge international need for well trained and experienced dive professionals. Owners and dive operators are prepared to pay good money for the person with the right skills.Unfortunately the big certification and training agencies do not cater for this demand and a diving instructor certification does not cover even a third of the skills required. In fact it is quite scary how easy it is to become a diving instructor today.
As a result there is an oversupply of under-skilled diving instructors that earn very little. There is however a dearth of skilled professionals.
Although working as a divemaster/instructor in a palm fringed dive resort is a great experience, there is no money in it. It is recommended but only for a short time.
There is however a good living to be made in being a highly skilled manager and an even better life to be had in owning your own dive operation.It is not uncommon for fully qualified instructors to join our career courses as they realise that they do not have the skills to make a decent living in diving.
Skills, experience and knowledge are gained over time and are not necessarily the best quality. It is far better to be taught “best practice” right from the start.
The diving professional must be good in four major areas:
- Instruction including advanced topics
- Sales and marketing
- Technical aspects such as compressors, scuba repair and boats
- Management and business skills
The aim of the Career Program is to give the diver the tools to succeed in the industry. The ultimate goal is to equip the candidate with skills and knowledge to open and run a successful dive operation. The course will provide the knowledge and some of the experience. The rest has to be earned over time, but given the correct start the success rate is impressive. A high number of graduates from our courses in the past are now at the top of the industry.
The career staff at Divetek are not just teaching book knowledge but have years of actual hands on experience in running successful resorts and dive shops. If you are serious about a career in the Scuba industry then a Career course is essential.
Why the Divetek Career Program?
- Divetek have a wealth of actual experience and know what is needed.
- The course does not just provide theory but actual hands on experience.
- We have had huge success with post course job placements.
- The cost in both money and time is low compared to training in other careers.
- The cost of each course taken individually would be much higher.
- You actually spend a large amount of your time in training.
- Many other courses you are simply used as cheep labour and vey little training takes place.
- You will be sent to a dive resort for month of sea training and experience.
Warning: The course is very intense and takes a large degree of dedication and effort.
Hours can be long and many evening and weekends will be taken up.
Prerequisites
- At least 18 years old.
- Needs to pass a diving medical.
You must provide:
- 2 recent clear passport sized photos
- 2 Copies of your medical
- 2 Copies of all your C cards and certificates
Equipment:
Full Openwater gear including:
- Mask, snorkel, fins
- B.C.
- 5mm wet suit suitable for 14-24 degrees c.
- Single hose regulator
- SPG
- Octo
- Depth gauge
- Computer
- Knife
- Compass
- Diving Computer
- Weight belt
(Please mark all your gear to avoid confusion).
Note: If you do not have your own gear, please wait for advice from the staff to ensure you purchase the most suitable equipment we do provide a course discount of up to 30%.
Materials:
You will need paper, pens, board markers and any training aids that you may require.
Text Books
Are included in the cost of the course
Venue
The course is to be held at the training centre in Johannesburg. Sea training and experience will be at several coastal resorts. Assistance with finding shared accommodation in Jhb with other candidates can be provided.
Costs
The cost of the Career course is:
1. R 6,000 booking and non refundable deposit
2. R 3,200 a month due at the start of every month.
You are not locked into a 12 month obligation. If you feel you are not getting good value for money from the course you can simply leave at any time and you will not be liable for any further payment.
The course fee includes:
- The costs of all the courses
- Transport to and from the dive resorts
- Accommodation at the resorts but not in Johannesburg
- Training manuals, books registration and certification cards
- Air fills Nitrox fills and cylinders
Not included:
- Food and drink
- Accommodation in Johannesburg
- Transport in and around Jhb and to the pool and inland dive sites
The candidates do however share cars and petrol costs for this.
Duration
It is approximately a 1 year program.
We take applicants throughout the year. Just enquire with David
Booking
For more information or to set up an interview contact David Cohen:
Phone 011-7911095
E-mail david@divetek.co.za
Course Content
This is brief overview of what is taught on the program.
1. Instruction and diving:
- Free diving (we give a lot of this training on the course)
- Spear fishing basics
- Advanced diver
- Advanced rescue
- Master diver
- Divemaster (optional PADI certification)
- Nitrox course
- Rebreather Course
- Decompression chambers
- Instructor training course
- Advanced Instruction
2. Business management:
- General Management
- Human resources skills
- Marketing and image building
- Customer relations
- Financial Management
- Budgeting
- Costing and business planning
- The diving business
- Basic accounting
- Costing and decision making
- Personnel management
- Motivation and success
- Time management
3. First aid:
- MFA
- Advanced first aid
4. Sales & Marketing
- Equipment Knowledge
- Diving sales techniques
- Marketing Image & presentation
5. SCUBA repair and maintenance course:
- Compressor operation & Maintenance
- Regulator repair
- Instrument testing and repair
- Visual inspection course
6. Personal Computer use:
- Theory of computers
- Windows
- Basic Word processing
- Basic Spreadsheet
- Desktop publishing
Application
Place on the course is limited and as a result we are looking for the highest possible calibre of candidate.
Acceptance on the course is not automatic; you must furnish a C.V. with your application and will be informed of your status as soon as possible. You may be required to attend an interview or furnish further information.
Deposit
A non refundable deposit of R 6,000 is required to secure your place on the course.
Referals
If you would like the contact details of previous candidates for referral purposes we will happily provide them.
Style of the Course
The course is run in a relaxed but disciplined manner.
Training is done both during the day and in the evening and weekends (not every evening and weekend!). Some days will only be lectures and dives but many others will be just on the job experience in the dive operation. The candidate will be given a large log book with with all the lectures, dives, repairs and exams listed. Each task or skill needs to be signed off before qualification.
For example:
There will be 20 nitrox blending fills that have to be completed as well at the blending course and exam. You will have to complete 5 rebreather dives with each being signed off. A course on VAT and VAT returns etc.
Leaving the Course
In the event the course does not reach your expectations you may leave the course at any time. In addition if we are not happy with your abilities, attitude and progress we may ask you to leave the course. Of course you are not liable for the payment of rest of the program you do mot attend.
Exams must be passed in order to continue and you two chances to succeed before being asked to leave. This program is NOT a party filled “gap year” and requires serious dedication and effort. We can not have candidates fall behind or disrupting the other candidates.
Please note: Smoking is not permitted on the course.
Previous candidates have (with out exception) claimed that the course was the highlight of their diving careers and that they made life long friends.
Instructor Certifications
The candidate will complete the course having completed the highest level of instructor training.
However in order to work in other facilities it will be required to complete a cross over or training course with the agency that the facility belongs such as FAUI, NAUI, CMAS, ISDA, SSI, YMCA, PADI, TDI, IANDT etc. After the Career course this will be a “walk in the park!”