Scuba Diving for gap year and career break divers

Programme Overview

All over the world PADI Instructor Development Courses (IDC‘s) cover the same topics, which are regulated by PADI standards. The main differences, however, often lie in the programme content and the actual learning experience.

Our Instructor traineeships comprise PADI IDC training through a registered PADI Career Development Centre (s3724) as well as a range of specialist teaching modules and work experience. They are designed to meet the needs of gap year students, diving enthusiasts and career changers and would suit people who:-

1. have decided that diving is a career they would like to try
2. are looking at travelling and want an easily portable vocational toolset to carry with them
3. are looking for a complete career change in life
4. are looking to broaden their knowledge and skills and learn a new professional skill

Structure

Our traineeships include a full range of PADI courses as well as custom-designed modules to ensure you receive the best all-round learning experience. Depending on the traineeship you choose (determined by your current diving level), our instructor traineeships can include the following:

PADI Courses and diver training

Depending on which traineeships you choose, a full array of recreational and professional courses are included in each traineeship to ensure you are fully trained ready for the instructor level training. All courses are taught to PADI standards at a registered 5* Career Development Centre. With such credentials you can rest assured you are professionally trained to the highest standards available.

Divemaster work experience module

This is a unique ten day course written by the Course Director. It ensures you get industry experience as a Divemaster which will put you head and shoulders above others with a Divemaster qualification. No one else offers this approach. We want you to be able to walk into any dive centre and have the best chance of gaining a job. The course includes sections on equipment maintenance with hands on experience, compressor safety and operations, office processes and bookings, front office work (equipment management, paperwork, billing and customer liaison), boat trip management as well as professional approaches and career paths.

Divemaster Work Experience

Once you qualify as a Divemaster you will find yourself working for the dive centre in the various Divemaster roles. You may find yourself guiding guests, assisting one of our Instructors on a course, or conducting a Scuba Review. This is an important part of your Traineeship as this brings the theory into practice, and every step of the way you will have a mentor to ensure your experience is maximised and that you fully understand the professional aspects of being a Divemaster as well as the logistical requirements of working within a resort as a Divemaster.

Dive Management Experience

This is a 10 day course to ensure you are best place to rise through the dive industry and gain a place as one of the leaders within it. It ensures you have experience as an Instructor and allows you to understand the operations and management of a dive centre through the introduction and practical use of key skills. By achieving this you should be able to use the skills to gain employment above others as well as demonstrating experience of management within the industry.

The key parts of the module include:
• Logistics and Planning – Operations
• Staff Acquisition and Management
• CV vetting and Creation
• Auditing and Control
• Emergency Plans, process and implementation
• Emergency Kit
• Office Process and Procedure
• Boat Management, Safety and Planning
• Hotel and Customer Liaison

Team Teach Module

You will have a chance (once you qualify as an Instructor) to assist other Instructors on courses – this allows you to see how to structure a course and to appreciate some of the pitfalls of each course. It is hard at first to turn your new found knowledge into a course and with this shadowing module you will have the chance to learn from experience, and hopefully go solo as well!

Jobs

We cannot guarantee a job. The simple reality is that you have to apply for jobs and the decision to employ someone ultimately comes down to your character and experience. By joining one of our traineeships you will gain internationally recognisable qualifications, obtain lots of in-water experience and you will be highly employable worldwide. Recent DMIT students have gone on to find work in countries like Mexico, USA, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia. Some students are also invited to join the dive team in Egypt after their training, however, this ultimately comes down to work permit availability.

GYD qualified DMIT's required in Fiji and Tha Bahamas
December 2009
Once you qualify as an Instructor we ask that you send us your CV (designed during the traineeship). We are in a fortunate position to be able to offer jobs in Fiji and The Bahamas when positions become available. Students who join our DMIT programmes will be considered for any positions that become available.

TOPPS Financial Protection

In the unlikely event of financial failure, subject to the terms and conditions of the Policy, UK customers’ prepayments for non flight inclusive packages will be reimbursed. topp is underwritten by Travel & General Insurance Company plc, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Protected by Total Payment Protection Policy (topp) under policy no GADL/topp/10/03.

Flights

Flights are not included and they need to be arranged by you. Flights to Sharm el Sheikh operate throughout the year from many International Airports. A return flight typically costs between £200 and £400. Full details of flight options are sent to you after booking.

Transfers

All customers are met at Sharm el Sheikh Airport and transferred to Dahab by minibus (approx 1 hour). You are also taken back to Sharm el Sheikh Airport at the end of the programme.

Accommodation

We have two self-catered houses which have been specifically designed for our customers. There's a maximum of 8 people per house with a maximum of two people per room i.e. twin room. Each house is equipped with a TV room, satellite TV, a fully equipped kitchen, 3 bathrooms, 3 showers, private gardens and a BBQ area.

Meals

It is self-catered accommodation. We do not provide meals but you will find that eating out and shopping for food is cheap in Dahab.

Requirements

1. You must be able to swim 400m
2. You cannot do this programme if you are under 18
3. Please remember to bring your PIC cards & logbook with you if you have dived before
4. Team player and keen to learn
5. Prepared for professional level responsibilities

PADI Materials

All PADI materials have been included in this programme. Materials are despatched to your home address before you leave so that you can start preparing for your diving trip!

PADI Fees

PADI Fees are compulsory for any PADI course and they must be paid by you locally in Dahab on completion of every course. The payment is used by PADI to issue you with a Personal Identity Card (PIC) so that you have proof that a course has been completed.

Money / Living costs

Egypt is cheap and you will find that your money goes a long way! ATM's are widely available and foreign currency can also be exchanged. We recommend you budget around £50 to £70 per week for food, water, soft drinks and alcohol. Some people manage to get by on less than £50 whilst other may spend over £100 in a week. Everyone has different eating, drinking and spending habits!

Prices

2010 Dates

7 month programme (beginners)**	15 week programme (Open Water / Advanced Open Water Divers)	13 week programme (Rescue Diver)	7week programme (Divemaster)
Please call for dates and to discuss joining this programme.	30th January 2010	13th February 2010	30th January 2010
	27th March 2010	10th April 2010	27th March 2010
	26th June 2010	10th July 2010	22nd May 2010
	18th September 2010	02nd October 2010	21st August 2010
	02nd October 2010		13th November 2010

** The programme for beginners is 7 months in duration because students must have held their Open Water qualification for at least 6 months before they can be certified as an Instructor. 2011 dates to be published August 2010.

Bolt-ons

Bolt-ons can be booked in advance. You will be given the option to add these when you book online. Please note that bolt-ons are paid in advance and will be added to the overall cost of your trip.