Diving Bucket List – PADI Divermaster
Stuck in Phuket due to Covid? Why not cross something off your bucket list and get your Divemaster certification? While not every decision that I made during Covid was a good one, I couldn’t be happier with my choice to do my PADI Divemaster course with Aussie Divers in Phuket. I had been diving with them a few times before, pre-Covid, and always appreciated the customer-first approach that they took, and how seriously they prioritized safety as well. I always felt comfortable and confident while diving with them so I figured there was no better shop to take the first step towards becoming a professional diver with. Becoming a PADI Divemaster had always been a goal of mine so I was excited to finally check that box on my diving resume.
Working with my mentor Ash, along with Darren, Martin, and Tom, I was able to gain a lot of wisdom, experience, and always had fun. Learning how the dive industry worked with such knowledgeable instructors was insightful, and busy. Learning to become a PADI Divemaster is a lot of work, and you take on a lot of responsibility but you also gain a new appreciation for your role as an assistant leader underwater rather than a customer who is just out to have fun. You still get to enjoy all of the best parts of diving in Phuket, but with an added layer of consideration and awareness of what is going on around you at all times. Ensuring that equipment is set up and working properly, talking to customers and getting them excited for the dives or answering questions they might have, and assisting the instructor you’re working with are all part of an average day in the life of a PADI Divemaster.
The confidence that I gained in my own abilities as a diver was worth the price of admission on its own. On top of that however, I got to learn more about teaching a variety of students in different courses, got to learn a lot about how the dive industry in Phuket is run, and got to meet a lot of great people in the wider dive community. The crew at Aussie divers takes their Divemaster training seriously and they have high expectations, while also making sure to have fun and ensure that you will be confident in any situation you may encounter. If you make a mistake they are there to talk you through what went wrong, and how to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. Plus, they will never, ever bring it up again… just make sure you never jump in without your weight belt. They were incredibly welcoming, and even on non-diving days I would end up hanging around the shop and having almost as much fun as we would on the days underwater by helping out with whatever I could, and keeping the Aussie Divers cat ‘Doormat’ entertained.
If you’re thinking of doing your PADI Divemaster training in Phuket I would definitely recommend going with Aussie Divers. I had a great time, and will hopefully be back there someday soon once the world goes back to normal to do my PADI IDC with the Aussie Divers owner and course director Darren Gaspari (whether he is prepared for all of my questions or not).
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