What is the best way of becoming a scuba diving instructor (PADI) whilst travelling for a year?
My partner and I are living in Bristol, UK. We will be travelling for 6 months-a year on a reasonably limited budget (In about a year’s time). Where would be the best place to start out? How long should we stay in the first place and at what qualification should/could we leave for another destination and to further our training? We are happy to just stay at a few destinations for the whole year – we would prefer to really get to grips with diving and the culture. We want to swim with sharks : )
Start at home. You live in the UK where BSAC training is available, which in my opinion is the best of the training agencies. Learning to dive there will prepare you for just about any conditions you are faced with on your trip, whilst learning in a warm water destination won’t. I’d at the very least, go as far as your BSAC advanced level at home before your trip. The sky is the limit after that and you’ll have a great foundation to continue your training to wards dive master and up to Instructor anywhere else on the planet with any other training agency, like Padi or Naui. Matter of fact, once you have your advanced, you can intern at a few shops, like some in Thailand offering this and earn your DM/ Instructor’s rate there.
What certification level are you currently?
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Start at home. You live in the UK where BSAC training is available, which in my opinion is the best of the training agencies. Learning to dive there will prepare you for just about any conditions you are faced with on your trip, whilst learning in a warm water destination won’t. I’d at the very least, go as far as your BSAC advanced level at home before your trip. The sky is the limit after that and you’ll have a great foundation to continue your training to wards dive master and up to Instructor anywhere else on the planet with any other training agency, like Padi or Naui. Matter of fact, once you have your advanced, you can intern at a few shops, like some in Thailand offering this and earn your DM/ Instructor’s rate there.
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Like Scubabob says, begin at home, get your first couple of certifications. If you want to be PADI instructors, I would recommend PADI courses for familiarity (it is a good idea to know the system).
If you are certified already then choose a place and get the next level. It is generally cheaper in Asia.
I work on Koh Tao, a small island in the Gulf of Thailand. It is cheap, littered with dive sites and a nice relaxed atmosphere. Many people come here for a week and find themselves still here a year later.
Feel free to message me. I am a PADI Course Director, the guy who teaches instructors. I will give you some pointers.
I am not trying to pitch you!
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I opt you to stay at home like what Robert and Bob said in the above comments to get your first few certs first before you go on your trip. The courses that you learn in England will prepare you on your trip and from there you can go on to get your other certs. You could go to asia, more specifically Thailand to get your certs. If you want to go dive with sharks, you should to go to Cape Town or Gansbaai in Africa. Good luck and hope you have a happy trip!
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