A great time to Go Pro – Meet John Stanley

Posted on April 16, 2014 by admin

Who hasn’t dreamt about waking up in the morning, leaping out of bed and heading off to your dream job?

Come and join us at Scuba Cat Diving, Phuket, Thailand whether you are a certified Diver or not we have a Scuba Diving Career internship for you.

Are you a PADI Divemaster with 100 or more logged dives?

Meet John Stanley:

” Hi all

Just thought I’d let you know what I got up to this winter.

Being a PADI DM in England I thought it was time I went up to the next level, PADI Instructor.

John, Tom and Henrik

So where to start. October 2013 was the dive show at the NEC, Birmingham England. Having trolled round the stalls for two days and talking to everyone several time Scuba Cat came out tops for me for friendliness and genuine, I set of for Phuket. I started my PADI IDC in November and thought I would struggle with my classroom work but they were very patient with me and took me through it step by step (thanks Sarah and Claus). 2 ½ weeks later I’m was PADI instructor!

MSDT

Having decided to do my PADI MSDT with Scuba Cat I then started working with the team of experienced instructors to gain teaching experience whilst getting the 25 certifications required. I team taught PADI Open Water Courses, Advanced Courses, Discover Scuba Diving Programs and a few PADI Specialities too.

Phuket have some nice dive sites and we visited all of them seeing sharks, turtles, and even my first ever manta and whale shark.

Whale Shark

Scuba cat has 3 boats, I spent time on all of them : Scuba Sport- used for ½ day trips, Scuba Fun- full day trips and Scuba Adventure the liveaboard, my favourite! Learning Liveaboards from Kath the permanent Tourleader and PADI IDC Staff Instructor, team teaching Advanced Courses too, we had some good fun and great diving.

MV Scuba Adventure

So thanks to everyone at scuba cat I had great fun and made some good friends.

PS: if you’re looking at diving in Phuket or wanting to go to the next level of your diving you won’t go far wrong with SCUBA CAT. ”

What are you waiting for? Our next PADI IDC here at Scuba Cat Diving with Sarah (Platinum Course Director) and Claus PADI Master instructor is starting on 4th May 2014. There is still space available for you to join us.

DDI (Disabled Divers International) Pro Training Course 27th and 28th February 2014

Posted on February 22, 2014 by admin

Scuba Cat Diving are pleased to be running a DDI (Disabled Diver International) Pro Training Course on 27th and 28th February.

Joining us for this course so far are Allan and Gary. We do have more spaces available if you want to join us.

SID Senario

The course takes 2 days, we are not teaching you how to teach but how to adapt your teaching to suit the disabled.

The course teaches the candidates how to teach and dive with disabled divers, using DDI techniques, programs and standards.

After the successful completion of the Pro Training, the DDI Professionals can train and guide disabled divers during their underwater activities.

The program is intended for Divemasters and Instructors from all international training organisations.

As a diving professional to work with disabled divers is rewarding, the students share their excitement and joy of their experiences. This qualification help you to stand out from the crowd by offering added value to the community and dive centres.

In addition to this the March PADI IDC is due to start on 9th. There are spaces still available, so why not join us and if you enrol in the Silver IDC Package with us you receive the DDI Instructor course with our compliments. We are the only Dive Centre in Phuket able to offer this life changing certification.

PADI Platinum Course Director 2013

Posted on February 21, 2014 by admin

Congratulations Sarah

Congratulations to PADI Course Director and Owner of Scuba Cat Diving Sarah in achieving the rating as PADI Platinum Course Director again for 2013

New Instructors at Scuba Cat Diving, Phuket

Platinum Course Director is a recognition from PADI to active teaching Course Directors who show strong commitment to Instructor Development and Instructor Continuing Education training.

Happy Instructors at the PADI IE in Phuket

There are only 66 PADI Course Directors who can call themselves currently Platinum Course Director and we are very proud of Sarah being one of this elite Group of highly qualified PADI Professionals.

Sarah’s first PADI IDC at Big Blue, Vanuatu

Congratulations Sarah and keep up the good work and passion in teaching Diving Instructors

September PADI IDC and DDI Instructor Course

Posted on August 21, 2013 by admin

The September PADI IDC here at Scuba Cat Diving Phuket, Thailand started early this month, all the candidates are with us and raring to get started. Welcome to Joe (UK) Dan (UK) and Ye Chen (China). Looking forward to working with you all! This month will be conducting additional training in both confined water and Instructor level dive theory.

High Season is just around the corner and we are looking for New PADI Instructors to join the team here. A great way to gain experience after your Instructor training is to join our MSDT and Work Experience internship. This enables you to get your first 25 certifications under the guidance of our experienced Instructor team.

The best way for us to see you in action and you to get to know us more is this internship, you will spend so much time around us you will really feel part of the team. All paid Instructors at Scuba Cat are required to have a valid Work Permit for Phuket Province.

In addition to the PADI IDC at Scuba Cat we are pleased to be running a DDI (Disabled Diver International) Instructor level course on 3rd and 4th September 2013.

Joining us for this course so far are Marc, Tim and Debbie. We do have more spaces available if you want to join us.

The course takes 2 days, we are not teaching you how to teach but how to adapt your teaching to suit the disabled.

PADI Divemaster’s – Congratulations Gus and Cal

Posted on June 26, 2012 by admin

Scuba Cat Diving are proud to have certified two new PADI Divemasters, yesterday Gus from Italy and Cal from the USA.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI Divemaster

Gustavo Penada on board MV Scuba Fun

Cal assisting on a PADI Open Water Course

Both are participants in our Career Internship Program.

Cal joined the Internship program on 27th April 2012 as an Advanced Open water Divemaster. He quickly completed his PADI Rescue and EFR to start his Divemaster training with us. At the same time Gus joined us on his internship as a PADI Rescue diver and started on the Divemaster course with Cal.

At the same time both of them have achieved the rating of PADI Master Scuba Diver with the completion of 5 PADI Speciailities and will be continuing onto their PADI IDC on the August 2012 program.

Congratulations Guys!

Take your Scuba Diving Instruction to another level

Posted on June 23, 2012 by admin

Congratulations!

Teoh and Alex became the latest PADI Instructors to be certified as DDI (Disabled Divers International) Instructors last week.

Last weekend, they completed a DDI Pro course held by Sarah Kench (PADI Course Director and DDI Instructor Trainer)

During the two day course they thoroughly reviewed the differences in the Standards for this inspiring course and how to adapt their teaching to suit the needs of the individual partaking in the course. Many different types of disability were looked at in detail.

They also looked at the whole range of Courses offered by the DDI that they will be able to teach including:

Surface Assistant
Try Scuba Diving
Scuba Diver
Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Nitrox 36%
Assistant Diver

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand DDI Instructor Training Course

They had to consider how to adapt their training as PADI Instructors when looking at Logistics for the course, Confined Water training, Open Water training, Entries and Exits to and from the water, the use of Assistants, adapting Scuba Diving Equipment as well as the Dive Centre itself.

In the water they played the role of blind divers and took it in turns to be the Instructor, having to think in a way that opened up their minds to new techniques such as speaking clearly to students so they can understand what is happening without sight and tactile teaching.

Next came scuba diving with paraplegic and quadriplegic customers in terms of equipment configuration, donning of wetsuits, lifting techniques, signs and so on.

They learned many new techniques and realized that it is mainly peoples mindsets that limit the possibilities.

At the end of the course both Alex and Teoh realized that all of these new skills would improve the quality of their courses as PADI Instructors too.

Do you want to take your teaching up to the next level? Come and see Sarah at MIDE 2012, where she will be representing the DDI on stand A3

E-learning PADI IDC starts July 1st 2012

Posted on June 21, 2012 by admin

Here at Scuba Cat we are proud to announce that the PADI IDC starting on July 1st is totally E-learning based.

What have the students completed by doing the PADI IDC E-learning?

Before the candidates join us on 1st July they have already completed 9 IDC Curriculum presentations

Learning, Instruction and the PADI System

General Standards and Procedures – this is the first part of the topic and they will complete the second part in class

Risk Management – again, this is the first part of the topic with the second part being completed in class

Marketing Diving – during this topic they will have worked on marketing plans to take with your class

Start Diving

Teaching PADI Specialty Diver Courses

Business of Diving – they will have worked on a business analysis that you will all share during the IDC

Keep Diving

How to Teach the Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) – required for crossover candidates; optional for PADI Members, but a great refresher for dive table background and use.

And not only that they have also completed all the PADI Dive Theory E-learning too, ensuring they are the most prepared they can be for this life changing course

So you might be thinking – what does this do for them?

Well just think they will be saving themselves hours of classroom time, now instead of listening to all the presentations live in the classroom we can spend so much extra time doing the confined and open water presentations that are required during the PADI IDC ensuring they will not only pass the PADI IE, but pass it with exceptional understanding and scores!

It will also be useful for you if you only have a limited amount of time available to complete your PADI IDC.

So what are you waiting for?

280 kg in 80 minutes – Thanks Guys

Posted on June 19, 2012 by admin

17th June was the date of our first official underwater Clean up of 2012.

A huge THANK YOU to everybody who joined us, well done guys!

The event was co-ordinated by Scuba Cat Diving’s new Eco Manager “Kiwi”. It was great to see such a turn out, MV Scuba Fun was full to capacity with 25 volunteers to help remove trash from our valuable reef.

We split into 4 teams and quickly kitted up including Lift Bags, Gloves, Sea snips etc

The first dive of the day was to be in Bay 4 of Racha Yai Island… wow what a find, I think the Captain must have known exactly where to drop the teams. We descended straight onto a huge fishing net which we quickly got to work on clearing up.

Even the trigger fish left us alone to get on with our work!!!

After lunch on board the boat we decided to move to another bay on Racha Yai Island where all the fishing boats come in to shelter when the sea is rough. This was a great decision, nets, ropes and lines everywhere……………and this site found the strangest find of the day one Wellington Boot! All the debris collected has been registered with Project Aware to help them with their data collection.

We all dive this Island on a daily basis and it was great to see different PADI Dive Companies from around the Island coming working together for one common aim.

A special thank you to Mr Tee, Phuket Dive Center owner, JP, PADI Course Director and Tony Andrews, PADI Regional Manager for joining us. JP has recently become a PADI Instructor for the Poseidon Rebreather and decided to bring it along for the day.

A fantastic day, all be it with lots of hard work was rounded off with a Barbecue on Scuba Cats Roof top terrace in the evening with the Students from Concordia International School celebrating the 5th Anniversary of their Reef Check Survey also at Racha Yai Island.

Stay in touch for details of next months Dive for Debris………….

National Geographic Dive Centre – What is it?

Posted on June 14, 2012 by admin

PADI joined with National Geographic, to jointly create the National Geographic Diver program. They both have the common goal of encouraging public interest in recreational diving worldwide and exposing people to the underwater environment to help them gain a better appreciation of this new world.

Who can teach the National Geographic Diver Certification Course?

PADI National Geographic Programs is only offered through PADI 5 * Dive Centres and Gold Palm Resorts throughout the world that qualify as PADI National Geographic Dive Centres.

PADI Instructors working for these centres are the only ones eligible to teach these courses, it is a Certification awarded to the Dive Centre not the Individual Instructor.

What is the difference between the National Geographic Diver Certification and the PADI Open Water Diver Certification?

As a National Geographic Diver, you have all the qualifications of a PADI Open Water Diver plus additional knowledge that broadens your awareness of the underwater environment and new skills to better explore underwater. The PADI Open Water Diver course is the foundation for the National Geographic Diver program.

What does the National Geographic Diver Program Include?

The National Geographic Diver program allows you to become a scuba diver or, if you are already, the opportunity to increase your diving skills. The program promotes adventure, discovery, exploration, and conservation. Along with learning dive skills and mastering safety information, you will complete a Knowledge Review based on information gained by reading the National Geographic Diver Almanac and watching the DVD. Once in the Open Water you will demonstrate the ability to hover in at least three different positions. Also, you will take part in an Exploration Project that includes gathering information and creating a visual representation of the dive site detailing specific features. You will also practice navigating a square or rectangle pattern using a compass and natural references or take part in an aquatic life identification exercise.

What recognition does a National Geographic Diver get?

You’ll receive a distinctive National Geographic Diver certification card. This card signifies that you have completed the program’s knowledge and skill requirements, joining an elite group of divers. You will show this certification card any time you need dive services as you travel around seeking new dive adventures.

How does the National Geographic Diver Program support aquatic education and conservation of underwater environments?

All of National Geographic’s net proceeds from the PADI National Geographic Diver program will support exploration, conservation, research, and education. National Geographic supports a wide array of aquatic initiatives, including expeditions to reveal and share unique underwater environments around the globe. Other projects will include preservation of national marine sanctuaries and protection of endangered aquatic animals and plants.

Project AWARE, in conjunction with PADI, introduces many divers and non-divers each year to aquatic conservation and environmental issues. The National Geographic Diver program further encourages understanding of and respect for the underwater world’s delicate ecosystems.

What are you waiting for…. become a National Geographic Diver today

Underwater Clean-up June 17th 2012

Posted on June 10, 2012 by admin

This month is the 5th Anniversary of Scuba Cat Diving having new ownership.

We have a great Anniversary present for all our customers and so we though we would also do something to help the environment at this special time for us.

So 17th June we will be holding an Underwater Cleanup at Racha Yai Island, all are welcome to join us that day.

April 2011

Why 17th June?

This date was chosen to coincide with another 5th Anniversary happening at that time.

The Concordia International School, Shanghai (CISS), Reef Check Charter which started in 2008.

This will be their final day on board MV Scuba Adventure and also be joining us to undertake the clean up before we come back to shore for the Celebration BBQ on our roof top terrace in Patong.

CISS have been conducting Reefcheck Charter’s onboard MV Scuba Cat and MV Scuba Adventure Liveaboards studying the Reef and comparing the results annually, so they can look at the current condition of the reef compared to the results from previous years.

Ranging in age from 12 to 15, these amazing young students collect scientific data along 100 m of Coral reef. After submitting the data to Reef Check, it is added to their data base and shared with scientists and educators worldwide.

The students spend 8 days on board diving three to four times taking many courses, this years include PADI Open Water, PADI Advanced Open Water, PADI Specialities (Nitrox, Equipment, Wreck, PPB, Drift and Search and Recover) and off course the Reef Check Course with many hours being dedicated to the all important Data Collection.

These young global ambassadors prove that young people really care about the planet on which they live and the creatures with which they interact.

This years charter started this morning, the students arrived in Patong at 6.00pm last night chattering excitedly about the PADI Courses and Reef Checks ahead of them. After breakfast this morning they departed for the 5th Year at Racha Yai……

Scuba Cat Diving would especially like to thank the following people: Terry Umphenour (The founder of this Program) Joel Klammer (PADI/Reefcheck Instructor), Paul Adams (PADI/Reefcheck Instructor) Professor Suchana Apple Chavanich, Ph.D. from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok plus the many others who have helped out during the years including Colette Vroom, Dennis Adams, Renee Robins, Phil Lineker, Margaret McCoy, Gerry Richards, Kathryn Ridley and Mood.

Now we hope other students will follow and, hopefully, help save the Earth’s fragile reef systems for future generations. If you would like to see this same program in your school, please ask your school to contact us or contact us to find out how you can be involved.

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Scuba Diving Courses in Phuket