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.

So you have decided to come to Scuba Cat Diving on Phuket to complete you PADI IDC, great choice……. so why should you prepare yourself before?

The PADI IDC is NOT designed to re-teach you the skills and knowledge needed to become a Divemaster. All the skills and theory learnt then, should be reviewed BEFORE the start of your IDC.

Would you head off to university to complete a degree and expect to be retaught your previous education?

During the PADI IE you are required to sit 5 theory exams:

Physics
Physiology
Equipment
RDP
General Skills and the Environment

These exams were part of the OLD PADI Divemaster Course (Pre 2011) They are not part of the new Divemaster Course (2011 +) So if you took the new Divemaster course you will need to fill this gap in your knowledge.

You may have decided to cross over from another Scuba Diving Organisation to become a PADI Instructor, this will bring you up to speed with the required theory.

The biggest hurdle faced by many candidates who took the old Divemaster Course or are new to the PADI system is that there is a gap between when they last completed the theory exams and now.

How can you get help to do this?

If you are feeling uncomfortable in this area and feel like you would like some extra tuition, then we recommend:

Dive Theory On line – E learning

PADI have devised a revision tool for you for your dive theory

– 6 separate video presentation’s cover all the theory plus your diving skills.

For example:
The Physics of diving video presentation is 39 minutes long, and comprises of 68 different slides.

The areas covered are:

Heat light and sound in water
Buoyancy
Pressure and Water
Pressure Volume and Density relationships
Gases underwater – partial pressure
Gases underwater – Gas Absorption and elimination

You get the opportunity to test your understanding throughout the sections and then when you are happy, complete the final exam for that section.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI E learning Dive Theory

Self study

The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving and Diving Knowledge Workbook. These are great for people who don’t have regular internet access, they can be used either as standalone revision or to compliment the e learning.

An IDC Staff Instructor, James Brabyn, who has worked with Scuba Cat Diving for a number of years has put together an IDC & IE Revision Guide DVD that can also assist you with your preparation, contact me for more details. This again is best used with the Dive Theory online.

Dont forget that the professional IDC team here at Scuba Cat Diving, PADI 5 * CDC are always here to help you prepare as well. So if there is any theory you just cannot understand then please give us a call or send an email. We will arrange a private tuition session before the start of the IDC to help you review the theory .

Your success in the IDC is directly linked to the amount of effort both you and our Staff put in prior and during your training here.

Ensuring you are fully prepared before arriving in Thailand will help you to succeed, and I dont mean just pass the IDC/IE but to become a fully rounded highly employable PADI Instructor.