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.

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!

PADI Divemaster Exchange Program

Posted on May 15, 2012 by admin

So the pressure was on, we needed to find a Divemaster Trainee who would get the most from the exchange program.

Then we received an email from one, he had been let down at the last minute by another Dive Company and needed to find a Divemaster Program at short notice.

Scuba Cat’s Candidate was found. Meet Richard Catt…….

Scuba Cat Diving PADI 5 * CDC Phuket Thailand Divemaster

Graduation Day

I arrived at Scuba Cat Diving in Phuket at the beginning of April for five weeks. The plan was to finish my PADI Dive Master training and to decide if i wished to persue a career in the dive industry. Also I aimed to log 100 dives and do my PADI Deep Diver Speciality.

First I had a day to relax, get over my jet lag and explore Patong which was to be my home for the next month. Had a chat with Sarah about my training, the PADI Dive Master Exchange Program and let her know i was keen to get back in the warm water after two weekends of dry suit diving in the UK (a chilling six degrees!)

I spent the next three days diving, learning how Scuba Cat runs and going out on the day boats assisting on PADI Open Water Courses.

I enjoyed working with the PADI Instructors of Scuba Cat as they made me feel welcome and part of the team. Finding out about the boats, MV Scuba Fun and MV Scuba Sport and how they are run was very interesting. Over the next few days i got to meet Instructor, Vince and the people I would be doing the Divemaster course with.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI 5 * CDC

After the Phuket Tsunami warning

Following this we then had ten days of theory and pool sessions to get my training finished before I went on Exchange Program. The other trainees were doing their PADI IDC/IE after the DM course, so I also did the extra theory work they were given. In the UK I had practised the 24 scuba/skin diving skills, with Vince’s guidance I was able to perform them all at a higher standard. This helped me with my confidence when I next assisted on the courses. It was a hard, enjoyable and very rewarding ten days but i was glad to get it all completed before going to Koh Tao to start the next part of the adventure.

PADI Region 26 had arranged a Dive Master Exchange Program for DMTs to experience some of their training at another 5 star PADI CDC Centre. I was unsure about the expectation of this PADI Divemaster exchange but was looking forward to taking part. After all this was the first one anywhere in the world!

After a quick flight to Samui, I caught a ferry Crystal Dive Resort on Koh Tao. All staff were really friendly and helpfully & made me welcome. Spent most of the time with Divemaster team – Josh, Sasha, Amy, Keith, Neil and Jen. Each had their own way of doing things and teaching. Which helped me realise you need to approach each class/session differently depending on who you were teaching, so the the lesson flows and was fun. Students & Staff were impressed with my own equipment. (Role model behavior!) Having my own gear made getting it ready easier and quicker, as I was familar with it. It allowed me to help students with their set up and other boat preparation. A valuable part of this program/exchange was definitely helping students, along with getting to lead actual dives (under supervision) another one of the big highlights was seeing students faces after their first dive this is a feeling that money can’t buy, and of course them thanking me personally for my support. Had some great dives, the Discover TEC dive with Ivan, leading the PADI Advanced Open Water wreck dive. Swim throughs at Red Rock-Japanese gardens, whales shark spotting and the fun dives with the other DMTs. At Koh Tao I was able to do several dives on the same sites, which is a first for me. This enable me to learn the sites and point out parts of interest when leading the dives. Also helped with my confidence during the dive briefings.

Made friends with Emma’s (the other half of the exchange program) group, who made me feel welcome and took me out to eat most nights. Crystal was a big social community was nice to catch up with everyone at the end of the day, have a chat do log books and plan the next day.

Starting My PADI Divemaster Course in England and finishing it off in Thailand has been a great experience. It was good see to how two PADI 5 star CDC centres work and compare them to my dive shop at home and others places I have dived. Being part of the staff I was able to really see how they run. Thailand has really opened my eyes regarding the professional training supplied and received from both Scuba Cat and Crystal Resort. Both centres have passion and professionalism for scuba diving and PADI. Along with excellent facilities and accommodation. It really has been one of the best experiences of my life.

Being able to see both sides of this country and the diving/training these centres has had to offer is truly incredible. Anybody thinking of doing this program should sign up straight away. I think doing this exchange along with all the other places I have dived will make me a better PADI DM/Instructor.

After the exchange Sarah gave me a chance of a Liveaboard trip on board MV Scuba Adventure to Hin Dueng and Hin Mueng. Working on the liveaboard was another great learning experience, was able to see how the boat and crew work. Kath, the Tour Leader did a great job making sure everyone settled on board showed as to our cabins and where to set up our scuba gear. The crew did brilliant job of getting everyone safely in and out of the water and were always on hand to assist you with your equipment. The food was amazing, a mini feast was laid out for us after every dive.

"Working hard................"

Had to draw a few dive maps so I could do some of the dive briefings and then lead the dives. Lots of great dive sites, full of soft and hard corals. Especially enjoyed Hin Muang and Hin Daeng. Had to look at my fish slates after each dive to remember all the fish and learn the names of new ones. The West Coast has some great and varied dive sites. When I come back I’d love to dive the Similans. Really enjoyed the 3 days, Sarah was lovely and added another dive to the trip so I was able to my 100th dive before leaving Thailand, it was a great way to end an amazing 5 weeks.

"Dive Briefing with a Difference.............."

All the staff at Scubacat were a pleasure to work with, I enjoyed my time in Patong. Everyone gave me advice and encouragement to continue my career in diving. I prefer the smaller size of the dive groups and boats at Scubacat. Vince was a great DM mentor and I learnt a lot from his various interests in diving including Tec and Chamber work. Even got to do my PADI Deep Diver Speciality with Sarah herself.

I look forward to returning to do my PADI IDC/IE with Sarah and Sean later this year. When I return to the UK I will assist on courses with my local dive shop, to gain as much experience as possible.

Best trip I have ever done, do not know how I will beat it. Still smiling when I think about all the things I was able to achieve.

Career Internship

Posted on April 7, 2012 by admin

Simon Lomas ……..The story so far

Back in October 2011 I arrived in Patong, Phuket with the intention of spending the next 5 months diving and completing as many PADI courses as I could in the time. I was an Advanced Open Water Diver and I had the ambition of going up to my Master Scuba Diver Trainer with an Internship at Scuba Cat Diving.

Pre Dive Safety Check

Things started well after a few days to recover from the flight, I had a couple of days fun diving as I had not been in the water for over a year. Then I flew through my Emergency First Responder Course with the excellent instruction of Tony Lock, one of Scuba Cat’s Managers and Core Instructors.

Next: my PADI Rescue course. This was a great follow up to the EFR and under the instruction of Vince Moy, another great PADI Instructor. This course was very physically demanding and covered all scenario’s you will ever encounter and many you will never see too. After a few days I was exhausted, but was pleased to be told that I had passed with flying colours.

This was proved after meeting other instructors, who been working with other companies, that my course was much more in depth and I came out tired but much more confident.

Vincent Moy was again my instructor for my PADI Divemaster course. This I planned to do over a couple of months, so I could get experience as well as instruction. The Divemaster course is mentally demanding as well as physically as you need to learn all about Dive theory: physics, physiology, RDP and equipment as well as how go run safe guiding sessions.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand Scuba Diving Internship

Hover

Assisting instructors, with real courses and with simulated courses, does this. The simulated courses lets you see and deal with things that can happen so you can learn to deal with them and the real courses helps with the real world teaching and how different instructors teach in different ways. This course was good as it let me learn and dive at the same time.

I had great fun with a Chinese family who were with Tony one day. They all hit the water and got excited. They all swam off in different directions some could swim other could not. Wow, trying to hold two with my hands then towing a third who was holding on to my fin whilst I was finning with the other was something I wont forget in a hurry!

After completing my Divemaster course I went under the instruction of Big Vince, who’s job was to get me ready for the PADI IDC, bridging the gap in my Dive Theory getting me to a level where I could confidently demonstrate skills to a very high standard comfortably and confidently.

At first I was annoyed at this, as I believed I had already done this and was now wasting my time. I was wrong. Big Vince got me up to a very high standard, which came in so useful later.

Pool Skills

Now to my IDC……..hmmm where to start.

Since my time with Scuba Cat I had seen two IDC courses before mine and I saw the stress levels of some students, so I was a bit nervous. This was now not about skills but how to teach them. The others had far more experience than me but after my time with the Vinces’ I was confident.

Classroom

The classroom sessions were fun but very well run. We learned all we needed to and more. Both Sarah, PADI Course Director and Sean, PADI Master Instructor were hard on us and as a result our standards were far higher than the other candidates when it came to our PADI IE.

I was appalling at physics, even after passing with both Vincent and Vince but with Sean going over it everyday in different ways I got the hang of it with 12 hours to spare.

The Open water skills were good fun too, as we now had to teach. Sarah gave us problems which we had to over come that were far harder than any we encountered on the PADI IE. This made us so much more aware of problem spotting and solving than any we would got in the IE.

All in all the IDC was a hard two weeks but good fun as well.

I believe I coped far better than most of the other students I had seen from previous IDC’s, I was shaved and I only lost a few kilos and always slept well compared to many others who were up all night.

Thanks Scuba Cat for the preparation.

Now to the final IE this gave us a sleep in as it did not start till 3-4 pm which meant I could relax and have a few beers the night before, get up late have a good breakfast and a massage before getting ready. The Friday afternoon for me was the most nerve raking, the written theory exams, all 5 and the PADI General Standards. It was only Physics that bothered me. I did the exams well within the time, well actually with an hour to spare, sorry Sean I did try to slow down! I got them marked there and then. I did not look at the mark, only to make sure the examiner drew a “P” on them for pass then walked out.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand Learn to Dive Internship

Passed

The next day, Saturday was confined water skills and presentations. Easy. We got to the pool, in, did the skills, out, all passed no make-ups necessary in minutes.

That afternoon, knowledge development presentation which Sarah and Sean had prepared us so well for during the IDC, again we flew through.

All that was left was the open water sessions on the Sunday.

Rescue-scenario sped through – thanks guys.

The teaching scenarios were good too as Sarah had made the standards so high in our IDC it meant that actual IE was simple.

On top off all this I also managed to do 5 specialities towards my PADI MSDT which will be done when I return. This was great for me as I now have a the skills to work well and on top of that I also came out of my internship with a job offer too.

….Thailand here I come.

A big thanks to all at Scuba Cat, Sang, Jack and all in the shops, Akiko for getting me hooked on Diving with my Open Water Course a couple of years previous, Tony for so much help, encouragement and advice throughout. To Nat, who helped me so much with my guiding and how to find so many things. To Vincent Moy for all his help on my Rescue, Divemaster and photography courses .To Big Vince for his frowning, head shaking and low scores throughout his training of me, which has now got me to the standard needed for the IDC. Last but by no mean least, to Sarah and Sean who taught us, laughed at (with) us and made the IDC fun as well got me to become not just an instructor but a GOOD Instructor.

Now as I was told throughout my IDC stop talking or you will lose points if you are still going after the sun goes down.

Thanks to you all.

See you in October for the next chapter in my story.

PADI IDC Theory Preparation – Why?

Posted on April 5, 2012 by admin

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.

PADI Go Pro – Change your life

Posted on August 24, 2011 by admin

Wanted to catch you up on what has been happening since I last wrote to you.

Exactly one day short of a year from my PADI Rescue Diver certification I passed the PADI Instructor Examination. I quickly advanced to PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and then on to PADI IDC Staff Instructor.

I now teach the PADI Specialties: Deep, Dry Suit, Enriched Air NITROX, Night, O2 Provider, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Project A.W.A.R.E., Project A.W.A.R.E. Coral Reef Conservation, Underwater Navigator and Wreck and I am an Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer.

"Tim at work"

I am also the Divers Alert Network instructor for TL Sea Diving and teach all of the DAN scuba safety courses.
I should complete all of the requirements for PADI Master Instructor by the end of 2011.

My goal is to complete the PADI Course Director program within the next two years. At which point I plan to move back to Hawaii and work full time in the dive industry.
Around the time I started my PADI Divemaster program at TL Sea two of our Instructors started a charity called Dive Around The Clock. The concept is we put a new buddy team into the water every half hour for a 24 hour period to raise money for the Seattle Children’s Hospital oncology department. Each year we have a family that has been through cancer treatments at Children’s come and talk at our closing ceremonies about their experience. Some of the children have gone on to become PADI Open Water divers themselves so they can take part in the event. It is really great to see divers from different dive centers as well as all the diving organizations coming together to support our local community. I am very proud to have been a member of the DATC board and help this happen.
To think all of this life transformation started because you told me I should buy a dry suit and dive more often. I can’t thank you enough you truly have changed my life, for the better.

"Change your life"

Tim Sherrill
PADI IDCS 235186

Our Next IDC – September 2011

Posted on August 19, 2011 by admin

Scuba Cat still has spaces on the Instructor Development Course (IDC) scheduled to start on 28^th August 2011.

Our dedicated IDC team of PADI Professionals will be there to support you from the moment you arrive at Scuba Cat to the moment you leave.

The Scuba Cat IDC has been developed to make our candidates well-rounded PADI Instructors who can work anywhere in the world.

You will gain knowledge in areas as diverse as risk management, teaching children, hands-on experience of the business of diving, and PADI standards & procedures.