A great time to Go Pro – Meet John Stanley

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

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!

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand MSDT Internship

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.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI IDC

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

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.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand MV Scuba Adventure Similans Liveaboard

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.

280 kg in 80 minutes – Thanks Guys

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!

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand Project Aware

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.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand Underwater Cleanup

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.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand Dive for Debris

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.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand Poseidon Rebreather

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………….

Want to be able to teach DDI ?

Confirmed Date for the next DDI (Disabled Diver International) Instructor Course

15th and 16th June 2012

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand Disabled Divers international

As a PADI Instructor or an instructor from another agency, we already know you can already teach scuba diving, this course is designed to educate you about disability and special considerations for diving, and teaching diving to people with disabilities.

It covers a large number of disabilities and disability issues:

  • Accessibility,
  • Traveling for people with disabilities
  • Special considerations for diving with a disability
Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand Disabled Divers International

DDI Pool Training

Scuba diving can give people with disabilities an opportunity to participate in an active sport.  For people living with disabilities, scuba diving is a seemingly impossible challenge and succeeding results in improved self-confidence. Scuba diving provides people with something new to look forward to, whether it’s a trip to an exotic destination or discovering a new part of their local environment.

Some disabled people may wish to try scuba diving for the simple excitement and fun of the activity.

Scuba diving has shown numerous advantages as a social and physical rehabilitation of disabled individuals, with many feeling that the normal obstacles and restrictions their disability gives them on land, disappear in water when given the right equipment and training.

Participating in regular recreational activities, which involve physical exercise, is rewarded with better health, both physically and mentally. Scuba diving is a social sport, and can have a tremendous positive effect on disabled divers and their ability to interact with non-disabled divers alike.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand Disabled Divers International

Confined Water Training

Do you want to stand out from the crowd……..

Working with disabled divers is rewarding for everyone involved, the students share their excitement and joy of their experiences and so will you.

Come and join me for this hugely rewarding opportunity

Career Internship

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.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI 5 * CDC

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.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI 5 * CDC

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.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI 5 * CDC

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.

Scuba Cat Diving PADI 5 * CDC Phuket Thailand Internships

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?

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?

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI 5 * CDC

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?

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI 5 * CDC

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.

Encylopedia of recreational diving

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.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand IDC Preparation

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.

Disabled Diving Instructor

Scuba Cat Diving is known for many reasons with regard to Scuba Diving. We really do offer scuba diving for everybody!

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand Learn to Dive

"Sarah"

I consider myself to be a privileged Scuba Diving Instructor and would like to invite you to join me.

I am a PADI Course Director and get to teach everybody from PADI Bubblemaker up to PADI Instructors.

You might be thinking yeah so what……… all PADI Course Directors can do that and yes, you are right………. they can, how ever there is one thing that sets me apart from the others in Phuket and the rest of Asia.

As well as being a PADI Course Director, I am the General Manager of Scuba Cat Diving and an Instructor Trainer for the DDI. As well as myself,  Disabled Divers International has certified some of our instructors and Dive Centre; we are the only DDI Instructor Training Centre in Asia.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand Learn to Dive

Teaching a disabled person to dive is an experience that cannot be compared to teaching an able bodied person to dive, for both you and your student.  It is a special moment, a moment which words cannot describe.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand Learn to Dive

"Freedom"

During the DDI Instructor Course course you will learn history & purpose, psychological adjustments to physical disabilities and much more. I won’t teach you to be an instructor……. I know you already are, I will teach you about the considerations to make this training special for both you and your students.

DDI professional training adds to your box, a new set of tools and knowledge to train disabled divers safely and shows you how to certify them with varied levels of limitations depending on the student’s ability to perform program requirements and standards.

Being a Disabled Diving Instructor isn’t for everyone, however, if you have it in you and are truly patient then this training for you.

If you again are up for a challenge and one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching Scuba Diving, then Scuba Cat Diving is here to help you.

For the remainder of 2011/12, if you enroll in our Gold IDC Package, we are please to offer opportunity to become a DDI Instructor, For Free (normally 20,000 Baht) the only thing you will pay for is the DDI Professional Fees.

Hopefully we’ll be able to increase the number of  DDI Instructors and make diving more assessable for people with Disabilities.

Scuba Cat Diving is helping DDI Foundation to spread the word…scuba diving for all!

How A PADI Instructor renewed his vows

I am a longtime PADI diver.   I have been diving all over the world for 30 years.  One of my favorite trips was on the MV Scuba Cat several years ago.

I have over 1000 open water dives,   Many cameras and have certified over 300 divers.  My PADI instructor status is “emeritus”.   I stopped instructing in 1984 — a long time ago.   Now is the time for me to re-up my certs, as I plan to work in the dive industry when an opportunity comes along.

A quick search for a place to take an PADI IDC/IE came up with 100 options.   Narrowed it down to my local dive shop in the Oregon and a PADI Dive Centre  in Phuket, Thailand where I had gone for one of those corporate vacations 10 years ago.   Jimmy Buffet came to me in a dream and crooned sawadee krup .  The next morning I emailed Sarah at Scuba Cat Diving for the 100th time and said I will see you in Nov 22 2010.

Scuba Cat Diving PADI 5 * CDC Center Phuket Thailand

"Hi Sarah............"

I arrived with 7 other IDC candidates, from a variety of cold climates.  We started 2 weeks of Scuba diving and PADI IDC/IE training.  Scuba Cat provided everything: the equipment, a pool, a boat, a wonderful hotel room a block from the beach, restaurants, the materials and a staff of dive professionals.  The staff were demanding but still made the course so FUN!

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI 5 * CDC Centre Phuket Thailand

"working hard"

As classmates, we all helped each other as we all had different talents to share.  The PADI IDC/IE was the most challenging two weeks of diving in my life and the most memorable.  Lifelong friends were made, dreams were shared, and everyone passed the PADI IE on my birthday. To celebrate I did what every diver should do…… diving trip at the Similans on the Scuba Cat Live aboard with your PADI IDC Staff Instructor as a guide.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI IDC

"MV Scuba Cat"

Next, it was time to make the big decision towards using this new skill.   A PADI IDC class teaches “how to teach”, not how to work as an PADI instructor.   I chose the 3 month Instructor Internship Program to learn how a dive resort operates and how to experience the diving lifestyle .

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI 5 * CDC Center

"The diving lifestyle"

What did I learn?  The dive business is about learning. It is about communicating in languages I don’t speak.  It is about finding the local motorbike rental shop and a place to do laundry.  It is about getting up at 6 am to haul tanks and gear.  It is about sunsets on the boat.  It is about late night classes with customers.   Diving is about making sure your customer raves about their day of diving, even if the visibility is less than perfect.   Here is one of my typical days:

6 am – alarm, shower, shave and pack the days gear ~ Advanced Open Water today, so bring colored slates, extra compasses and fish id slates… eat some Thai breakfast and ride my scooter to the dive shop— (renting a scooter is essential-there are 50 places to rent a motorbike in Patong, just do it)

7am – sort equipment, load the trucks,  drive all over the island to fetch customers.   (In my old life as a vacationer the ride to the boat just magically appeared at my hotel)  Transfer gear onto the boat, Now it is time for the dive instructor in me to go to work.

9 am – Boat ride to the dive site, meet students, knowledge reviews, dive briefing and a cup of coffee with Milo  (a kind of chocolate)

10 am – dive   You know the good stuff

12 pm – dive   More good stuff

1 pm – Lunch (if the customers are not too hungry)

2 pm – Dive  Even better stuff

5pm – take customers and dive staff to the Full Moon Brew Pub in Jungceylon Mall (behind the pirate ship)

7 pm :  shower, dinner and prep for another day.

11 pm : Sleep awhile,  then rinse lather and repeat.

I love the lifestyle that Scuba Cat let me taste.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI IDC

"All in a Days work"

Honestly, I cannot think of a better place or a better group of people than on my PADI IDC and the Scuba Cat Crew.   What am I doing now?  Dive guide/ PADI instructor on a boat and planning for that dive shop on the island.   Thank you Scuba Cat!!

Thanks Corey “Mac” Parker for your story…………….