MSDT – What is this and why should I become one?

Posted on April 9, 2012 by admin

This months MSDT Program at Scuba Cat Diving starts on 24th April 2012.

So you have passed your PADI IDC and IE are are now looking to start working in your dream job.

First – you look at the various diving job websites

Next – you post your CV onto the PADI pros website

and then you wait…………… realizing that there are many new PADI OWSI Instructors each month actively seeking work……….

You want to stand out from the crowd, how do you do this?

Easy, Continue Your Education to Master Scuba Diver Trainer :

This rating sets you apart from other dive instructors by showing your commitment to continuing your dive training and being prepared to help others continue their training as well. You also get to teach PADI specialty diver courses – which opens the door to lots of fun while working.

To qualify as a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, you must:

Be a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor
Have five PADI Specialty Instructor certifications
Have certified at least 25 PADI Divers

How can we help you achieve this?

At Scuba Cat Diving we have two methods you can do this, individual courses or as an all inclusive MSDT internship.

Each month directly after the IE we hold the MSDT prep program. This comprises of 5 speciality instructor certifications. This is the first step required in obtaining your MSDT.

During each of the 5 Speciality Instructor Courses you will:

Present a knowledge development presentation from the specialty diver course outline.
State the purpose and goals of the specialty diver course.
Explain the course standards and procedures from the PADI Specialty Course Instructor Guide.
List student diver and instructor equipment requirements.
Explain the specialty diver course open water training considerations.
Demonstrate mastery of all knowledge development and water skill performance requirements for the specialty diver course.
Conduct an open water teaching assignment and demonstrate all open water performance requirements for the specialty diver course. Skills may be combined as appropriate for open water training dives.
Describe how to conduct all course segments in a manner that enables divers to meet course performance requirements.
Describe successful marketing and promotional techniques to promote specialty diver training as part of the PADI System.
Determine costs involved in the pricing of specialty training.

After successful completion of the 5 specialty Instructor rating you will require 25 certifications in order to apply for the MSDT.

At Scuba Cat Diving we have a work experience program which is designed especially for New Instructors. You will gain the 25 certifications required for the MSDT whilst working along side our team of experienced PADI Instructors, benefiting not only from the certifications and the knowledge you will gain from them but from being part of a working dive centre, gaining a valuable insite into how you will be able to use your personality to best fit into your new role.

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.

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.

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.

Ursula’s Story – After the PADI IE

Posted on April 4, 2012 by admin

HI!!

It’s morning. I am still stunned. Sarah, the PADI Course Director told us that there is usually a “24hr Shock period” before we get back to normal. Yup, she’s right!!

The last few weeks were really strenuous, as you know!! Not only on us, but on Sarah and Sean the Master Instructor too! They kept on telling us that a pass is not only an evaluation of the candidate’s abilities but also a reflection of their teaching!!

Can you say “pressure on everyone”!!!

I remember Sarah telling me that she would not let me participate in the PADI IE if she didn’t think I could do it! So She was a solid support for me throughout.

A pass seems all that is important to the team, to the Course Director and to PADI and Sarah told me I was ready. But I worried about passing. A lot.

When the PADI Examiner told me my score on the open water presentation yesterday…. I could only hang my jaw open! 2 water Skills, each with a briefing & debriefing. 2 scores, no make-ups. Anything lower than a 3.5/5 was a fail. I know it is not really important, but Wow! I got a 4.2 and a 4.6 on the open water skills! I was truly ecstatic! Same-same when I heard my physics exam score (92%) and the classroom presentation, no make-up: 4.7/5!

See, Saturdays confined water (pool) presentation score was a 3.6/5 So, ya, I worried!

In the end, the scores really don’t matter… I passed & got the handshake….. but when the Examiner said: You showed a strong performance throughout the IE…. I don’t think there could have been better words to let me know that not only do I pass, but I passed WELL. He saw it!

Scuba Cat Diving PADI 5 * CDC Phuket Thailand

Passed

THAT….. is something to me.

Is not so easy to change your life direction at 44. All of you played a part in this.

Scuba Cat Diving PADI IDC Phuket Thailand

Ursula and Sarah

Thank you.

Now…. I have to pack for Fiji!

Love you all.

PADI IDC – April 2012

Posted on April 2, 2012 by admin

We still have space for you on the April PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) that starts this Sunday (8th April 2012) at Scuba Cat Diving in Patong Beach.

come and join us..........

Sarah Kench, PADI Course Director is assisted by Sean Porter PADI Master Instructor. Their diverse teaching styles means the IDC is designed for the candidates with passion for diving and who wish to become the best. You wont just pass the IDC but will be ready for “real life” teaching once the PADI IE is finished. If you’re aiming to be the best and love to be challenged what are you waiting for, come and join us………

Scuba cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI IDC

Thanks Ursula...

Sarah has just received a Certificate of Excellence for her IDC’s from PADI.

Scuba Cat Diving IDC – February 2012

Posted on January 21, 2012 by admin

Places are still available for the Instructor Development Course (IDC) scheduled to start on 5th February 2012 at Scuba Cat Diving, Phuket, Thailand.

We are pleased to announce that we have won our first award of 2012, the PADI Green Star Award for our dedication to environmentally responsible business practices and commitment to conservation of underwater habitats. We are the only Dive Centre in Thailand to gain this award to date.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI Green Star Award

"The first in Thailand"

Our dedicated team of PADI Professionals will be there to support you from the moment you arrive at Scuba Cat to the moment you leave. Sarah Kench, PADI Course Director will be available to you throughout your IDC assisted by Sean Porter, PADI Master Instructor, between them they are two of the most experienced and diverse PADI Professionals on the Island.

Scuba Cat Diving is the only DDI (Disabled Divers International) Instructor Training Centre in Asia and Sarah is the only DDI Instructor Trainer in this rewarding Certification.

This could be you.............

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

If you wanted to be part of this , what are you waiting for come and join us….

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.

"Open Water"

Upon successful completion of the PADI Instructor Exam (IE)

you will be a certified PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor!

Pre-requisites For Joining:

You must be a qualified PADI Divemaster;
Minimum 60 logged dives
A successfully completed & sanctioned CPR & First Aid Course in the last 24 months

So what are you waiting for come and join us….

Disabled Diving Instructor

Posted on August 16, 2011 by admin

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.

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.

"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!

PADI IE August 2011 – Congratulations

Posted on August 14, 2011 by admin

Today is results day for the Candidates from the August Scuba Cat IDC.

Scuba Cat Diving Phuket Thailand PADI IE

"Team August 2011"

They started the PADI IE on Friday afternoon at 5.00pm, by 8.30pm we had the news we had been waiting for the Dive Theory Exams were ticked off the list – all good so far.

Saturday morning started for the Guys with Confined Water at 8.00am – tick, tick – presentations and skills circuits passed with fantastic scores.

After lunch, into the Hotel for Classroom presentations and the PADI Standards Exam – tick, tick – more great scores….

This morning was the final test for the Guys – off to Paradise Beach for a 8.00am start for the Open Water Presentations. This time they had to combine two skills into one session and perform Rescue Exercise 7 – again tick, tick………

Congratulations to our Brand New PADI Instructors ………….Karine, Oskar and Andy for this fantastic achievement!

"Congratulations"

Andy is continuing his professional education with Christophe on Tuesday with 5 speciality instructor ratings and the staying to partake in the Scuba Cat Work Experience Program so he can get the 25 certifications required for his MSDT whilst gaining valuable knowledge from our experienced Instructional Team.

Karine and Oskar will be returning later this year to do the same.