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Week of Words

Divemaster Internships

Life in the Dominican Republic is relaxed and slow. The cost of living can be cheap depending on where you choose to eat and if you want to club and drink the night away you will spend more money.

Our internship programme provides free accomodation (only electricity costs you pay) and you also earn 10% commission so you only have to pay for your food costs/transportation ( cheap) and general costs of living. As a Dive master you can easily find work in practically any country in the world and the income allows you to travel the world. You can also progress to do your Instructor course and actually teach Students on your own.


Are you seeking a challenge and adventure? Maybe looking for that change of pace from the 9-5 “rat  race”? Perhaps even a total change of lifestyle that will give you the opportunity to live and work all over the world? At Hippocampo Dive Centre in Sosua, Dominican Republic, we not only specialize in training you up to internationally recognized PADI standards, we make sure you are at the top of your game so you get that job of your dreams!


What is a Dive Master?
A Dive Master is one of the most essential and fundamental cogs of the recreational diving industry’s wheel. Dive Masters are responsible for leading certified divers, organizing the logistics of each days diving on land and on the boat and assisting instructors on certification courses. A Dive Master has mastery of not only his own diving and water skills but can also demonstrate these skills in a manner that even a new diver can learn from. They exemplify confidence, safety and leadership. As a Dive Master, you are not only a role model to other divers, but you are an integral
piece of the industry’s backbone.


Why choose PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors)?
That’s easy. PADI leads the industry in innovative teaching  techniques and course materials. Everywhere you go to dive, you will see almost 100% of the dive centers flying PADI colors. PADI professionals are the most in demand and there is always work to be found.


Why go with Hippocampo Dive Team, Dominican Republic over others offering similar internships.?

Because we do not offer the same as others as we have dedicated ourselves to the training of  PADI Dive Masters. Enrolling with us means that your professional development from day one is our pride and focus. Our system is designed to build you from the ground up, or from your current level of experience, and to ensure that you have the utmost exposure to how a real dive center operates. Being an intern with us means you get REAL experience. We recommend you are with us for a minimum of two to a maximum of around 6 months. The structure of our program is designed so you don’t just learn skills and theory, but you get the opportunities to use what you’ve learned in real life diving circumstances. Regardless if you are a beginner or a rescue diver, whatever level you are currently at, you are constantly under the wing of one of our experienced instructors so you are constantly learning and being moulded into the industry from your first day onwards. As you will learn, sales are a huge part of being employees
in this industry and the techniques we teach you will make you as well-rounded as can be. That is where you ..the student helps us in return for your training...... SALES.


If available,we can accommodate you for free here in Sosua at the Dive centre. Our H.Q. is not only a dive center; it also has a studio top floor apartment. It is a two minute walk to the beach and good times are never far away since Sosua is a popular night life location. If our accommodation is full or if you would prefer not to stay in our H.Q. we will do our best to help you find accommodation suitable to your needs at a budget you can afford.

Assuming you are starting your training from the beginning, the mandatory courses you will need to take and the order you will need to take them in are as follows:


PADI Open Water Diver.
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver.
PADI Specialty Courses commence at anytime beyond this point.
Emergency First Response (EFR) C.P.R. & 1st Aid.
PADI Rescue Diver.
PADI Dive Master Trainee (DMT) status starts here and ends when you complete all requirements of the course (i.e. graduation and one heck of a party!)*


NOW YOU ARE ASKING ..OK..WHAT’S THE CATCH..NOTHING IS FOR FREE.....I MUST HAVE TO PAY SOMEHOW.?????


Yes ..you are right..We ask that students pay for all necessary PADI materials for each course and also, before embarking on the Divemaster course ..that full equipment is purchased from us at a beneficial discount on retail prices. If you already have your gear then the sales quotas will be adjusted accordingly.( Not much)  That is it for your financial responsibility. As far as course tuitions go, we offer training for every course you see above for free. What we ask of you is that  you go out and sell for us and for this you will receive a 10% sales commission.. Depending on how  out going you are and how much you can sell, you can finish your courses within a 2-3 month period..


Thats right..You can be trained in another occupation as a professional in as little as 2-3 months. Alternatively you can stay with us for 6 months and enjoy the kicked back lifestyle Cabarete and Sosua have to offer. It all depends on you. Our system ensures you get the most from your time with us and we get increased revenues from your sales. Here’s an example and breakdown of our most popular option:

3 month internship.( can be longer)
Free Accomodation (if available...you pay only electricity costs)
Training from beginner to Dive Master.
10% commission on your sales.
Free 30 fun dives (if you need them )to meet minimum experience requirement for completing
the Dive Master course which is 60 dives). If you are short a few dives then the remainder will be heavily discounted to achieve the 60.
Standard equipment package to be purchased when starting Dive Master course.
You need to achieve a sales quota in order to proceed with each course. As soon as the quota
has been reached we begin the course for you. The sales numbers are as follows and are per
person, although we can give a bit of leeway sometimes if there is more than one doing the same
course.....


Open water course...2500 US
Advanced course.....2600 US
Rescue and EFR......2800 US
Divemaster..........4000 US


Is there anything else you should know about us?
Yes! Everything being said, diving here brings you some incredible and unique experiences. Whales are seasonal visitors to the bay area and we have the odd Manta Ray and Whale Shark as prized visitors as well. The water here is blue and the coral life is bountiful as well as beautiful. We have great depth, a very good shipwreck, caves, caverns and so much more so it’s very hard to get  bored of the diversity. The experience you gain as a diver is priceless. Furthermore, the bay area here in Sosua is now a protected sanctuary and the marine life is starting to reflect that. We are also pro-active in protecting the environment as we participate in beach clean-ups. We get everyone pitching in to help conserve our reefs and oceans around the world.


If I enrol, when will I start?
We run our internships year round so generally people can come and go as they need. Space can fill up quickly so this is not something you want to leave to the last minute. We look forward to hearing from you, so please direct all of your questions to or  give us a call at +1-809-571 0834 and we’ll take it from there.

See you in paradise!

EMAIL US: info@hippocampo.com



Newsflash

Why don't you come aboard and experience a new adventure with us!

Welcome to Black Pearl Diving
Fitness to Scuba Dive PDF Print E-mail
Written by Andreas Ackerl   
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 11:55

It's not necessary to be super fit to scuba dive, but you will need to have a basic level of good health. In many jurisdictions it's necessary to have a medical test before scuba diving and it's probably a good idea to have one even if you don't need to. You'll definitely need to be able to swim and float to the minimum standard required in the Open Water Swimming Tests.

Here's a health assessment you can take before signing up for a course. If you answer yes to any of the following questions you should definitely check with a doctor before starting a course. Depending on what you answer yes to, it may not be a problem at all and the doctor may give you the all clear, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Basic Dive Health Assessment

  • Could you be pregnant, or are you attempting to become pregnant?
  • Are you presently taking prescription medications? (with the exception of birth control or anti-malarial)
  • Are you over 45 years of age and can answer YES to one or more of the following?
    • currently smoke a pipe, cigars or cigarettes
    • have a high cholesterol level
    • have a family history of heart attack or stroke
    • are currently receiving medical care
    • high blood pressure
    • diabetes mellitus, even if controlled by diet alone

Have you ever had or do you currently have…

  • Asthma, or wheezing with breathing, or wheezing with exercise?
  • Frequent or severe attacks of hayfever or allergy?
  • Frequent colds, sinusitis or bronchitis?
  • Any form of lung disease?
  • Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)?
  • Other chest disease or chest surgery?
  • Behavioral health, mental or psychological problems (Panic attack, fear of closed or open spaces)?
  • Epilepsy, seizures, convulsions or take medications to prevent them?
  • Recurring complicated migraine headaches or take medications to prevent them?
  • Blackouts or fainting (full/partial loss of consciousness)?
  • Frequent or severe suffering from motion sickness (seasick, carsick, etc.)?
  • Dysentery or dehydration requiring medical intervention?
  • Any dive accidents or decompression sickness?
  • Inability to perform moderate exercise (example: walk 1.6 km/one mile within 12 mins.)?
  • Head injury with loss of consciousness in the past five years?
  • Recurrent back problems?
  • Back or spinal surgery?
  • Diabetes?
  • Back, arm or leg problems following surgery, injury or fracture?
  • High blood pressure or take medicine to control blood pressure?
  • Heart disease?
  • Heart attack?
  • Angina, heart surgery or blood vessel surgery?
  • Sinus surgery?
  • Ear disease or surgery, hearing loss or problems with balance?
  • Recurrent ear problems?
  • Bleeding or other blood disorders?
  • Hernia?
  • Ulcers or ulcer surgery ?
  • A colostomy or ileostomy?
  • Recreational drug use or treatment for, or alcoholism in the past five years?


 
Current Flying After Diving Guidelines PDF Print E-mail
Written by Andreas Ackerl   
Monday, 16 August 2010 12:01

These guidelines only apply to dives within no-decompression limits.

A single No-Decompression Dive

A minimum surface interval of 12 hours is suggested.

Multiple Dives in a Day or Multiple Days of Diving

A minimum surface interval of 18 hours is suggested.

Source: http://scuba.about.com/od/divemedicinesafety/a/flyingafterdive.htm

 
Why Dive? How Do I Begin? PDF Print E-mail
Written by Andreas Ackerl   
Saturday, 14 August 2010 11:45

 

Thought-provoking question...with many answers...
A Way of Life—My time spent underwater is always a self awakening experience. Life embraces me more closely during these all-to-short moments. Life forces all around me... I flow with this dynamic Universe. Well...I'll do my best not to get into a coffeehouse rap here...

This calming stillness... This Natural order of the Universe... This environment where no politics exist... No heated controversy over opinions. Light years away from the cacophony of TV, radio, trains, planes, motorcycles, crowds of humans and automobiles. A wonderful life-centering moment...

This underwater experience is ever-changing—a living work of art. I never see exactly the same composition of subject matter, texture, size, color, motion, light...all blending in a Natural life. Each moment is unique, dynamic interaction between all...including myself.

When I surface, my batteries are re-charged...I'm more alive. My life has become in-tune with Nature.

Yes...we can better understand life from underwater creatures...their social order...only a short distance below the sea's surface...

When you desire to understand and practice a fuller life...you must experience this underwater environment. You can breath-hold dive for short moments. To totally relax and have time to become in–tune with Natural life forces...you will seek training and purchase necessary equipment. Venture below for extended periods...

I earned my first certification from a very environmentally-oriented NAUI dive instructor. In those days Buoyancy Compensators, if used at all, were the olde horse-collar. Regulators were double-hose. Later the single-hose regulator came into being...with a steel mouthpiece which could easily knock out a few teeth if not careful. Training was severe (glad I had it though). Imagine your kit in 16 feet of water and you had to dive down holding your breath...and put it all together.

Well...training and equipment have come a long way since then. In the bad olde days the general concept was "Man against Nature" and diving was a "man's sport." Today the philosophy has changed to "Man and Woman cooperating with Nature." Equipment has become much safer and diver-friendly. Training has become far better and consistent.

My later certifications were with PADI. It wasn't until I earned my Rescue Diver certification from the "right-for-me" instructor that my underwater world began to open up for me. Up until then I was totally clueless of my surroundings. No peripheral vision...physical or psychological.

It does not matter where you earn your basic OpenWater C-card. All PADI instructors teach exactly the same PADI Standards. What does make a difference is your choice of instructor. The instructor/student relationship is very similar to the doctor/patient one. You must feel a mutual simpatico. This relationship has to "feel right."

OpenWater instruction includes three areas—Knowledge Reviews, Confined Water Training Dives and Open Water Training Dives. There are three options how to handle the Knowledge Review phase—

  • Class sessions at your local dive shop.
  • Video at home and spend time with instructor going over material learned.
  • Interactive CD and spend less time with instructor going over material learned.

PADI recognizes different students learn at different rates in different environments. PADI makes it enjoyable and very easy for you to become certified.

"But...I don't want to shiver in the cold ocean, lake or quarry doing my Open Water Training Dives in the middle of winter." No problem. PADI's got you covered through their Referral Option. Complete all your Knowledge Reviews in your home town. Complete all your Confined Water Training Dives in your local, warm-water pool. Upon completion your instructor will sign you off and give you your paperwork. You have a year to complete your Open Water Training Dives in the warm-water dive destination of your choice. Bonaire is always a nice option.

In this article I told you why and how diving enhances my life. I also mentioned how you might begin your training...how easy PADI makes it for you to safely venture below the surface. Go visit your local PADI dive shop and decide for yourself.

Next issue will contain more how you may become confident and competent. You will become a more skilled adventurer. You will discover Natural truth found just below the surface.

Source: http://www.scubadivingplanet.com/articles/templates/general.asp?articleid=6&zoneid=1

 
Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus) PDF Print E-mail
Written by Andreas Ackerl   
Sunday, 15 August 2010 15:08

Common Name: Sand Tiger Shark

Scientific Name: Carcharias taurus

Also Known As: Grey Nurse Shark, Spotted Ragged-Tooth Shark

Description: Pale gray in color with a white underside, Sand Tiger Sharks have a stout body and a short pointed snout. With sharp ragged, and protruding teeth, the Sand Tiger has a dangerous appearance that is deceptive, as this is a placid, and often even timid, Shark.

Source: http://scuba.about.com/od/sharks/a/sandtigershark.htm

 
Why Dive? How Do I Begin? PDF Print E-mail
Written by Andreas Ackerl   
Friday, 13 August 2010 11:39

Thought-provoking question...with many answers...
A Pathway to the Greater Truth—You explore the underwater world. You practice your dive skills. You add more skills. You become more at–one with your underwater surroundings. You become more aware of the Reality embracing you...

This dreamlike stillness... There is no need to vigorously pursue Truth and Reality. It is simply there!... Reality taps you on the shoulder when you least expect it. Suddenly you know...without being taught...without putting forth any effort...

When you surface, your viewpoint will have changed. You will feel more alive... More in–tune... You will grasp a little more the Truth and Reality of your existence.

Yes...you can bring this Truth and Reality back to your surface world. This pure Truth and Reality is experienced every moment by all underwater creatures.

Experience this underwater environment more fully. Seek more training and purchase more equipment. Safely and comfortably venture below for extended periods. Become more relaxed and receive greater enlightenment.

In Part 1 of this 7–part series, I shared how I earned my first certification many years ago from a very environmentally-oriented NAUI dive instructor. My original NAUI Certification Card was accepted by PADI years later when I changed over. I had logged enough dives and my original NAUI certification was the equivalent of both the PADI OpenWater and AdvancedOpenWater certifications. My first PADI certification was Rescue Diver.

During this process I had the "right-for-me" instructor. My underwater world began to open up for me. Up until then I was totally clueless of my surroundings. No peripheral vision...physical or psychological.

In Part 1 of this 7–part series, you learned how to earn your first PADI C-card. Your OpenWater instruction includes three areas—Knowledge Reviews, Confined Water Training Dives and Open Water Training Dives. There are three options how to handle the Knowledge Review phase—

  • Class sessions at your local dive shop.
  • Video at home and spend time with instructor going over material learned.
  • Interactive CD and spend less time with instructor going over material learned.

PADI recognizes different students learn at different rates in different environments. PADI makes it enjoyable and very easy for you to become certified.

You also learned about your PADI Referral Option—complete your Open Water Training Dives in the warm-water dive destination of your choice. Bonaire is always a nice option.

Great! You have earned your basic OpenWater C-card. You feel as if you have just passed your first driver's test. You are licensed to drive a car down the highway. Sure...you might occasionally not properly execute a turn on an unknown bend in the road. You might oversteer a little. You might be so focused on just the mechanics of driving and watching out for other vehicles that your new freedom seems somewhat task-loaded. As you log more miles everything sort of goes on automatic and you begin to enjoy the scenery. Same scenario with your diving experience. Go log dives...it takes about 20–25 logged dives before you really begin to feel more comfortable and confident.

Many prefer to immediately earn their next level C-card, AdvancedOpenWater. Yes...it is easy to rise to the challenge and get another "trophy." But the enlightenment and pleasure is in the process...not the "trophy." Take your time..only you will know when you are ready.

When you go for your AdvancedOpenWater certification, you will complete 5 special dives. The Deep Dive is requisite for you to dive deeper than 60fsw (feet–sea–water) to the recreational limit of 130fsw. the other requisite dive is Underwater Navigation—where's the shore/boat, etc.? There are a great number of other dives you can choose from which suit your interests. Drift Dive and Night Dive are always good to know.

This is where the fun really begins. No more classes...no more Confined Water Dives where you learned and practiced your basic skills. Just you and maybe a few others and your instructor. Do the Knowledge Reviews at home. Show and discuss these with your instructor. Do the dives under your instructor's supervision. Visit your PADI shop and discuss these with your chosen instructor.

In this article, Part 2 of a 7–part series, you discovered how you can bring Truth and Reality back to your surface world. How will you experience your underwater environment more fully? You will seek more training and purchase more equipment. Find out more...visit your local PADI dive shop and advance to your next level.

Part 3 of this 7–part series will show how you will become a more skilled adventurer. Your capacity to Love will increase as you embrace your less–alien underwater world.

Source: http://www.scubadivingplanet.com/articles/templates/general.asp?articleid=7&zoneid=1

 
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