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!
The Dive Flag has become the symbol for the exciting sport of scuba diving in recent history. This unique flag is recognized by many but is more then just a symbol for scuba diving. In most areas, local laws and policies require one most use a dive flag while diving. Here in the United States, the dive flag is a red flag with a white diagonal stripe running usually running from the top left corner to the bottom right corner.
Dive flags which are usually vinyl, are mounted in a variety of ways, whether it be on the boat your diving from or the standard fiberglass staff where the flag is stiffened with a wire so that it stands out from the staff at all times. When diving without a boat the flag is usually held afloat by securely attached float. There are a variety of other attachments that secure a dive flag to an inner tube and other buoyant items.
Whatever way you choose to mount your dive flag, you must be sure it clearly visible to other boaters. Laws requiring how far boats must keep from dive flags vary from state to state and internationally but distances usually range from 50 to 150 feet. Divers are often required to surface within 25 feet of the flag, and not doing so could be fatal to the diver. If your diving area is larger then the distance allowed by law, multiple dive flags should be used that are separated then no more then 100 feet apart to ensure boaters can see and obey the laws. Internationally, the alpha flag, a swallow-tailed blue and white flag, is used when diving from a vessel. The dive flag is not only one of your cheapest purchases in scuba diving but also one of your most important.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a breathtaking archipelago located west of India. Spread out over more than 800 km in the Bay of Bengal, it looks like the perfect tropical dream. The less than 300 000 inhabitants have 572 islands at their disposal, covered in dense forest and white beaches. The Andaman and Nicobar islands are the perfect place to go SCUBA-diving, hiking or camping.
Port Blair is the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar islands. It is the only town of size and has the same atmosphere of any lively Indian market town. Except sniffing the lively atmosphere, you can visit the Cellular Jail. This is a large prison built by the British in the early 1900’s. It still gives a powerful impression of the terrible conditions the prisoners, mostly Indian freedom fighters, were held. It is now a monument to those freedom fighters and had and excellent Sound & Light show, both in Hindi and English. Other sights in Port Blair are the Marine Museum, the Anthropological Museum, and the Chatham Sawmill.
A visit to the Mahatma Ghandi Marine National Park will be an unforgettable experience. You can view the spectacular coral reefs and other life forms through glass bottom boats, SCUBA-diving and snorkelling. The park covers an area of 281.5 square km. and encloses open sea filled with coral reefs and as many as 15 islands covered with mangrove creeks and tropical rainforests.
Port Blair can be reached from Calcutta and Chennai in India by air and from Chennai, Calcutta and Vishakhapatnam by sea. Indian tourists can travel freely through the archipelago, but foreigners need a special permit to visit. This can easily be obtained in Port Blair, but only grants access to a limited number of places and islands in the Andaman area. Everybody (Indian as well as foreigners) need special tribal area entry permit to visit Nicobar Islands, and it is very difficult to get. Despite this, it still is a true Garden of Eden for those who seek peace and quiet and a beautiful beach.
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.
Habitat & Range: Sand Tiger Sharks are found in all warm water seas except for the eastern Pacific Ocean. They inhabit coastal reef areas and can be found anywhere from 0-400 feet. They are often found in rocky coastal areas in cool to warm water.
Diet: Sand Tiger Sharks eat a variety of small bony fish, along with other small sharks, skates, and rays..
Lifespan: 15 or more years in the wild.
Predators: Juveniles can be at risk from other sharks. Adults have no predators in the sea.
Also known as The Bends and Caisson Disease, Decompression Sickness is an illness that can affect divers or other people (such as miners) who are in a situation that involves pressure rapidly decreasing around the body.
DCS, as it is commonly know, is caused by a build up of nitrogen bubbles in the body. When we breathe, approximately 79 of the air we're breathing is nitrogen. As we descend in water, the pressure around our bodies increases, causing nitrogen to be absorbed into our body tissues. This is not actually harmful and it's quite possible for the body to continue to absorb nitrogen until it reaches a point called saturation, which is the point at which the pressure in the tissues equals the surrounding pressure.
The problem arises when this pressure needs to be released. In order to release the nitrogen slowly from the body, a diver must ascend slowly and carry out decompression stops if necessary - this allows the nitrogen to slowly seep out of the body tissues and either immediately revert to being a gas or to become tiny harmless bubbles which will eventually become revert to gas. This process is called "Off-gassing" and is normally carried out through the lungs.
If a diver ascends too fast and the nitrogen escapes the body tissue too quickly it becomes bubbles in the body and this leads to Decompression Sickness. The bubbles must normally be on the arterial side of the circulatory system to be harmful - they are usually harmless on the venous side. There are several types of Decompression Sickness:
Type I Decompression Sickness
Type I Decompression Sickness is the least serious form of Decompression Sickness. It normally involves only pain in the body and is not immediately life threatening. It is important to note that symptoms of Type I Decompression Sickness may be warning signs of more serious problems.
Cutaneous Decompression Sickness This is when the nitrogen bubbles come out of solution in skin capillaries. This normally results in a red rash, often on the shoulders and chest.
Joint and Limb Pain Decompression Sickness This type is characterized by aching in the joints. It is not known exactly what causes the pain as bubbles in the joint would not have this effect. The common theory is that it is caused by the bubbles aggravating bone marrow, tendons, and joints. The pain can be in one place or it can move around the joint. It is unusual for bisymmetrical symptoms to occur.
Type II Decompression Sickness
Type II Decompression Sickness is the most serious and can be immediately life-threatening. The main effect is on the nervous system.
Neurological Decompression Sickness When nitrogen bubbles affect the nervous system they can cause problems throughout the body. This type of Decompression Sickness normally shows as tingling, numbness, respiratory
problems, and unconsciousness. Symptoms can spread quickly and if left untreated can lead to paralysis or even death.
Pulmonary Decompression Sickness This is a rare form of Decompression Sickness that occurs when bubbles form in lung capillaries. Fortunately, the majority of the time bubbles dissolve naturally through the lungs. However, it is possible for them to interrupt blood flow to the lungs which can lead to serious and life-threatening respiratory and heart problems.
Cerebral Decompression Sickness It is possible for bubbles that make their way into the arterial blood stream to move to the brain and to cause an arterial gas embolism. This is extremely dangerous and can be identified by symptoms such as blurred vision, headaches, confusion, and unconsciousness.
Other Forms of Decompression Sickness
Extreme tiredness is very common in cases of Decompression Sickness and can sometimes be the only symptom of Decompression Sickness present. It is not know what causes this but you should be aware that extreme fatigue could be a sign of more serious problems. It is also possible for Decompression Sickness to occur in the inner-ear. This is caused by bubbles forming in the cochlea's perilymph during decompression. The result can be hearing loss, dizziness, ringing of the ears, and vertigo.
Symptoms
Decompression Sickness can manifest itself in many different ways and has many different symptoms, but the most common symptoms are:
Extreme Fatigue
Joint and Limb Pain
Tingling
Numbness
Red Rash on Skin
Respiratory Problems
Heart Problems
Dizziness
Blurred Vision
Headaches
Confusion
Unconsciousness
Ringing of the Ears
Vertigo
Stomach Sickness
Risk Factors
Every diver has a different level of risk of Decompression Sickness. Many risk factors are still not fully understood, but there are a few basic factors that doctors agree increase the chance of developing Decompression Sickness:
Bodyfat The theory is that nitrogen absorbs more easily into fat, so an overweight diver is at a greater risk of decompression sickness.
Exercise Interestingly, exercise has both a positive and negative effect. Exercise at least 12 hours before a dive seems to produce proteins that protect the body and decrease the risk of Decompression Sickness. On the other hand, exercise less than 12 hours before a dive can raise the number of gas micronuclei on which bubbles form and this increases the risk of Decompression Sickness. Exercise immediately after a dive increases the risk of bubbles forming as blood pressure is increased and bubbles can more easily be transferred from the venous to the arterial side of the circulatory system.
Gender Theoretically women should have a higher risk of Decompression Sickness due to the fact that women typically have a higher bodyfat content. However, this has not been proven in studies and it's possible that gender does not affect the chances of suffering from Decompression Sickness.
Age Generally, older people are at an increased risk of Decompression Sickness. This is due to less efficient circulatory and respiratory systems.
Fitness Fitness definitely decreases the risk of Decompression Sickness. A fitter body is able to tolerate more physical stress, including Decompression Sickness.
Dehydration Dehydration causes less blood to be available for gas exchange which makes it more difficult for the body to off-gas, increasing the risk of Decompression Sickness.
Injury and Illness Injury and illness can affect normal circulation, increasing the risk of Decompression Sickness.
Alcohol Consuming alcohol before or after a dive accelerates circulation which helps tissues to load with gas. Alcohol also dilates capillaries which can increase the rate of nitrogen released.
Carbon Dioxide Improper breathing can lead to elevated levels of carbon dioxide which interferes with the bodies ability to transport gas. This will lead to an increased chance of Decompression Sickness.
Cold It is generally believed by doctors that diving in cold water increases the risk of Decompression Sickness. This is due to the body working harder to keep warm as it becomes colder. Meaning that when the body is warmer it is able to absorb gas normally but as it
becomes cold it has difficult offing the gas.
Altitude and Flying After Diving When ascending on land or in a plane, the atmospheric pressure changes and this increases the chances of Decompression Sickness. It is best not to ascend above 300 meters (1000 feet) or fly after diving. Consult the current flying after diving guidelines to know when it is safe to fly.
Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) - Hole in the Heart As a fetus, a baby doesn't breathe and needs a way for blood to bypass the lungs until it is born. The body achieves this by having a small opening in the middle of the heart that allows blood to bypass the lungs. Normally, this hole would close within a year of birth, but in approximately 20-34 of people this does not happen, leaving a permanent opening in the heart. Usually, a flap grows over the opening and there is no effect. However, in some cases the flap allows blood to pass through the opening. This means that bubbles are more easily able to pass from the venous to the arterial side of the circulatory system, greatly increasing the risk of Decompression Sickness. It has been found that a large proportion of divers who suffered from Decompression Sickness had a PFO.
Reverse Profiles The jury is still out on reverse profiling, or making a deeper dive after a shallower dive. Theoretically it should increase the risk of Decompression Sickness, but this has not been proven scientifically. It would still be better to err on the side of caution.
Prevention
As there are many risk factors, there are also many methods of prevention. Here's a basic checklist that will help you lower your risk of suffering from Decompression Sickness:
Always ascend slowly and safely from every dive
Don't push your limits and do all required decompression stops
Keep physically fit and within a healthy weight range
Don't exercise within 12 hours of diving
Don't ascend to altitude or fly immediately after diving
Breathe normally throughout the dive, don't exert yourself or skip breathe
Make sure you're adequately hydrated before every dive
Don't drink alcohol before or after diving and never dive when hungover
Get checked out by a doctor to find out if you have a PFO
Avoid reverse profiling - just in case
Treatment
Immediate on the scene treatment consists of oxygen therapy and basic first aid. This should be followed as quickly as possible by recompression treatment in a recompression chamber. When treating Decompression Sickness the delay in beginning recompression treatment can be the biggest single cause of residual effects.
What to pack for a Christmas in the Caribbean? What weather can you expect in December? What usually happens at New Year in Dominican Republic resorts? What are the Pros and Cons of a Dominican December vacation? Rest easy you savvy travelers and put your feet up for a few minutes to read our brief December Travel Article on the Dominican Republic and your questions shall be answered…
December Weather in the Dominican Republic A collective sigh of relief as December brings forth the end of hurricane season through out the Caribbean and opens a window for travelers looking for some tropical relief on the beautiful island of the Dominican Republic. You can look forward to average daily temps being in the low to mid 80Fs with night time lows of around 75F. You’re also not going to get soaked at this time of year, there may be rain once every three days but let’s face it – the rain is warm! So forget the snow shoes and thermals and bring out your sandals and tank tops!
Traveling to the Dominican Republic in December: The Pros Cost is one of the major pros when considering December travel to the Dominican Republic. Just bear in mind that early December you are going to find lots of bargains on both hotel rates and airfares just before the Christmas rush, as this is generally a slow time for tourism. Many families look at the collective price of airfare, hotel, food and drink as being a superb and reasonable option as opposed to a traditional home style Christmas and find the savings considerable. Don’t worry about celebrating Christmas Mass as there are plenty of churches in the Dominican Republic that will have midnight mass going on (ask your local on the ground tour rep when you arrive) and what a great way to meet your fellow countrymen and embrace some Caribbean Christmas Culture!
Traveling to the Dominican Republic in December: The Cons Whilst early December is cheap travel time, mid to end of December is not as this coincides with school break, college term ends and so on. Still look as bargains can be found, if you opt for celebrating New Year back in your home country you will still discover savings. Do not expect a white Christmas and those of you expecting a traditional home from home type Christmas will also be disappointed. Shopping is limited in the Dominican Republic, and much of the hype and usual Christmassy expectations will be limited. Remember that you will see palm trees with Christmas lights and not fir trees etc.
What to Pack for your December Vacation in the Dominican Republic Light weight clothing is a good rule of thumb. Linen, khaki and cotton pants (as they dry easy if you get wet), leave your denim jeans at home. Plenty of shorts, t-shirts and a couple of swim wear options as there is nothing worse than putting on wet swimwear the next day! Sarongs, tank tops.
For Ladies: Remember the Dominican Republic has a tropical climate, so bring as many light weight tops as you can roll in your case (rolling will save creasing). If you are planning on going to Christmas Mass then you will probably have to have your arms covered when entering the church or cathedral (same as if you are going to Santo Domingo to visit the main Cathedral on the island). Many of the restaurants in your all inclusive resorts will not allow you to dine in just your bikinis, so bring a cover up for the day time like shorts/t-shirt or a nice sarong. Capri pants are a good in between option and are cooler than long pants whilst not as offensive to other diners if you shimmy in to eat in your Daisy Duke bum skimming shorts!
For Men: Smart shorts, linen cotton long pants and polo shirts are usually a good option It can sometimes get a little chilly in the evening especially if you are sat in an air conditioned lobby or having drinks in an air conditioned bar so you might wish to bring a light weight jacket with you. For Christmas and New Year then a shirt with dress pants will usually do the trick.
For everybody including kids: Flip flops, tennis shoes, sunglasses, bug spray, water shoes, dress shoes, water proof jacket. Sun cream, after sun cream, talc powder or Desitin (tropical climate is muggy and clammy and chafing is not pleasant for toddlers or grown ups!), your meds if required and your toiletries for the duration. Bring your baby’s formula/feed.
Christmas & New Year in the Dominican Republic Resorts Most of the all inclusive resorts will have a Christmas and New Years Eve Gala Dinner in their restaurants. You may like to dress up for this, it is not expected although you will find that most people do bring an extra special outfit for these 2 nights and really get into the festive spirit. You will usually find a traditional Christmas turkey dinner going on in at least one of the hotel restaurants, so you can go and get your turkey fix with the trimmings!! Great firework displays are usually put on at all of the hotels at New Years Eve with special dinners, ice carvings and cocktails in abundance!
