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
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Why don't you come aboard and experience a new adventure with us!
Dominican Republic: Luxury and Adventure Caribbean Trip
Written by Andreas Ackerl
Tuesday, 22 June 2010 11:24
Climbing the steep rocky switchbacks, I stall in my tracks without noticing, dreaming of faraway alternatives — long-ago strolls on flat beaches, delicious beer of the future. The trail, lined with both tropical trees and evergreens, passes hillside farmsteads and sparkling streams, while green cotorra parrots wing overhead — lovely. But my knees ache, my hamstrings are cramping and my bronchioles sting with each breath. “La proxima parte se llama Arrepentimiento,” guide Joel says, casually backtracking downhill to join me, “difícil.” Translation: The next part, nicknamed “Repentance,” will be difficult. My chest heaves, lungs flapping after what turns out to be the easy part. Joel, breathing easily, inclines his hand to show the upcoming 19 percent grade. The tiered trail ahead looks like a rock wall. Perfect. I repent my desk job, the zero-percent grade between my chair and the snack machine.
With Joel, two mules and two muleteers, I’m on a three-day trek to summit Pico Duarte, at 10,417 feet the highest peak in the Dominican Republic and in the whole Caribbean. And it’s August. I’m sweating, a lot. From the high glade across the pass, the blue-green ridges of the sierra overlap into the distance, a transfixing vision. Then mist rolls in and gentle rain begins. The thin air breathed deep smells of pine and sea — wonderful. “It always rains here,” Joel mentions for the first time. Then it starts to pour. I pull my raincoat over already wet clothes — miserable.
Why am I here? And why, in the days to come, will I also scale the waterfalls of Damajagua, try kiteboarding for the first time, go surfing, ride a horse for six hours and run myself to the point of exhaustion? Because I want to get as far outside my office-bound daily mindset as possible. And because you can’t drive to the most beautiful places on earth. The DR’s central region, hours from U.S. airports, has months’ worth of mind-clearing adventure opportunities, not to mention luxurious ways to recover in between. As for beauty, I hardly have to turn my head, which is good because I’m almost too tired.
I follow the mules into Compartición camp at 8,000 feet after one of the toughest walking days of my life, with another hard climb tomorrow. But as the clouds part, I can see for 50 green miles again, and I know I’d start over if I had to.
Reef Check Dominican Republic Participates in Cross-Cultural Fishermen Exchange
Written by Andreas Ackerl
Monday, 21 June 2010 11:13
Reef Check Dominican Republic Director, Ruben Torres PhD, and Peace Corps Volunteer Colleen Gatliff, along with representatives from the Fishing Association of Juanillo-Punta Cana (APEJU) and La Caleta Fishing Association, spent a week visiting fishing communities throughout the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. Funding for the trip was provided by The Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
The trip was planned to validate and increase the leadership capacity of the APEJU and La Caleta fishermen, expose them to well-managed marine protected areas (MPAs) in Mexico, and introduce them to alternative gear choices and sustainable fishing strategies. The group visited three different Mexican fishing associations and three marine protected areas in the region, which allowed for exchanges of ideas with other fishermen who have been successful in changing their fishing methods and organization, and now work successfully in tourist areas. Puerto Morelos, Cozumel, and Punta Allen were the three locations the group visited.
Dominican fishermen were impressed with the “abundant and large marine fauna and MPA management they saw while scuba diving at Cozumel, excellent organization, structure and empowerment of fishing cooperatives in Puerto Morelos and Punta Allen, alternative fishing methods (fly fishing at Punta Allen), and the extremely successful lobster fisheries with casitas at Punta Allen.” The group was also able to ride along with a group of lobster fishermen on the first open day of the season, to learn more about the methods of sustainable harvesting used by the Mexican fishermen. More than five tons of lobster were caught that first day, and open season will last a few more months.
The visit was deemed very successful by Dr. Torres. Upon returning from Mexico, a preliminary talk was conducted at La Caleta City Hall in the Dominican Republic to show pictures and videos of the trip. A second series of talks, which will include the presentation of a documentary, is now being prepared. Also, Reef Check DR started the implementation of community-based management actions at La Caleta National Park and is also trying to assist the Punta Cana fishermen to find alternative income opportunities in the tourism industry, as they have been displaced from the majority of their fishing grounds due to the tourism industry. All fishermen that attended the trip have taken on leadership roles in their respective fishing associations and are actively seeking ways to implement better fishing practices, improve reef health, and develop better managed MPAs.
When people go to the Dominican Republic, they typically want to hit the beach. If you are planning on visiting the Dominican Republic, you want to make sure you go to the best beaches in the area. That will allow you to make the most out of your vacation and have a great time.
While there are many great beaches in the Dominican Republic, there are some you certainly do not want to miss out on. Take the time to visit the best beaches in the Dominican Republic and you will be sure to have a great time.
One of the best beaches you will find in the Dominican Republic is located between Rio San Juan and Cabrera. The beach is the Playa Grande, and it is the perfect place to go if you want to have fun by the water. The view at this beach is amazing. The location of the beach is at a cove, and there are cliffs around the beach. You will be able to have a great time and enjoy gorgeous scenery when you visit this beach.
You will also be able to enjoy clear water and gorgeous sand. This is a fun beach that has quite a bit to offer tourists and locals.
If you love a view while at the beach, you can also go to the Playa Sousa. When you visit this beach, you will be able to see mountains in the distance and water as far as the eyes can see. This is the perfect place to swim, sunbathe and also go snorkeling. The water is very clear, which makes this an ideal beach.
Many tourists and locals frequent this beach because of the wonderful conditions. It is a great place to go if you want beautiful scenery and wonderful water.
If you want to enjoy a beach with several other people, you can go to the La Minitas Beach. This beach is one of the most popular in the Dominican Republic, and you will be amazed by the things you can do while at this beach. With restaurants that surround the shore, along with water sports and other opportunities for adventure, this is a great place to go in order to have a good time.
When you go to this beach, be prepared to pack in an entire day of fun. You will be able to go from one activity to the next. You will manage to fill up your entire day and have a great time.
In the Southwest, you can visit San Rafael, which is more than just a gorgeous beach great for swimming. You can also enjoy a waterfall and take advantage of the great swimming. This is a perfect place to use as a romantic getaway.
When you go to this beach, you can hike along the shore and look at the many sights, and also relax by the water. You will be able to pack in as much or as little activity as you want while at San Rafael.
If you like to scuba dive, you can go to the Isla Catalina. Not only will you get to see some of the best coral reefs in the Dominican Republic, but you will also be able to look at the sand dunes. This is a tourist favorite and it is a place you will want to check out during your visit.
The Dominican Republic is known for its great beaches, and when you visit you will not be disappointed. The beaches offer great sights, as well as amazing sun and water. No matter if you want to take part in water sports, swim or sunbathe, you will be able to find what you are looking for with one of the beaches in the Dominican Republic.
The island has a diverse variety of areas that are worth considering when planning a visit:
Santo Domingo, a city of 2 million, is the nation's increasingly cosmopolitan capital city with thriving theaters, a dazzling variety of restaurants and entertainment, and diverse cultural opportunities. Like many cities in the U.S., it is enjoying a renaissance, in part because it is so attractive to young people.
Santiago is the Dominican Republic's second-largest city and its former capital.An inland city, it is set against a backdrop of lush mountain ranges. Like Santo Domingo, it offers the appeal of diverse and exciting cultural opportunities. Part of the area's appeal is that, while it offers the amenities of city living, it is located in the popular Puerto Plata region.
Samana is a peninsula on the country's northern coast, and its most popular area is Las Terenas, which features beautiful white-sand beaches and coral reefs, lush mountains and tropical rain forests. Whale watching in the clear waters is a favorite activity, and the pristine surroundings make the area appealing for people who enjoy getting back to nature. More and more, it is a top destination for people interested in owning a second home.
Located near the Santo Domingo airport is Juan Dolio, a burgeoning resort area. Juan Dolio is well known for its casual, rustic ambiance, reflected in the numerous open-air restaurants and shops. Those looking to hit the links will want to head for the nearby golf course, which was designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Gary Player.
One of the best-known parts of the country is the southwestern quadrant of the Dominican Republic, in part because of the popular Casa de Campo complex. Located between Punta Cana and Santo Domingo, Casa de Campo has enjoyed mounting popularity over the past 30 years. In fact, now second and even third generations of visitors make it a regular vacation destination, many spending several months a year.
In 1492, Christopher Columbus came ashore on what is now the Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic. He was immediately struck by the island's sheer beauty. That same beauty has made the Dominican Republic increasingly popular with vacationers — that, and a wealth of golf courses, including some designed by the game's most celebrated architects.
An Island Treasure
Clearly, part of the Dominican appeal lies in the island's outstanding golf courses. Celebrated architect Pete Dye designed the Teeth of the Dog,Dye Fore and Links courses.Teeth of the Dog is routinely ranked by golf publications as one of the finest resort courses in the world, and, given its location along the sea, it is also one of the most beautiful. Dye Fore is equally stunning. Not long ago, Pete Dye completed a thorough makeover of the seaside Teeth of the Dog. He added length to some holes, renovated the greens and bunkers and generally added some "teeth" back to the course. Meanwhile, the Links features a parkland design with beautiful ocean views, while Dye Fore is built according to an open, links-like format. Dye Fore runs along a bluff overlooking the Chavón River gorge,where the panoramic views of the ocean to the east and the mountains to the west quicken the pulse. The course lies near the resort-owned Altos de Chavón, a replica of a Renaissance Italian village marked by narrow, pedestrian-friendly streets, shops and restaurants.
Located in the city of Macao, some 20 minutes from the Punta Cana Airport, Roco Ki is an area of singular dramatic beauty.Half the coastline is comprised of over three miles of stunning white-sand beaches, while the other half features stark cliffs that rise sharply from the Caribbean, creating vistas of infinite beauty. A special bonus is the succession of breathtaking sunsets set against a backdrop of tall mountains in the west, the highest in the Caribbean. For sports lovers, Roco Ki features a challenging Nick Faldo Signature golf course as well as superb deep-sea fishing excursions.
Cap Cana is becoming familiar to golfers in the U.S. as the site of The Cap Cana, a Champions Tour event played at the Jack Nicklaus Course at Punta Espada Golf Club, the first of three planned courses designed by Nicklaus. Nine holes are directly on the Caribbean, and the sea is visible on 16 holes.
Easily the most spectacular hole is No.13, a 249-yard par-3 that is generally considered the course's signature hole. It presents golfers with a challenging tee shot over the ocean into a picturesque green guarded by the roiling waters of the Caribbean.The hole does offer players a bailout—but what's the point of facing such a beautiful challenge and taking the safe route?
A Focus on Puntacana Resort & Club
Located on the island's east coast, PUNTACANA Resort & Club offers the ultimate in luxury, service and adventure. From the PUNTACANA hotel to the exclusive private villas of Tortuga Bay, a secluded enclave with impeccable service and dècor designed by Oscar de la Renta, travelers will find an array of amenities sure to satisfy even the most discriminating tastes. There are three golf courses (one open, two in development), tennis courts and one of the finest stretches of beaches on an island that is famous for the way the land meets the sea.
The development of PUNTACANA Resort & Club dates to 1971, when Dominican businessman and hotelier Frank R. Rainieri teamed up with Theodore W. Kheel, a prominent New York attorney and labor mediator, to construct a resort community rooted in the natural habitat of Punta Cana while offering a world-class vacation experience. It has since grown to encompass over 15,000 acres, and now includes Tortuga Bay; Six Senses Spa; the PUNTACANA Ecological Foundation; a full-service marina; seven restaurants; a shopping village; a P. B. Dye-designed golf course and another created by Tom Fazio, which is scheduled to open in the winter of 2009; and the modern Punta Cana International Airport.
Also set within the larger PUNTACANA Resort & Club is an elite residential community: The Estates at PUNTACANA Resort & Club. Seamlessly incorporated into its paradisical setting, The Estates is comprised of four private neighborhoods, including Tortuga, Hacienda, Arrecife and the most exclusive community, Corales, which is home to Julio Iglesias and Mikhail Baryshnikov, among others. Prospective buyers can choose among elegant homes perched above the Caribbean Sea or overlooking scrupulously manicured golf greens. As members of this illustrious community, residents of The Estates are treated to a VIP service that speeds them through customs upon their arrival at the Punta Cana International Airport. They also receive privileged access to championship golf courses, Six Senses Spa and countless other activities and amenities.
For residents of The Estates and visitors alike, PUNTACANA Resort & Club offers a wealth of aquatic activities such as windsurfing, kiteboarding, whale watching, waterskiing, canoeing, deep-sea and shallowwater fishing, and snorkeling and scuba diving. In addition, the PUNTACANA Resort & Club and the PUNTACANA Dive Center worked with the Dominican Navy to sink an antiquated 220-foot cargo ship near the reef.This artificial reef protects the existing reef in addition to presenting an exciting diving challenge for guests.
If all that activity leaves you a bit weary, you can restore yourself at Six Senses Spa, which offers a wide range of holistic wellness, rejuvenation and balance the senses, administered by expert therapists from around the world. It has eight indoor private treatment rooms and four outdoor palapas with expansive beach and sea views. Six Senses Spa offers innovative and traditional massages as well as an array of specialty treatments, facials and acupressure. Yoga, Pilates, Reiki and meditation classes round out the menu.
For all that, the main attractions are the two courses designed by P. B.Dye, son of the respected design team of Pete and Alice Dye — one of which is currently under development — and a third course designed by Tom Fazio, slated to open in late 2009.
P. B. Dye's existing championship La Cana Golf Course is available to all PUNTACANA Resort & Club guests, while Tom Fazio's new Corales Golf Course will be available exclusively to private club members and residents of the Corales community. Dye's Hacienda Golf Course is scheduled for an early 2010 opening.
The Corales Golf Course is laid out between rocky cliffs and coral reefs with beautiful views of the Caribbean. Six holes overlook the sea and others play along stunning canyons. The 18th hole requires a challenging carry over the Bay of Corales, a fitting ending to a glorious golf experience.
The La Cana Golf Course is, quite simply, a thing of beauty and one of the finest resort courses in the Caribbean. It has four holes along the ocean and 14 others that offer sea views. The property is protected from storms by a coral reef.
One of the local legends surrounding the course is the time President Bill Clinton joined Dye for a round. On the par-5, 504-yard 8th hole, Clinton struggled to clear the vegetation between the tee and the fairway. After Clinton ran out of balls,Dye produced a new dozen and kept supplying balls to the President until he finally reached the fairway.
Being an ex-President does have its privileges, but then everyone who visits PUNTACANA Resort & Club comes away feeling very privileged indeed.
For many years tourists have flocked to the Dominican Republic primarily for its magnificent white-sand beaches. The Dominican Republic is more - a country of tremendous diversity.
The variety and spectacular beauty of its countryside is certainly one of its greatest assets. But it is not the only one, for people also visit the Dominican Republic to see the many remnants of its rich Colonial past and experience the warmth of its people.
The Dominican Republic shares with Haiti the island of Hispaniola, the second-largest island in the Caribbean after Cuba.
Santo Domingo - the capital - was the first city founded in the Americas. Built in 1502 by Nicolás de Ovando, the colonial governor. Today, it is also the second largest Caribbean city after Havana, with over 2½ million inhabitants and is the country's financial, industrial and commercial centre. Despite the frantic pace of life here, Santo Domingo is a pleasant city, especially in the colonial zone, where colonial-era buildings are concentrated.
History buffs visiting Santo Domingo should not miss the Alcazazar de Colon (a castle built in the early 1500's for Columbus's son, Diego; the Casa del Cordón, the Western Hemisphere's oldest surviving stone house; the Catedral Menor de Santa Maria, the first cathedral in the Americas; and the Columbus lighthouse, a modern structure built to commemorate the Columbus Quincentennial in which houses a sarcophagus which the remains of Columbus are said to lie. Click here for more on Santa Domingo.
The Dominican Republic's Caribbean Coast boasts miles of beautiful coastline. Here discerning travelers will find a variety of tourist resorts. Juan Dolio and Casa de Campo have sprung up in previously uninhabited areas, near beautiful sandy beaches. Luxurious resorts have also been built in the centre of typical Dominican villages, alongside modest Creole cottages, as in Boca Chica and Bayahibe.
Along the Atlantic coast, on the north of the island, Puerto Plata and Samana are areas familiar to tourists from around the globe. From Puerto Plata to the Samana Peninsula, a formidable 90 mile shoreline, takes you through one of the best-known regions of the Dominican Republic.
More than anywhere else in the country, the development of tourism has been particularly intense here over the last 20 years, and many of the region's towns and villages have become major resort areas. Following Puerto Plata, Sosúa and Cabarete, development of the superb beaches has now moved further east, to the regions of Río San Juan, Playa Grande and Playa Dorada.
The Dominican Republic's eastern point, known as Punta Cana, is characterized by an almost unbroken succession of sugar-cane fields and orange groves. Most travellers come to this region for its beaches, among the most beautiful in the country, if not the whole Caribbean.
For over a decade now, the once nearly uninhabited northeastern shore of the Dominican Republic, known as the Coconut Coast, has become a major holiday destination. Most developers have followed the same general plan, building grand luxury hotels on large properties, at the edge of breathtaking and completely isolated beaches.
The Dominican Republic is much more than beaches. For hikers and explorers, we recommend visiting one or more of the fascinating National parks.
If you have two days try the scenic climb to Duarte Peak at Bermudez and Ramirez National parks. This is the highest point in the Caribbean. Goat Island, also known as Cabritos Island is a refuge for the American crocodile which lives and breeds here. You may also sight the palm crow, the Antillean mango, the bay-breasted cuckoo and the burrowing owl.
For golfers there is an abundance of fine courses. Some say that the Pete Dye architected Teeth of the Dog course at Casa de Campo near La Romanais one of the greatest in the world. There a more than a dozen more fine golf courses accessible from tourist areas of Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Juan Dolio, and from Santo Domingo.
Watersports aficionados will also find what they're looking for too. Windsurfung (excellent in the Caberete area), snorkeling, parasailing, sailing, scuba diving and deep sea fishing are all readily available.
