Pattaya, Thailand Scuba Diving Career Development Internships
Got questions? You're not alone. We get lots of e-mail and many people ask us the same things. So we've compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions, along with their answers, below. If your question is not answered here, however, please feel free to contact us and ask.
How much do the internships cost?A. Aquanauts Instructor Training offers eight different internships, each with its own price. In addition, the price of any internship depends upon your current diving certification and upon whether you want equipment and / or accommodations included.
Please refer to the “So How Much Does It Cost?” section of each individual internship page for the base price. Then see the discounted price in the “What If I’m Already a Certified Diver?” section at the bottom of each internship page if you are already certified or do not want accommodations and / or equipment.
Aquanauts Instructor Training prides itself on offering all-inclusive internships. That means EVERTYTHING you need to become a certified scuba instructor or divemaster – training, books, study aids, dives, equipment, accommodations, certification and testing fees and airport transfers -- is included. Once you pay for your course, we will not ask you or bill you for anything else.
Your only expenses will be for daily living – see the Cost of Living section for more on daily expenses – and for your apartment’s utilities (water, electricity and telephone.) See the Accommodations section for more on this.
A. All Aquanauts Instructor Training internships run continuously throughout the year and be started at any time.
A. No, air transportation is not included and we do not offer any travel assistance. However, your transportation from Don Muang International Airport in Bangkokis included.
A. Yes! When you pay your deposit, we will order, in your name, a full set of brand new dive gear from Mares, Suunto, Scubapro and more. When you arrive in Thailand, we will have it all set up for you. From that point on, it’s yours to keep.
And if you ever have a problem with your equipment, don’t worry: It’s under full warranty. Also, most repairs can be completed on site. If the gear has to be sent out, it is serviced within Thailand and will be back to you in a short time. (We will, of course, provide you with gear to use in the interim.)
A. Please see the Accommodations section of this website for full details.
A. Please see the Training Facilities page of this website for full details.
A. It really depends upon the course and how much diving you’ve done previously. If you are new to diving you may find yourself studying 2-3 days a week and working on the dive boat another 2-3 days. On the other hand, if you’re an experienced Divemaster, then 3-4 days combined study and dive-boat work may suffice. Keep in mind, though, that “study” is not a dirty word in Thailand. After all, instead of being locked up in some dusty library back home, you can be hitting the books on the beach here!
A. Aquanauts Instructor Training is a limited-enrollment program. This means that, unlike other internship programs in Thailand, we cap the number of people taking courses at any one time to ensure you get personalized instruction and small class sizes. You will get direct interaction with a fully certified PADI instructor or course director.
A. The minimum age for enrollment in any Aquanauts Instructor Training program is 15, but there is no maximum age limit. These limitations come from PADI itself, which sets minimum age requirements on course certifications.
You cannot be certified as an Instructor or Divemaster until age 18. And you cannot take the all the courses needed to be certified as a Master Scuba Diver until age 15. You can, however, enroll in the Instructor or Divemaster internship program at age 17 with the stipulation you cannot be certified until you turn 18.
One note on upper age limits: While there is no formal age restriction, you must be in good shape and pass a physical exam. PADI also has limitations on divers with some health ailments, such as epilepsy or diabetes. If such cases, consult your doctor before enrolling in any diving program.
A. While fully certified Instructors earn more and are more in demand, Divemasters can still make a living. The salary you make depends where you work, but you can expect a minimum of $500-$600 a month while working a few days a week.
Of course, most Divemasters prefer to work part-time and spend the rest of their time working “a real job” or just enjoying the lifestyle. After all, as a PADI Professional, you qualify for deeply discounted rates at most dive shops.
A. Yes! Aquanauts Instructor Training, as part of Aquanauts Dive Centre, offers all PADI and ANDI courses. Even as you are doing your internship you can take additional courses, such as one of the 23 PADI Specialties, at substantial discounts. And when your internship ends, the learning doesn’t have to. You can continue with us and advance to higher certifications, such as Master Scuba Diver Trainer or IDC Staff Instructor.
A. Yes. Simply contact us.
A. PADI itself stipulates that you must have been certified as an Open Water Diver a minimum of six months prior to taking the Instructor Development Course and Instructor Exam. If you are a non-diver when you start the internship, then it will take a minimum of six months to complete. If, however, you are already Open Water Diver certified or above, and have been for two months or more, then the internship can be completed in 3-4 months.
A. Yes. Go to the PADI website and search for “Aquanauts Diving Centre.” In business for more than 10 years, Aquanauts (PADI #S-6246), is a 5-Star Career Development Center, operating three locations in Pattaya. Aquanauts Instructor Training simply markets Aquanauts’ internships and, therefore, is not required to register as a dive center.
A. Simply click here, fill out the contact form and we’ll be in touch.
A. Despite the media hype, Pattaya – and Thailand as a whole – is very “female friendly.” While the city does have a well-deserved reputation as a “boys town,” there are far, far more things to do here that have nothing to do with the nightlife scene. In addition, Pattaya and Thailand are very safe places, even for women traveling alone. Female divers comment regularly on how safe and comfortable they feel walking around town day or night.
Thailand and, in particular, Pattaya, has been making great strides at transforming itself into a resort for the entire family. For women, there are sumptuous day spas, offering traditional Thai massage, facials and makeovers and even botox treatments at a fraction of the cost in the Western world.
For those who enjoy shopping, there are numerous Western-style malls and even outlet shopping centers offering authentic, discounted goods from Nike, Gucci and more. For sports fans, there golf, tennis, water skiing, mountain trekking, and more. And for those who want to pursue cultural pursuits, there are cooking classes, traditional Thai dancing, museums, galleries and more. Click here for more info on things to do while not diving in Pattaya.
A. Legally, no. You will need a work permit to work legally in the Kingdom of Thailand and those are difficult to get. There are possibilities to work “under the table” teaching English or computer skills and some people make money using the Internet. However, all these pursuits should be secondary to your study and internship work. After all, you’re paying good money to become a PADI Professional. The best thing to do is ensure that your finances are in order and you have enough to cover expenses until you graduate and start working. (See our Cost of Living information page for more on daily expenses.)
A. Yes. Click here to read about which visa is right for you.
A. Click here for a full rundown on the cost of living in Pattaya.
A. Click here for a full rundown of sports, activities, entertainment and nightlife in Pattaya.
A. Insurance is always a good idea when traveling, but simple travel insurance is not always enough for some people. There are numerous organizations that offer full medical pages, such as BUPA. You should also strongly consider the fine diving insurance packages offered by DAN, the Divers Alert Network.
As for hospitals, Pattaya's facilities are excellent. Pattaya International Hospital and Bangkok Pattaya Hospital are both very advanced facilities with many of their doctors trained in the West. Bangkok Pattaya also has the closest recompression chamber and a helicopter airlift to the hospital takes 15 minutes or less.
A. A PADI certification is good worldwide and with PADI holding a 70% market share, you will find plenty of job opportunities in some of the world’s most-desirable locations.
A. When you enroll in a PADI Instructor Internship course, we’ll send you the full balance due in Thai baht along with instructions on how to make payment.
If you are outside Thailand, you pay the initial deposit via bank transfer. It’s arguably the safest and most-reliable way to do so. If you’ve never made a bank wire transfer, don’t worry. Any large bank will be able to assist you. Another advantage of paying via wire transfer from your home country is that we can then send you all the documentation you need to obtain your visa at home.
You can also pay the balance due, if any, via wire transfer. Of course, Aquanauts Instructor Training also accepts all major credit cards (with a 5% surcharge), Western Union and good, old-fashioned cash. Also, if you
Finally, if you plan to use a credit or debit card in Thailand take note: Most card companies have aggressive anti-fraud departments who often freeze cards after they have been used just one time in Thailand. Before you leave home, call your card company and inform them you will using it in Southeast Asia.
A. Yes. Not everyone is able to complete an internship in one continuous stretch. We have no problem working around your schedule.
Also, each internship’s feature set – equipment, accommodations, etc. – can be customized. For example, you can upgrade to a luxury apartment or select higher-end equipment (for an additional charge, of course). Likewise, we can scale back the course to cut the cost or length of the internship for you. Simply contact us with your requirements before booking your internship.
A. Aquanauts Instructor Training is based in Pattaya, Thailand. You can reach us by e-mail or telephone. For those in the United Kingdom and United States, you can call toll free (freephone) at the numbers to the right.
A. No. Deposits are not refunded under any circumstances. The reason for that is that we use your deposit to immediately purchase your equipment and books as well as arrange your accommodations.
We understand that emergencies happen and there are circumstances where interns cannot begin or finish a course. In such cases we credit your account. You can then resume your internship later or transfer that credit to a friend or family member to use for internships, individual dive courses or even regular diving trips.
A. No. It is illegal in Thailand to work as compensation for participation in training courses. As for splitting payments throughout the course, this also is not possible. The entire internship must be paid before you take possession of your apartment and equipment and begin your courses.
A. Yes, Thailand is very safe. While it is true that since late 2004 Thailand’s southernmost provinces have been the scene of some civil unrest, none of that affects, or is even obvious, in Pattaya.
While some of the news reports over the past months have looked bad, the reality is that the unrest – sparked by Muslim discontent with the Buddhist-majority government of Thailand – is nothing new. Muslim citizens of Southern Thailand have been demonstrating on and off for secession and autonomy since 1973. The recent violence has gotten worldwide media attention only because of the worldwide struggles going on between Islamic militants and Western countries. However, the issues and people involved with the unrest in the south are not connected to the worldwide conflict, Iraq or Al Qaeda.
The truth is that the problems in the south seem very far away from Pattaya, a couple of hours by plane from the affected region. Pattaya is a resort town comprised of many foreigners and very internationally conscious Thais. You will find this to be a very calm, happy and enjoyable place to live.
All training offered by Aquanauts Dive Centre, PADI 5-Star Career Development Center No. S-6246. Aquanauts is Pattaya, Thailand's only British-owned and operated PADI National Geographic 5-Star Career Development Center. We invite you to also visit the main Aquanauts website, our Thailand Tech Diving website or contact us with any questions. © 2005-2009 Aquanauts Diving Instructor Training Co. Ltd.: 437/17 M. 9; Soi Yodsak/Beach Road; Pattaya, Chonburi Thailand 20260. No text or image published on this website may be used without permission. Site Map Yahoo URLList RORxml