Now reaching the conclusion of her training, for the past 18 days she’s been taking the intensive PADI Instructor Development Course preparing her for life as a PADI Diving Instructor.

Image: Diving Internships Thailand – soon-to-be instructor Katie poses for an underwater snap

This last couple of weeks of the diving internship have involved Katie developing her own teaching style, including giving classroom presentations, conducting shallow water skills sessions and running open water dives with students.

So far, so good, and today Katie has begun the final step – the PADI Instructor Examination. PADI’s external examiners have arrived on Koh Tao to conduct a three day examination to make sure the new bath of instructor hopefuls are up to standard.

We’re confident that Katie’s training and experiences over the last few months will put her in a strong position, and we’re wishing her all the best over the next couple of days. Hopefully in a few days time we’ll be celebrating a new PADI Instructor here on Koh Tao…updates to follow!

                          

Image: Snorkel test with a difference – this time the new PADI Divemasters decided to dress up as smurfs!

As is customary at the end of every PADI Divemaster internship, we celebrate the achievements of the new PADI professionals with a special event or party. This normally involves a Koh Tao traditional passing of rights ceremony which is widely known as a ‘snorkel test‘.

These tests regularly have themes based behind them, and this months was Smurf-tastic!

With little to no prompting , this months PADI Divemaster internship graduates – Sami, Tim, Nathan and Emma decided to cover themselves in blue paint and dress up in adult nappies. There were a few fun drinking games, followed by the Snorkel Test – a bucket of cocktail consumed through a snorkel! Was lots of fun, (except for washing the blue paint of after – ask Tim!)

Congratulations to new PADI Divemasters -  Sami, Tim, Nathan and Emma, who are now able to work and live in paradise!

                          

Patty [Mexico] joined us for the Divemaster internship having spent several years working on cruise ships, meanwhile Samantha [UK] was previously running adventure tours in the Rocky Mountains U.S.A.

Image: Master of ceremonies for the evening, PADI instructor Luke ‘Sneaky’ Gibson announces proceedings

Under the guidance of instructors Alex and Steve, the couple sailed through their PADI Divemaster internship, qualifying as competent Divemasters.

Following the Koh Tao tradition, Patty and Sam celebrated passing the Divemaster course with their ‘snorkel test’ (which basically involves drinking a cocktail through a snorkel!).

A good crowd gathered at ‘the Brother’ bar and restaurant at the Sairee Village crossroads to celebrate the occasion, which no doubt went on till the early hours for some!

Image: Equipped with mask, snorkel (and for some reason body paint), new DMs Patty and Sam celebrate with their ‘snorkel test’

                          

Due to the brilliant dive conditions and weather we’re currently enjoying on Koh Tao, after enjoying their entry-level dive training at Simple Life a number of students have decided to stick around and enroll in our PADI  Divemaster internship.

Having endured the PADI Rescue Diver course and come out as more confident and competent divers, Hannah, Sam, Patty, Joel and Shay all decided that they were keen to continue down the route of PADI proffessional.

Over the next four to six weeks these guys will all be assisting on courses from PADI Open Water through to Rescue, leading dives for certified divers and navigating around the Koh Tao dive sites, and participating in a number of other fun activities. Over coming weeks these guys will be getting real hands on experience here at Simple Life and becoming part of the dive team.

At the end of all this, after having completed the Tao tradition of the “snorkel test”, these guys shall all be certified Divemasters and able to travel the world whilst receiving paid work. Why not!

Check back soon and we’ll keep you updates with photos and stories of how the posse are getting on with their Divemaster internship.

                          

Well done to Matt, Vicki, Alex and John on completing their Padi Open Water course here at Simple Life Divers, Koh Tao.

The guy’s arrived at Simple Life Diver’s through the recommendation of other travelers. Arriving on Koh Tao on one of the morning ferries, the team were ready to start their PADI Open Water course that same afternoon. The first day was a nice and relaxing session starting with an orientation and watching the PADI Open Water videos.

The next morning off the team were rested and ready to start the confined water skills session in the afternoon. With our equipment prepared and buddy checks completed we headed to beach. The guys were excellent in the water and breezed through all the skills, more than ready for their first two open water dives of the course.

The third day we finished the rest of the videos and quizzes, then made our way out to our newly painted and serviced dive boat. We headed out to the always excellent Twins and White Rock dive sites off Koh Tao’s western coast. The guys really enjoyed themselves and could not wait for the next days trip to the spectacular Chumphon Pinnacles dive site.

For the final two dives of the PADI Open Water course they weren’t disappointed. There were sharks aplenty and many other fish around the dive site and the group got to enjoy some fantastic diving.

Thanks again guys for making it a fun course, and remember, ‘keep it Simple’!

                          

Eric perfecting his buoyancy during the Koh Tao PADI Advanced Open Water Course.

Posted By PADI Dive Instructor Jon:

Well done to Marylee and Eric on completing there PADI Rescue Diver course.

After catching the diving bug after their PADI Open Water Course they decided to continue their training up to PADI rescue diver level, which would better prepare them for future planed diving excursions.

En-route highlights of the advanced course included grey reef sharks on the deep dive, multi-level computer dive showing the benefits of a computer assisted dive and  the peak performance buoyancy dive helped fine tune their diving.

The underwater navigation dive built on the introduction of using an underwater compass use during the PADI Open Water Course and we finished the advanced course with a magnificent night dive.

Marylee and Eric’s PADI Rescue Course started with some important self rescue skills. One of the main advantages of the rescue course is that it builds diver confidence, both in being able to assist one’s self and helping others. Along with the usual exercises of rescuing tired, panicked and unresponsive divers both underwater and afloat there was always time to sneak an extra fun dive in at the Chumphon Pinnacles, descending down along the anchor line to 30 metres to search for sharks.

Yesterday after practicing the mentioned skills the couple completed their final scenario, locating and rescuing a missing diver.