On an idyllic island in Sabah, Malaysia, 10 minutes from the state capital, Kota Kinabalu, lies Downbelow PADI 5 Star IDC Dive & Adventure Centre.
Owner-operators, British expats Joanne and Richard Swann, have years of diver education, adventure training and corporate event experience between them. ELCAS courses are offered on a full-time basis, with a part-time option available. On completion you will be a fully qualified PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, ready for a career as diving professional.

Resident PADI Course Director Richard Swann leads the PADI Go Pro Team, which delivers quality training, complemented by top-end equipment serviced according to manufacturer recommendations, and strictly adheres to PADI Safety & Procedures and British HSE Guidelines.

A key benefit of Downbelow’s professional scuba internships is free, unlimited shore and boat dives from right in front of the dive centre, or short boat rides to over 40 other dive sites nearby. Being a busy dive centre, interns gain hands-on experience with actual students in real situations – an experience that cannot truly be simulated.

City-based accommodation affords interns a balanced experience, with numerous activities, restaurants and nightlife options, and opportunities to experience local culture.

Downbelow’s solid network of dive centres, looking for quality instructors with a job search workshop during internships, provide excellent opportunities for work placement.

Start your future as a professional diving instructor by emailing Downbelow on gopro@divedownbelow.com or calling +60 12 866 1935

See the advertisement on page 27.

 

 

 

 

 

RAF engineer Ian Woodbridge couldn’t believe his luck when his resettlement process not only gave him valuable training in the use of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), but also took him to far-flung parts of the Adriatic to uncover a rare bronze ram, dating back to the mid-3rd century BC.

Woodbridge, due to exit the RAF next June, is currently stationed at Brize Norton, serving with 33(Eng) Sqn, Ground Engineers. As part of his resettlement process, he recently underwent two weeks’ training with Maritime Training & Competence Solutions (MTCS), which is based in Windermere, Cumbria.

Commenting on his training, Woodbridge says: ‘MTCS is perfect for guys like me who already have an engineering background – mine was gained through my aviation career. They operate an informal class with small numbers and very helpful instructors. There’s a state-of-the-art ROV simulator with a range of deepwater construction activities to gain hands-on experience, plus a further practical session with an ROV operation at Capenwray – a local Cumbrian quarry.’

MTCS Ltd is a fully accredited assessment and training centre providing a spectrum of operational, technical and supervisory training to the offshore industry. The majority of their courses focus on ROVs as used in the oil and gas, nuclear and renewables industry.

Since he completed his course, MTCS has been in regular contact with Woodbridge, passing on his CV to companies that contact them. An ROV placement was offered to Woodbridge through MTCS to gain practical experience working with the RPM Nautical Foundation (RPMNF).

Dr Jeff Royal, Archaeological Director for RPM Nautical Foundation, says: ‘Our projects allow candidates such as Woodbridge to acquire field experience while working with our equipment and systems. Artefacts are recovered from the sea bed with the use of an industry-recognised Seaye Panther ROV, and objects then returned to the surface for further investigation by me and other archaeologists. The ROV tasks for the candidates are both broad and of a highly technical nature that newly trained individuals don’t often have the opportunity to experience.’

RPMNF offered field experience with all flights and travel paid for, where Woodbridge travelled to Tivat, Montenegro, to join a 175-ton research vessel R/V Hercules. Using the RPMNF Seaye Panther ROV on board Hercules, Woodbridge says: ‘We were able to locate shipwrecks via mapping with a multibeam sonar, and afterwards launched the ROV to investigate targets that often produced stunning images via the ROV’s HD camera.

 ‘We found numerous amphoras, including a bronze ram from the mid-3rd century BC, which the ROV recovered by using the manipulator arms to feed a lifting strap around it before using the vessel’s crane to raise it. After one week in Bar, Montenegro, I travelled to Sazan Island, Albania, for another week, then on to Trapani, Sicily, for a further two weeks. I certainly believe the experience gained was second to none and the fact that the Royal Air Force enabled this all to happen was a very positive side to the resettlement process for me.’

For further information and prices on ROV training, plus other course opportunities, please contact Richard Warburton, MTCS,
Tel: 015394 48233 or email enquiries@mtcs.info.

See the advertisement on page 5.

 

 

 

 

 

A groundbreaking, intensive PADI scuba diving internship has begun in Bali that will take eight young Indonesians from Open Water Divers to Master Scuba Diver Trainers. The programme is planned to run over a ten-month period, and includes 20 diver speciality and instructor-level courses, work experience in dive centres across Indonesia, equipment maintenance and repair, and dive centre management. This innovative programme is the first of its kind and was conceived by Minni Vansgaard, PADI Platinum Course Director and owner of Crystal Divers Bali. Scuba diving is a crucial element of Indonesia’s tourism product – more than 4,000 divers were certified last year in Bali alone. The programme aims to give the best possible chance to local Indonesians in becoming dive professionals and to sustain the ever growing Indonesian dive industry with world-class, professionally trained, environmentally active instructors.

 

PADI Asia Pacific is strongly behind the programme and has kindly contributed all course materials and waived administrative fees. VIP Henrik Nimb, PADI Asia Pacific’s Vice President of Marketing/Education and Business Development, personally opened the internship programme on 20 April 2011. The opening was also attended by members of the Indonesian government’s Tourism Department; Abi Carnadie, PADI Regional Manager for Indonesia and East Timor; and Divemasters Bali, who are sponsoring the programme along with Aqua Lung, who together have equipped all interns with brand new sets of Aqua Lung dive equipment. The programme relies solely on volunteers and contributions; without these great individuals it would not be possible. All Crystal Divers Instructors have voluntary dedicated their time to teach the interns six days a week for up to eight to ten hours per day. The programme also relies heavily on external volunteers, who kindly offer their free time to teach, such as senior members of PADI, DAN and Project AWARE staff. 

 

The interns come from all corners of Indonesia: Bali, Lombok, Java and Sulawesi:

These outstanding individuals are all aware of the tremendous impact this internship will have on their lives. It has allowed these enthusiastic, motivated Indonesians a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live the dream they have always wanted but could never afford. All of them express a deep concern for the protection of the ocean and its inhabitants. Vintty wants to open an eco-resort near her hometown:

 

‘I want to teach diving to many people in the world, so they can see how beautiful the underwater world is, so they will love the sea and diving also. With it they will also understand how important it is to preserve marine nature, keep it sustainable so that we and future generations can continue to enjoy it.’

 

Inyoman wants to ‘teach and share knowledge about diving and how to protect marine life and the ocean – to help get more people to visit Indonesia’.

Wulan also wants to open her own dive centre, and thinks she might like to be a PADI Course Director or perhaps work at PADI headquarters someday:

 

‘I will teach my students not only about diving but also about protecting the underwater life; many people come to Indonesia and are eager to learn about diving; increasing the number of tourists can help my country.’

 

Nico perhaps sums it up best: ‘Nothing is impossible.’

 

Monthly donations are received from supportive individuals, which allows the interns to cover their living expenses and focus on learning rather than working to support their basic needs. It costs approximately US$100 per intern for housing and food for one month. The interns still need small diving accessories such as dive computers, whistles, compasses and dive lights, so any donation will be most appreciated and put to good use. Anyone wishing to contribute to this worthy cause should contact Minni at Crystal Divers (email: info@crystal-divers.com). Know that your gift will be instrumental in the development of the Indonesian dive industry.

 

 

 

 

 

Three wounded British veterans of the Iraq war recently travelled to BSAC Travel Partner, the Cayman Islands, to experience its acclaimed diving in an extraordinary rehabilitation programme known as Deptherapy, pioneered by paraplegic Scottish diver Fraser Bathgate. The three soldiers were on the first ever British-led programme offered by the Deptherapy Foundation, a registered charity. They joined six US soldiers to undergo a week of this unusual but highly effective form of intensive therapy. Deptherapy is a scuba diving programme that has been specifically designed to help wounded soldiers rehabilitate after their return from active service. Tried and tested in the United States, and already producing impressive results, Deptherapy has already changed many lives immeasurably for the better.
 

The soldiers arrived on Grand Cayman on 27 July and undertook two dives a day between 29 July and 2 August. They experienced a variety of Cayman’s most spectacular dive sites. Says Fraser Bathgate, ‘It is impossible to imagine the emotion of being with these wounded soldiers when they experience for the first time the freedom of being in the warm, clear water and the stunning underwater marine world. I have literally seen men who were shadows of their former selves become alive again.’

The Deptherapy Foundation was set up to support this programme, and to finance and organise regular therapeutic trips to warm-water scuba diving venues for former Service personnel, who will benefit from the unique and successful qualities of the programme.
 

To find out more, visit www.deptherapy.co.uk.

 

 

 

 

Rainbow Divers is based in Nha Trang, Vietnam. It is ranked in the top 0.005% of all accredited dive schools worldwide, and is the longest-established and only five-star PADI, IDC and National Geographic (held by only 52 dive centres worldwide) centre in Vietnam. It has five diving centres throughout Vietnam, and its two resident Course Directors hold the highest PADI diving qualifications in Vietnam.

 

Rainbow offers resettlement courses and is currently awaiting Enhanced Learning Credit (ELC) accreditation. Your resettlement package covers course and examination fees, accommodation and three meals a day.

 

Unlike other centres, Rainbow doesn’t promise to deliver qualifications in record time. You can dive twice daily (plus night dives), seven days a week. If you attend a seven-week course and require further training to reach the agreed standard, Rainbow guarantees up to two weeks’ free training, all meals and accommodation. Reach your standard within this time frame and you will receive £300 worth of diving gear.

 

Rainbow is the only dive centre in Vietnam teaching DSAT Deep Tec qualifications and Trimix diving, with unique commercial opportunities and rewards upon successful completion.

 

If you’re eligible for military funding, Rainbow can host expeditions for you. Want to bring your own instructors? Rainbow will provide equipment, classrooms, transport, diving boats, compressed air, meals and accommodation. Its PADI Course Directors, Instructors and Dive Masters are all available on request. For more information, please check out the Rainbow website at www.divevietnam.com or email garyteeven@hotmail.co.uk.