Trawangan Dive Center | PADI IDC Gili Islands| “Teaching the World” to Teach!

The PADI IDC Gili Islands Career Development Center is fast becoming one of the best places to take a professional dive qualification. Whether it’s going to be the PADI Divemaster Course or The PADI Instructor Development Course, or even a combination of both; Trawangan Dive can train you to a far superior level than generally found within the recreational dive industry.

Our Divemaster course is usually run over a period of 5 weeks and as well as covering all the requirements of the course teaches you how to be a Divemaster in a real life environment. Trawangan Dive is one of the largest dive operations in the Gili Islands and therefore Divemaster’s in training will be exposed to real life experience interacting with guests and customers on a daily basis. The course fully prepares Divemasters to an extremely high level and prepares them to be a valuable asset to any dive operation. The course is a prerequisite for the PADI IDC Course.

The PADI IDC Gili Islands here at Trawangan Dive is held every month and prepares dive professionals to teach a range of PADI Programs. The course is conducted over 10 days and includes 4 days pre-IDC preparation. The course is broken up into a number of core elements including water skills, classroom presentations, open water presentations, knowledge development, standards and procedures, business of diving and marketing. During the course candidates will build their own personal confidence and develop themselves to become highly employable PADI Instructors.

If you’re interested in building a career as a professional PADI Divemasters or PADI Instructor, than look no further. The PADI IDC Gili Islands will teach you to confidently “Teach the World” to dive. The course will give you the knowledge, confidence and skills to out and find immediate employment as a PADI professional. Many of our previous instructor candidates can be found right here in the Gili Islands working at local dive operators.

To find out more about our PADI professional dive programs check out our Gili GoPro website or our PADI IDC Gili Trawangan Facebook page, where you can follow our previous candidates progress. As a PADI Career Development Center we also offer a range of PADI career development options. Amongst the range of exciting career options available the one we are most excited about is the PADI IDC Indonesia Komodo Livaboard option which not only trains candidates to teach the PADI programs, but also teaches them how to run a successful Livaboard operation.Other programs include videography, conservation, technical diving and experience internship options.

Diving in The Gili Islands, Indonesia : Looking to the future

 

 

Over the course of 2013 Trawangan Dive as achieved many of its long term goals and has been subsequently rewarded for the efforts. However this opens up a whole new area of potential development for the future.

Although we have already increased the amount of accommodation options available to our guests we have also seen a huge increase in the number guests taking diving programs and therefore our accommodation facilities have followed suite and there is now a need for further expansion. Trawangan Dive will be increasing the amount of onsite luxury bungalows to accommodate our continued popularity.

Although Trawangan Dive provide the full range of recreational dive courses, we have seen an increase in customers asking about technical dive programs and therefore have identified this as an area of potential expansion. Over 2013 we have seen record numbers of recreational divers taking PADI programs and therefore have had seen a slight negative affect on the technical division of the dive center. In the future Trawangan Dive wishes to expand it technical dive division to accommodate those divers wishing to take their training to a new level.

As with the professional level courses we have seen record numbers of divers choosing to take our PADI Divemaster Program here at Trawangan Dive. Throughout 2013 the PADI Divemaster Program has been continuously monitored and we will continue to do so in the future, allowing divemasters in training to receive the latest and most up to date training needs whilst also getting a real life taste of working within one of the busiest and best dive centers in Indonesia.

Our Instructor training facility has gone through a number of changes during 2013; all our training facilities and course content has been overhauled and we have developed a close working relationship with PADI allowing us to make sure instructor candidates are not only kept fully up to date with training updates but also kept fully up to date with the ever changing nature of the industry. We intend to carry on providing the best professional and non-professional training possible making Trawangan Dive the only real choice when it comes to serious scuba diving training.

If you wish to be part of the future of diving with Trawangan Dive contact us on info@trawangandive.com

Diving in The Gili Islands, Indonesia : Trawangan Dive 2013 Achievements

Trawangan Dive is extremely proud of its achievements during 2013. We hosted the Gili Trawangan Finathon Event earlier in the year and managed to raise well over $7500 which we decided to split between the Gili Eco Trust and Project AWARE. The Gili Eco Trust represents the island and runs regular environmental programs. Project AWARE is more concerned with the protection of marine species such as endangered shark species. Due to this and our many other environmental awareness programs we were awarded the classification of 100% AWARE dive center. As a 100% AWARE partner we support a clean, healthy ocean by making a donation on behalf of each student to Project AWARE. All students will receive the Project AWARE version of your PADI certification card and be part of a movement of divers protecting our ocean planet.

One of the founders of Trawangan Dive, Simon Liddiard received an award for his 20 years of commitment and support to the PADI system and its philosophy. Hans Ulrich from PADI Asia Pacific visited Trawangan Dive to present the award and to personally thank Simon, Trawangan Dive and all the staff for their assistance and contribution to PADI and for helping to shape the future of PADI recreational dive training and therefore shaping the quality of training for future divers.

All of our Instructors here at Trawangan Dive have also received awards for excellence in the field of recreational dive training. All were presented with a quartz crystal plaque to represent not only teaching 100 new divers this year but to signify the high level of professionalism which is demonstrated by each and every dive instructor at Trawangan Dive. The Awards were presented by Tony Andrews of PADI Asia Pacific who came to Trawangan Dive to individually present the awards and to congratulate each instructor thanking them for their high level of commitment to the PADI Educational System.

Again this year we received our Trip Advisor “Certificate of excellence”. The Certificate of Excellence award is given to outstanding hospitality businesses that have received praise and recognition in reviews by Trip Advisor travelers. To qualify for the Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on Trip Advisor. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.

Trawangan Dive is a 5 Star IDC Resort, and has now been awarded the Classification of “Career Development Centre”. There are only 4 CDC Centers in Indonesia and we are the first in the Lombok region. As well as conducting 11 PADI Instructor Development Courses (IDC) per year we have 2 PADI Course Directors and a brand new purpose built IDC classroom facility. The PADI Career Development Center (CDC) classification is awarded annually to PADI Five Star Instructor Development Centers and Five Star Instructor Development Dive Resorts that dedicate their businesses to professional development beyond regular scuba instructor training and meet the highest requirements for training PADI scuba diving leaders. PADI CDCs offer career-oriented training to prepare scuba diving professionals for employment in the dive industry, as well as offering job placement assistance for program graduates.

So 2013 has been a very eventful year for Trawangan Dive and although we are at the height of professionalism in the industry and there are not many awards of recognition left to obtain we still strive to continue to improve and hope that our future customers continue to have a highly rewarding experience at Trawangan Dive.

We are making every effort to continuously improve upon our already excellent reputation and if your looking to dive or stay with us we are also making every effort to keep our guests fully upto date through our scocial media including our website and the Trawangan Dive Facebook page.

 

Scuba Diving in The Gili Islands : It’s a family affair at Trawangan Dive

During 2013 Indonesia as a whole has seen more family holiday makers visiting the country and therefore the Gili Islands have become the perfect island getaway. Trawangan Dive has noticed this trend and has therefore upped its game in terms of accommodation needs and scuba diving programs aimed at families with young children.

In terms of accommodation we have always offered the backpacker rooms as well as our luxury chalet style bungalows which are situated on site surrounded by our lush tropical gardens. Over the course of 2013 we have experienced more families with young children and have noticed more families seeking a more tailor made villa style holiday experience, so therefore we have expanded our range of choices in terms of family orientated accommodation rentals. It’s never been easier to book your villa on Gili Trawangan, simply email your details the Trawangan Dive “Exclusive Villas” department (www.trawangandive.com) and give them your details and requirements. The Trawangan Dive accommodation team will do the rest and find you the perfect place to enjoy you vacation with the family.

We have also noticed a huge increase in the numbers of families wishing to take part in diving programs and therefore have taken the necessary steps to ensure families receive the best possible experience and have also built a brand new luxury family villa in the resort directly next to our dive shop allowing families to fully immerse themselves in the dive schedule whilst at the same time to be able to make full use of their beachside villa.

The rise in families taking dive programs and activities has also prompted us to review the facilities available to young divers, and over the course of 2013 we have taken every step to ensure the safety, satisfaction and overall enjoyment of our programs. Our staff have been fully trained in and briefed in the education and care of PADI junior divers. Our facilities have also endured a complete makeover; having retiled our entire onsite training pool and upgraded our range of equipment for children. Trawangan Dive has received multiple trip advisor reviews from families all over the globe and is looking forward to welcoming more families in the coming years. So if you’re looking to take a family vacation and experience the true wonders of our tropical island and our magnificent ocean, the journey starts here.

Check out The Trawangan Dive Web Page of visit The Trawangan Dive Facebook Page!

To book your perfect diving vacation with the family contact info@trawangandive.com
 

Screw university, diving is way better

Corina joined the team at Trawangan Dive a few months ago, after doing her PADI Divemaster and PADI Instructor Development Course with us. As well as being a semi-permanent fixture at any party at the Irish bar, she’s also keeps guests entertained with her quick humour and funny stories. We love her to bits and hope she never leaves!
 
Tell us about yourself Corina..

Young, sexy, big boobs, nice bum. That kind of sums it up!

Quite! Ermm.. anything else?

I’m from Switzerland, I’m 21 years old and I speak English, German, Italian and a weird local dialect called Romanch. There are only 15,000 people that speak it. So super useful.

How did you end up on the island?

I was on a bus in Bali at 6am and I met Sarah one of the dive instructors at Trawangan Dive. She seemed really friendly and she knew I was on my way to Gili Trawangan. She basically dragged me to the dive shop.

Had you been here before?

No. But I heard about it from a best friend who visited it two years ago. It sounded like a lot of fun.

How long have you now been here for?

Since May last year .. almost one and half years.

What made you decide to stay?


I originally came to do some fun dives. But Sarah, with her great sales technique, sold me the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course. After one week and lots of diving, I tried to leave. My boat and flight to Singapore were booked. After a big night out at a snorkel test, and a little encounter with one of the Divemaster trainees, I was ready to leave, bags packed and everything. I paid my bill. But Adam, Sarah’s boyfriend and also a great salesman, told me to stay and to do my PADI Divemaster.

A group of friends at the dive centre then created a pros and cons list on the whiteboard. The pros list for staying was much longer (of course) and so I decided to stay. The boat, by that point, had left anyway. I crawled back into my room and started my PADI Rescue Diver course the following day. The course lasted ten days because I was in no rush and it was so much fun.

Do you remember your PADI Divemaster course or is it all a blur?!

At that point, my English wasn’t so great and it took me a long time to read the books and study for my exams. My mentor helped me though. Otherwise, it was great fun. I learnt so much and did almost a hundred dives during the course. This was invaluable for when I became an instructor.

Did this mess up plans you might have had at home?

Totally. I was meant to study Geography. I went home after my Divemaster course. I was depressed and cried a lot and I didn’t want to see my friends. I started university but quit two weeks later because I couldn’t be bothered. My heart wasn’t in it. I booked a one way ticket back to Indonesia with the intention of staying for a few months.

And then you did your PADI Instructor Development Course!

Admittedly, I was a bit of a star student because I had done my PADI Divemaster training at Trawangan Dive and all the others had done theirs at different dive centres. It made me realize what a high standard we have here.

What was your diving experience before coming to the island?

I did my PADI Open Water Diver course when 14 in Egypt. When I arrived on Gili Trawangan, I had about 20 dives. As well as Egypt, I’d also dived in Australia and Turkey.

What are you doing now?

Sitting in the office all day and drinking coffee!

I occasionally teach but my main job is now Marketing Manager. I’m responsible for administration of the accommodation at Trawangan Dive. I organize bookings, and travel arrangements for people and make sure all of the rooms are looking lovely.

What are your plans for the future?

Taking over the world. Why not! I’m staying for a while. It’s very difficult to leave. I hope to teach some more. Party some more. Find a rich husband. You know, what every girl dreams of…

If you'd like more information on how to follow in Corina's footsteps, please contact us!

This article originally appeared on www.idc-gili.com.

 

Protecting our reefs for generations to come

 
Trawangan Dive is proud to be hosting part of the 2012 Biorock training workshop. It will bring professional coral restoration experts and lecturers into the classroom to engage participants in all aspects of coral reef restoration using the definitive Biorock method.
 
Coral reefs are the rainforests of the world’s oceans. Just like their earthly counterparts, they occur in tropical and sub tropical environments and support a huge variety of species. They are also diminishing at an alarming rate.

Decline of the Great Barrier Reef

A study published just a few weeks ago revealed that Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has lost more than half its coral cover in the past 27 years. Researchers analysed data on the condition of 217 individual reefs that make up the World Heritage Site. The results show that coral cover declined from 28.0% to 13.8% between 1985 and 2012. They attribute the decline to storms, a coral-feeding starfish and bleaching linked to climate change.

Asia’s Coral Triangle is also under threat 

Another report has warned that more than 85 percent of reefs in Asia’s Coral Triangle are directly threatened by human activities such as coastal development, pollution and overfishing. Launched at the International Coral Reef Symposium in Cairns, it said the threat was substantially more than the global average of 60 percent and urged greater efforts to reduce destructive fishing and run-off from land.

“When these threats are combined with recent coral bleaching, prompted by rising ocean temperatures, the percent of reefs rated as threatened increases to more than 90 percent,” the report said.

The Coral Triangle covers Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, The Solomon Islands, and East Timor and contains nearly 30 percent of the world’s reefs and more than 3,000 species of fish.

Marine biologists are trying reverse the trend

Marine biologists across the world are desperately trying to protect our remaining reefs. Some are building repositories of the known coral species so that future generations can at least get to see them in aquariums. Others are constructing artificial reefs in areas of significant damage.

Biorock method yields quick results

The biorock method was developed by architect and marine scientist Wolf Hilbertz and marine biologist Tom Goreau. They found that by running a small electrical current through a structure in seawater, a hard shell of calcium carbonate would form on the cathode. You could then attach small pieces of natural coral to the structure. The corals seemed to love these substrates, achieving growth rates often five times faster than normal.

Gili Trawangan – a paradise under threat

Gili Trawangan is one of three tiny coral atolls off the coast of Lombok, Indonesia. It is increasingly a compulsory side trip to any Bali holiday, thanks to its white beaches, diving and snorkelling sites and absence of motor vehicles.

The Gili Islands are dependent on a healthy marine habitat for their fisheries, tourism, shore protection and marine biodiversity. This habitat has been largely damaged by combinations of coral heatstroke, disease, storms, global sea level rise, over-fishing and direct physical damage from destructive fishing practices, boats, anchors and tourists.

Without large-scale restoration of degraded habitats to make them capable of supporting larger fish and shellfish populations, there will be fewer fish in the future.

And without healthy growing corals, there will be fewer beaches or tourism income, affecting all business owners on the island.

Tourist attraction

“Right now we around 60 biorock structures around this island,” says Delphine Robbe. “By the end of this year, we should have one hundred.” Since coming to Gili Trawangan in 2005 with a plan to get her PADI Divemaster certification, this Frenchwoman has become the driving force behind the island’s many eco programmes.

Besides stimulating biodiversity, the Biorock structures also combat beach erosion, which became a serious problem with the destruction of the natural reefs. Increasingly, they are an attraction for tourists too. Divers and snorkelers can now see underwater sculptures of a manta ray, trident, dolphin, turtle, octopus, snake, moon and even a komodo dragon.

2012 Biorock training workshop

Gili Trawangan is proud to be hosting the 2012 Biorock training workshop. It will bring professional coral restoration experts and lecturers into the classroom to engage participants in all aspects of coral reef restoration using the definitive Biorock method.

Workshop sessions will cover all aspects of theory and practice including design, construction, installation, monitoring, maintenance and repair of Biorock sites. Additional lectures will cover the basic principles of coral reef ecology, threats to coral reefs, and environmental restoration.

Over the course of the seven day workshop, participants will have the opportunity to use their knowledge as they plan and invoke all the steps involved in constructing, deploying and populating Biorock structures with coral fragments.

After accomplishing the Biorock workshop, certified PADI instructors can apply to PADI to be able to teach the PADI Distinctive Specialty: Introduction to Biorock process.

If you’d like more information about the Biorock workshop and ways in which you can combine the course with PADI professional courses, please contact us at Trawangan Dive.

This article originally appeared on www.idc-gili.com.

Thinking about becoming a PADI professional?

Pick up any diving magazine or surf the web for dive related websites, and you’ll find lots of images taken in exotic destinations combined with interactions with aquatic life. In certain people, this often stimulates the dream of working full time as a dive professional.

There are few professions in the world where you can spend a Monday morning commuting to your work place on a boat, enjoying beautiful weather with customers who admire you for the job you do.

You’ll never forget your first breath

Most divers never forget their first breath underwater during their initial confined water training. For the majority of scuba participants, the entry level certification opens a whole new world. For some, it creates the dream and goal of becoming a scuba diving professional.

Build your self esteem

Scuba diving is a sport that builds self esteem and improves physical fitness. It also creates an environmental awareness and shows individuals how to make a positive contribution to the aquatic world.

Unlike many other sports, scuba diving is non-contact, three-dimensional and multi sensory. The competition is with each individual to better themselves as a diver, not over others. Whilst many divers enjoy the silence and serenity of the underwater world, scuba diving is also a very social activity and fosters camaraderie amongst participants and leads to lifelong friendships.

You’ll make a positive difference 

As a scuba diving professional, you get to make a positive difference to other people’s lives and to the environment. Whether an individual seeks scuba instruction to learn about the environment, as a self fulfilment goal or to challenge themselves, you become a facilitator and help them dive safely and have enjoyable experiences.

The PADI system of education

The PADI system of diver education has some of the most comprehensive educational products. It’s a system that enables the instructor to work more on individualized instruction as most students are free to learn at their own pace.

This allows for you as the instructor to focus on individual needs, remediation and delivering the course in a fun and effective manner.

These materials can be used anywhere in the world to teach a standardized course. However, the instructor will need to adapt each course to the local environment and culture, which is something you will be taught to do.

Work wherever you choose

PADI instructors can choose to work part or full time in tropical resorts or local dive centres. Many instructors also have their own full time jobs and work in their spare time or weekends as either freelance instructors or through a local PADI dive centre.

In the resort environment many instructors enjoy teaching on tropical islands in warm waters on beautiful coral reefs with an abundance of fish and other aquatic life. It’s obviously this dream lifestyle that motivates many individuals to switch careers.

Join the tribe – become a PADI Divemaster

There are different methods of completing the Divemaster course; it can be done through a local dive centre, on a part time basis, either interning on classes or via practical simulated training components. Many candidates choose to take time out and intern on a program over several weeks in the tropics, and get real world hands on exposure whilst training.

Take the plunge – become a PADI Instructor

The next step after the PADI Divemaster course is to enrol in either the PADI Assistant Instructor course, or the complete PADI Instructor Development Course.

To have the best chances of employment within the dive industry, and to make a reasonable pay, then the instructor rating is a logical progression after the Divemaster course.

What you can teach

As a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, you can conduct introductory programs such as Discover Snorkelling and Discover Scuba Diving, and certification courses from the PADI Open Water Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, PADI Rescue Diver and the PADI Divemaster course.

It is also possible to teach specialty classes such as Enriched Air/Nitrox, Digital Photography, Deep, Wreck or Fish Identification upon taking a specialty instructor class or with sufficient experience.

Sounds amazing! What’s the catch?

PADI instructors seem to have the dream job. They get to work in exotic locations, they dive for a living, they interact with nature, and their students look up to them like heroes. In addition, they get paid for all this.

But teaching requires a special set of skills including patience, adaptability, open mindedness and basic business principles in customer service and marketing.

Often, the job of a PADI Divemaster or instructor has long hours. It can require the person to truly multitask and there may be significant periods without days off.

However if you talk to an instructor at the end of a bad days work, the majority would not swap it for anything else in the world.

It’s not all about the money, money, money

Whilst the job may not have the highest pay scales and most instructors do not work solely for money, the pay can be enough to allow good savings after a season. This could be used to finance a flight to the next destination, purchase new equipment and reinvest in additional training, or simply to bank.

If wealth could be measured in job satisfaction, then PADI instructors would probably be the wealthiest professionals on the planet, and with a life they could look back on with the biggest of smiles.

Branch out and discover new avenues

Many instructors work for a period of a few years teaching recreational classes then advance into more senior positions.

Friends who I have worked with now hold prominent positions in the scuba diving industry – from working as PADI Regional Managers, to owners of live boards, to PADI Course Directors. Others own or manage dive centres and resorts, and some specialize in technical diving and exploration.
When I think back to the career path I had originally chosen, in international financial institutions, I never for one day regret my choice – where it has taken me, the people I have met, and the memories I have.

If you'd like more information about the courses we offer at Trawangan Dive, please contact us.

This article originally appeared on www.idc-gili.com.

Gap year diver rocks the world

Trawangan Dive’s BioRock Distinctive Specialty Course attracts divers from around the world who want to work on a long-term project with a beneficial environmental impact. It is also a very popular choice for many gap year students. One of our latest arrivals is Pippa, from the UK. She joined us a few weeks ago and has captivated us all with her stories, her diving skills and her professional attitude.
 
Tell us about yourself Pippa…

I’m an 18 year old originally from Hampshire, United Kingdom but I now live in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. Yes, where the cheese comes from! I’m currently on my gap year before starting a BSc in Marine Biology with Oceanography at Newcastle University next year.

What made you come to the Gili islands?

I wanted to do something conservation and science-oriented in preparation for my studies next year. At a gap year event at my school, I met Ben from Gap Year Divers and he gave me some information about the Gili islands, Trawangan Dive and the BioRock specialty course. It all sounded so perfect.

I’ve been a diver since completing my PADI Junior Open Water Diver at the age of 10. Since then, diving has been a big part of my life and I’ve had my sights set on becoming a PADI Divemaster for a long time.

In addition, some friends had been to the islands before and had amazed me with stories about the culture, the diving and the parties!

What are your first impressions of the Gili islands?

I’d never been to this part of the world before – this is by far the furthest east I’ve been. Everything is so different – the culture, language and cuisine – but you get used to it very quickly.

The Gili islands themselves are beautiful. In one word – paradise! They really are paradise islands, with white sand beaches, swaying palm trees and crystal clear seas. It’s great that there is no form of motorized transport allowed – it’s makes for a very peaceful environment.

Everyone is so friendly and I’ve felt very welcomed since day one. The locals are always smiling and greet you whenever you meet them, even if you’re just walking down the road. It feels a very safe place.

How are you finding it at Trawangan Dive?

It’s very much a home from home and I felt part of the team straight away. When we arrived, we were met by Adam, one of the managers, down at the harbour. He greeted us with a smile and a hug and then bundled us into a horse cart.

It only took a few minutes to arrive at Trawangan Dive and I have to admit I was impressed. It sits right on the beach, overlooking the crystal waters with Gili Meno on the other side of the channel. It looks professional, clean and welcoming. Which was a relief because you can never really tell from looking at pictures on the internet!

I’ve got everything I need here. The food at the restaurant is delicious and there’s lots of variety, from English breakfasts to Mexican fajitas and Indonesia rice dishes. The backpacker rooms are simple but clean. I’ve got a bunk bed room to myself so I have some privacy.

The diving side of things is very well organized and everyone works together as a team. There are so many nationalities working here – English, Scottish, Kiwi, Australian, Swiss, German, French, etc.

Tell us about your previous diving experience

My father is a scuba diver and as a family we go to Mauritius every year for our family holiday. I always really enjoyed snorkelling on the reefs and when I was 10 years old my father enrolled me in the PADI Junior Open Water Diver course. I thoroughly enjoyed it and even got to dive with a pod of wild dolphins on my last dive!

I also completed my PADI Junior Advanced Open Water Diver in Mauritius when I was 15 and then my PADI Rescue Diver course back in the United Kingdom. It was certainly a different experience! I did it at Vobster Quay, a quarry in the south of England. The water was cold and murky and there wasn’t an awful lot to see. I had to wear an 11m wetsuit which is neither comfortable nor flattering!

In addition to those places, I’ve also dived in the Red Sea and the British Virgin Islands.

You’re also a PADI Master Scuba Diver! Congratulations!

I’m pretty proud of myself because I worked quite hard for it. I did most of my PADI specialties including Night Diver, Digital Underwater Photography, Research Diver and Underwater Naturalist, at a company called Action Quest in the British Virgin Islands. In addition, I became an Enriched Air Diver.

How is the PADI Divemaster course going?

I love it! It’s really broadening my knowledge and giving me a whole new take on diving. I’m learning to look at dives and divers from a different perspective.

I’ve already been assisting on a variety of courses, from Discover Scuba Diving to Open Water and Advanced Open Water courses. Over the last few days I’ve also been given the opportunity to play the victim on a Rescue course. I’ve been getting a lot of the theory done and have already completed my first theory exam.

I really appreciate the mentor relationship and am learning a lot from Instructor Jo, but I also like that I get to work with all of the instructors. It’s interesting seeing how each instructor has a different style.

What about some of the cool things you’ve seen underwater here?

I saw my first ever shark at Shark Point the other day! We saw a total of three white tip reef sharks swimming in hundreds of circling jack fish and it was so cool.

There are loads of turtles on the dive sites which is brilliant because they are my favourite marine animal. You can’t go on a dive without seeing at least a couple of them.

I’ve also got to see lots of nudibranch that I’ve never seen before and I spent a good 10 minutes watching a cuttlefish lay some eggs the other day. Amazing!

Your BioRock specialty course is starting soon! Are you looking forward to it?

Absolutely. It’s a new concept that I’d never heard of before. Like most people, I’d heard about the decline of coral reefs around the world, and about coral bleaching and the warming of the ocean. I’d even witnessed this decline first hand having dived in Mauritius for so many years. So I became quite excited when I realized I could work on a project that is designed to combat these problems and help the reefs regrow. I can’t wait until we start building our own structure and then get to sink it and attach the coral. So exciting!

It goes without saying that the course will also massively benefit my university course and give me a lot of material and experience to share with others.

Where else are you going on your gap year?

I’m planning on heading back to Mauritius and I’m going to do my PADI Instructor Development Course with the dive centre where I learnt to dive. It’s like going full circle!

Once that’s completed and I’ve got some teaching experience, I’m going to go back to the British Virgin Islands as I’ve been offered a position as part of the dive staff at Action Quest.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

My dream has always been to work with the BBC on a series similar to the Blue Planet. I would love to be a research assistant on a program like that, making brilliant television while getting the chance to see nature’s wonders up close and for real. It would also be quite cool to make David Attenborough a cup of tea…

Best of luck with realizing your dream Pippa! 

If you’re interested in improving your diving skills and learning to become a PADI Divemaster or Instructor on a beautiful tropical island, get in touch with us at Trawangan Dive.

This article originally appeared on the Trawangan Dive website for PADI professional courses: www.idc-gili.com

How an Essex lad became a dive guru

Anyone who has been to a Trawangan Dive quiz night will be familiar with James, our quizmaster and one of the lead PADI Instructors at our dive resort on Gili Trawangan.
His story from office job to dive god is a familiar tale to many of us in the dive industry. At one point, we all decided to say goodbye to the usual nine-to-five in order to take a leap of faith into the world of diving. And just like the rest of us, James has no intention of ever going back…

What was your previous job?

After studying accountancy at college in Essex, I started my first job with a construction company in East London. I was 18 years old at the time, and I stayed there for 3 years. It was awful, really awful.
The daily commute was mostly spent sitting in someone’s armpit listening to some idiot chatting rubbish on his mobile. The late night’s journey home was inevitably on public transport, trying to avoid catching anyone’s eye in case they had a knife and an attitude.
To be honest, I hated England. It was cold, boring and it never stopped raining. If my family didn’t live there, I could happily never step foot in the country ever again.

Not your happiest moment then! So what did you do?

I saved up some dosh and booked myself on a six month trip around Africa. It was an overland trek in a bus with a bunch of other people who were disillusioned with the real world. It was my first trip outside of Europe so it was big eye opener. We started in Cape Town and I learnt how to dive there. But blimey, it was cold. The water was 13 degrees – we had to wear a 7mm semi-dry and I was still freezing! Despite this, it was an amazing experience and I continued to dive throughout trip.
Lake Malawi was my first taster of diving in fresh water. Lots of different fish and also different planning was required because it was also altitude diving. In Zanzibar I had my first dive in warm water and I couldn’t believe the change it makes. I saw loads of stuff – turtles and lots of different reef fish. In between, the trip included numerous safaris, white water rafting, trekking to see gorillas, etc. It was fantastic. And for six months, I lived in a tent and learnt how to make a fire, how to cook for the group and got in touch with my inner caveman!

Did you head back home at the end of the trip?

Absolutely not! When the trip ended I flew to Bangkok, Thailand and celebrated New Years Eve at a full moon party Koh Pha Ngan. Mental. After a month or so of partying in Thailand, I made my way to Borneo where I volunteered at a wildlife centre called Matang Wildlife Centre. This involved helping with the orangutans, helping to build enclosures and lots of trekking into the mosquito-infested jungle.

After that, I made way round the South-East Asia backpacker circuit including Laos, Cambodia, Philippines and Singapore. I dived whenever I got the chance. In particular, Sipadan blew my mind. There was so much going on during each dive that I didn’t know where to look.

And then, did you head home?

Nah! I applied for a working holiday visa and headed to Australia. I’d always wanted to experience life down under. Rather than making a beeline to Sydney like everyone else, I went to Melbourne. I was worried that Sydney would just be London-on-Sea.
And for the first time in what seemed like ages, I got myself a proper job as an accountant again. It was the easiest way to earn some decent money. After all the travelling I had done, it was nice to enjoy some of the comforts of the developed world again. I had a good group of mates that enjoyed a drink or two, so every night was spent down the pub. And at the weekend, I would try to get away. On one occasion, I headed up to Cairns for a dive trip on the Great Barrier Reef, which was cool, but not really what I expected.

Did you continue your PADI education there?

Actually, it was on the way home that I stopped off in Malaysia and did my next course in the Perhentians islands. I had planned two weeks of chilling on sun-drenched, palm tree lined beach before heading back to the UK. But I was bored after a couple of days so I signed up for my PADI Rescue Diver course with Emergency First Response. It was a fun course with loads of people pretending to pass out underwater or drowning on the surface. I had to tow a fat guy for what seemed like miles. It was good workout.

Were you excited to be going home after so long away?

You would think so. But no, not really. Of course it was nice to see friends and family. But the main reason I went back was because I had run out of money, not because I wanted to return to office life.

Nevertheless, I did get an accounting job again. I figured it was time to grow up and stop running away from responsibilities.

After three months in the job, I realized I didn’t actually want to grow up so I saved up some more money to go travelling again and then quit my job! Again!

How did you find out about Trawangan Dive?

I did a Google search for ‘diving in Indonesia’ and the Gili islands popped up. I emailed various different dive centres and the reply from the manager at the time, Amy, was the quickest and the funniest. That’s all it took! I booked my flight the next day and a month or so later I arrived on the island.

What do you think of the Gili islands?

When I arrived, I was really pleased with my choice. It has the best balance of social life and diving of any island I’ve been to before. Sometimes you arrive in a diving destination and while they are picture perfect, there’s absolutely nothing to do in the evening.

If you don’t want to dive the Gili islands (which would be damn shame) you could still do lots of things – kayaking, sunbathing, snorkeling, horse riding, trek up a volcano in nearby Lombok, etc. Some girls even sunbathe topless so it provides the guys with a nice pastime between dives!

How was your PADI Divemaster Course?

I honestly loved every moment of it. I had Philip as my mentor and it stood me in good stead for the rest of my diving career. I assisted on lots of different courses from – Discover Scuba Diving, Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver courses. Every Divemaster’s favourite is the assist on a Rescue Course – fainting, screaming, puking, bleeding, panicking! So many opportunities to channel my inner drama queen!

I’ve seen you in a fair few costumes since you arrived…

I do love a costume party! I’ve been dressed as Tarzan, a school girl, a go-go dancer, the Hoff, and many more besides. And who can forget the teenage mutant ninja turtles? That was for my snorkel test at the end of my Divemaster course – another mental night I can barely remember!

How did the find PADI IDC?

Ayala is an fantastic PADI Course Director. The two weeks went by so quickly because we were so busy. I was under the impression we would be locked in the classroom all the time, but there were so many workshops, we never seemed to be out of the water.

I think I surprised many (including myself) with my knowledge development presentations. My Essex accent is a constant source of amusement for the people I work with, but in the classroom presentations, apparently I changed my accent and became a polite Englishman speaking the Queen’s English. It’s never happened again since!

And what about the PADI Instructor Examination?

For my PADI IE, we went to Bali. The conditions were much different to those around the Gili islands. We had 5 metre visibility and raging current that made the open water presentations kinda challenging. In comparison to the other groups there, we seemed to be much better prepared and this showed in the final marks – I passed with flying colours!

And so you began your new life as a PADI Instructor…

When I came back I helped out doing some diving and then they offered me a position as a permanent dive instructor at the dive resort. Financially things are much easier now. I can make ends meet without having to dip into savings. In fact, I’m even managing to save a bit as well. I love teaching and the variety it brings. One day I’ll be conducting a Discover Scuba Diving session and the next day I’ll be teaching Deep Specialty or Enriched Air.

What are your plans for the future?

I really want to stay on the island long term and would like to invest some money in property at some point. The island is slowly getting busier as more people are venturing outside of Bali and there are lots of good investment opportunities.

Obviously, I’ll continue to work at Trawangan Dive as well though. This place really is home now. I’m going to continue hosting the weekly quiz night until I get thrown off it! It’s a good laugh. Some people commented the other week that it was the least serious but most entertaining pub quiz they had ever been to. Job done!

Originally published on the Trawangan Dive website for PADI professional courses:

http://www.idc-gili.com/how-an-essex-lad-became-a-dive-guru/

PADI Courses & Specialities at Trawangan Dive

Here at Trawangan Dive we offer a range of courses starting from beginners who have never experienced diving, right the way to Instructor Development Courses.

Discover Scuba Diving Program

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to breather underwater. If you want to find out but aren’t quite ready to take the plunge into a certification course, Discover Scuba Diving will let you try scuba to see if you like it.

Discover Scuba Diving only takes half a day during this experience you will learn how to Scuba equipment first in our pool in shallow water giving you a quick and easy introduction into the underwater world. Once you know all the basics from the pool our Instructors take you into open water to 12 metre around one of many Gili Island dive sites. The Gili's has a lot to offer in terms of marine life! There is a high chance to see Turtles in the shallows, along with moray eels, Lion Fish, Bumphead Parrot fish, Angel Fish and so on!

Although the Discover Scuba Dive does not result in a certification you will receive a certifcate stating that you have participated and completed the program. If you wish to carry onto the Open Water Certification, you do so as it can count as one dive towards the Open Water Course in which you will then be certified to dive anywhere in the world up to 18 metres!

PADI Open Water Course

Looking for a new adventure? Been snorkelling but find that's not quite enough, or you have already completed the Discover Scuba Diving and loved it? Then the Open Water Diver certification is just what you were looking for. 

The course itself generally takes 3 to 4 days it consists of theory whereby you watch 5 videos and read the Open Water book and then complete the knowledge reviews . There is also 5 pool dive training sessions and 4 actual dives in the open water, the first two dives are to 12 metres and the second two are to 18 metres. Your Instructor will go through all the knowledge reviews with you, and they will take time to explain and elaborate on any aspect that isn't quite clear for you. You will learn about your Scuba equipment, how to set it up and check it, different aspects of safety in diving and how to behave under the water. During the training pool sessions you will be introduced to different skills that you will practice and then later repeat in the ocean during your open water dives. 

After finishing the Open Water Course the certification allows you to dive with a buddy, independently, up to 18 metres. You will be able to plan, conduct and log no decompression dives. 

Instructor Phil (centre) with his fresh Open Water Students

Advanced Open Water Course

As you carry on in your underwater adventure you will soon discover that it is more than just fun, there is also a wide range of activities and interrelated skills that are now within your reach, which will make you become a better more experienced diver!

To become a PADI Advanced Open Water you have to accumulate 5 "adventure dives" 2 of which are mandatory, Deep Dive and Underwater Navigation Dive. You then get to choose the 3 remaining adventure dives. This includes the list below:

Altitude | AWARE Fish Identification | Boat | DPV (Diver Propulsion Vehicle) | Drift | Dry Suit | Multilevel-Computer | Night | Peak Performance Buoyancy | Search and Recovery | Underwater Naturalist | Underwater Navigation | Underwater Photography | Underwater Videography | Wreck | Nitrox | 

 The Advanced Open Water Course is a simple and effective way to gain new knowledge and increase your diving experience and confidence while having a lot of fun!

Dive Instructor Julius taking his student Barry on his Adventure Deep Dive to Shark Point

Rescue Diver Course

The Rescue Diver program will expand your knowledge and experience beyond the recreational level and is a lot of fun at the same time! 

Rescue Diver training will prepare you to prevent problems and, if necessary, manage dive emergencies. 

During the course you will cover:

-Self rescue & diver stress

-AED & emergency oxygen delivery systems

-Dive first aid

-Swimming and non swimming rescue techniques

-Emergency management and equipment

-Panicked diver response

-Underwater problems

-Missing diver procedures

-Surfacing the unconscious diver

-In water rescue breathing protocols 

-First Aid procedures for pressure related accidents 

-Dive accidents scenarios

This course gets you to look beyond yourself and consider the safety and well being of other divers. Although this course is serious, it is an enjoyable way to build your confidence, as it will give you an entire new prospect on the world of diving!

Instructor Phil with Rescue Divers Sacha and now Dive Instructor Julius

Diver Accident Scenario

Divemaster Course

Divemaster Trainees at Trawangan Dive

Just to qualify to enter the Divemaster course is an accomplish! It already shows that you have learnt a great deal through training and through experience. 

The Divemaster rating is where your adventure as a dive professional begins. If there is a common characteristic of a Divemaster it would be responsibility. The Divemaster is responsible for people, responsible for planning, responsible for orientation, and at some time, responsible for nearly every aspect of safe diving. 

The Divemaster Course consists of 3 modules:

• Knowledge Development 
• Water Skills and Stamina
• Practical application

Here at Trawangan Dive you will probably progress through all 3 modules simultaneously, based upon the course schedule you and your instructor agreed upon. Being one of the busiest Dive Resorts on Gili Trawangan, there is always a course to help out on and you will never be waiting for someone to come in! 

In the knowledge development you will cover 12 topics through independent study, projects and discussions. You will learn more about physics, physiology, equipment, skills and environment, decompression theory and the Recreational Dive Planner and how to use the PADI Instructor Manual.

The water skills and stamina has 2 goals:

• To develop and evaluate your overall water skills and stamina 
• To improve upon your existing scuba skills

You will complete timed swims and other exercises in confined water and you will refine your basic scuba skills. You will also refresh your rescue skills. 

The practical application allows you to learn and practice Divemaster skills by applying what you learn during the first 2 modules. 

You will begin by completing 3 required training exercises:

• A mapping project
• An underwater problem solving exercise
• Divemaster conducted programs training 

After the required training exercises you will have a chance to develop and practice Divemaster skills with actual student divers, under the direct supervision of your instructor. 

Once you become a certified Divemaster you are able to do:

• Work at local dive centres, on live-aboard dive boats, yachts and at exotic resort locations
• Assist PADI Instructors with students
• Lead PADI Scuba divers on guided dive tours 
• Teach and certify PADI Skin Divers 
• Teach PADI Discover Snorkelling programs 
• Conduct PADI Scuba Review programs for certified divers
• Lead Certified divers on Discover Local Diving experiences

We always have a lot of Divemaster trainees here therefore making the experience more fun and enjoyable both during the day and when out at night! The Instructors are always around to speak to if you require any additional information or support. We have a lot of experienced Instructors who can tell you about their own experiences and how to deal with certain situations. 

Divemaster Snorkel Test Celebrating completing the course!

Instructor Development Course


The Instructor Development Course (IDC) takes both Assistant Instructor Course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor Course and combines them with EFR Instructor Course for a full package. At Trawangan Dive we run the course over a 16 day period, where you will work with our Course Director Ayala Cohen and other staff members. We have a fun, professional and detail orientated way of guiding you through your training. The training focuses on helping you to organise and teach all PADI courses as well as the Project Aware Specialties. Your Rescue Skills are assessed and fine tuned, confined water skills are taught to presentation quality, and workshops are done on all possible Advanced Open Water Dives so that as a new instructor you are ready to teach as soon as the exams are completed and certification has been registered by PADI. As part of the IDC package we are now offering Nitrox and Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor specialities for free. You will just have to pay directly to PADI for the certification fee at a date of choice. 

Course Director Ayala marking Confined Water Presentations

There is not a great deal of self-study required for the IDC, having good diving skills its the key element, however, having a better understanding of Divemaster theory will be of benefit to you. During the IDC you will cover part of the theory form the Divemaster Course as well as more in depth information on certain topics, including physics and physiology. During the course two days are set aside to ensure each candidate has a full understanding of all topics.

Happy IDC candidates after completing the course!

For anymore information required about the following Courses please visit our website or email us. 

To keep up to date with all the latest happening at Trawangan Dive visit our Facebook page. 

AWARE Month Success

In April 2012 Trawangan Dive signed up to participate in Project Aware's 100% AWARE month.  During April’s Big Shark Shout Out, we joined with other divers worldwide and called for greater protection from overexploitation: overfishing, finning, and bycatch. Throughout the whole month of April we set up lots of different events in order to promote and increase awareness of Project AWARE's big shark shout out!

All the Staff getting involved

Trawangan Dive's 100% AWARE promotional video:

During April we thought it would be a good idea to go viral and make a video that would get peoples attention  and help raise awareness for Sharks. At the time we had two Divemaster Trainee's Nick and Helen who were both hearing impaired so we thought we'd get the message across in Sign Language! They taught all the Instructors and Divemasters various amounts of sign language, some of which couldn't have been included in the video! A big thanks to all the staff at Trawangan Dive who took part in the video, we all had great fun making it! Please like and share our video to help get our message out there!

                                 
Finely's Trip to Gili Trawangan:
We were very pleased during the month of April to receive a visit from Project Aware's very own Finely the shark. Finley is touring the world to rally support for shark conservation and encouraging people from around the world to sign the Shark petition! For you to save the Sharks please sign Projects Aware's Shark Petition by visiting Trawangan Dive's Facebook Page. During Finley's visit, we got him involved in all the action from diving against debris and joining us on our divemasters snorkel tests!

Look who's arrived!

Finley joins in the fun of Nick and Helen's Divemaster Snorkel Test!

100% AWARE Quiz Night:

During Trawangan Dive's weekly Quiz night we decided during the month of April to base the Quiz around Project Aware. Thanks to our Instructors James Wells and Jo Hurford, for organising and hosting the Quiz. Included in the quiz was a sock puppet round were by Jo and James had previously filmed themselves acting various films for our amusement! It was then audience's turn to guess the film it was from, the films included Jaws to Finding Nemo! Other rounds included Fish charades (James making a fool out of himself), General ocean facts, Project Aware facts and other Conservation facts. The quiz was a great turn out, thanks to all who came and joined in the fun and made a donation towards Project Aware.

James hosting Project Aware Quiz Night

If you would like further information on this great cause and how you can become apart of it please email us at info@trawangandive.com or visit http://www.projectaware.org/