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.

 

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/

Meet Matt, the adrenaline junkie

As scuba divers working in the industry, we all like to think we’re living life to the max. There is a fair amount of excitement in our daily lives – a new dive site to discover, new marine life to marvel at, new conditions to master and obviously new students to teach. Each day brings challenges, fun and stories to tell at the end of it.

And then we met Matt and we realized that our lives were comparatively boring. He arrived at Trawangan Dive nine months ago and it was instantly obvious that he wasn’t your average guy. For a start, he jumps out of planes and off high buildings for fun. As a sky dive instructor and base jumper he really lives life on the edge. Give him a sport and he’ll master it. Motorcross, speed bike racing, Judo, Jiu-jitsu. He pushes himself to the limit in everything he does.

But in his previous line of work, there were many dangers. And after a few too many close calls and reminders that he was still very young, he left Canada to begin a different life. The plan was to travel the world but he got as far as his first destination, Indonesia, and was amazed by life here. And decided to stay…

Were you already a diver?

No. I arrived in Bali and headed to Sanur and completed my PADI Open Water course and PADI Advanced Open Water course. I knew from the first dive that I would take it further. How much further wasn’t clear at that time. But as always, whenever I start a new sport, I want to become the best at it. Diving was the perfect sport for me at this stage in my life. Done properly it has a calming effect. It’s like meditation. And the feeling of weightlessness is like flying but unlike skydiving, everything is a lot slower!

And then you came to the Gili islands…

Yes, I heard about the Gili islands from some people I had met in Bali. I planned to stay for three nights but when I arrived I instantly wanted to stay longer. I’ve realized since that this happens to lots of people! It ticks all the boxes of what people expect of a paradise island – no motor traffic, picture perfect beaches, clear warm seas, amazing marine life and happy people. Also, there’s enough happening on the island to not get bored and enough tranquility to relax. It’s the perfect combination.

What made you choose Trawangan Dive?

I visited many of the dive centres on the island but it was at Trawangan Dive where I felt the most at home. I spoke to all the Divemaster Trainees and asked them about how their course was going. It was obvious they were loving every minute of it. As a French Canadian, I was worried that I would have problems with doing the course in English. But at Trawangan Dive they have an English instructor who speaks fluent French after having lived in France for years and he reassured him he could translate where necessary. That closed the deal.

And so you carried on your education and completed the Emergency First Response (EFR), PADI Rescue Diver and PADI Divemaster courses. Which was your favourite?

I think the PADI Rescue Diver course was my favourite course. The course made me consider not only my own safety but also others. It expanded my awareness and taught me a whole new set of skills. It’s obvious why it’s a compulsory step to becoming a PADI Divemaster because it teaches you the appropriate response to such a wide range of situations, some of which you encounter when you start working with student divers. I can’t thank my instructor enough for his sharing his experience with me – his amusing stories, his insights into the psychology behind rescue situations and his commitment to proper technique.

What did you think about your PADI Divemaster course?

The PADI Divemaster course was a lot of fun! I learnt a lot about the dive industry and how it works. I took every opportunity to dive and logged well over 80 dives during the course. I improved my dive skills and learnt how to deal with customers whether they are students or certified divers. I realized that what makes me tick is helping people overcome fears. I love seeing their faces when they master a skill they were afraid of, such as mask clearing skills. It makes my day when I show new divers their first turtle or bumphead parrotfish. New experiences is what it’s all about.

And you worked as a Divemaster for a while. How was that?

Once I completed my PADI Divemaster course, I knew that I had to become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. If I could have done it sooner I would have done. But I needed to be a diver for at least six months before I completed my PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC). So I worked as a Divemaster in various places to get the experience. In retrospect, it was definitely needed as I learnt so much during that time. No matter how much studying you do or how much time you spend under the watchful eye of an instructor, you don’t really learn until you’re doing if for yourself, every day, with real customers.
 
How did you find the PADI IDC?

The PADI IDC was tough! Mentally it was exhausting because there was so much information to process. Ayala was firm but fair. She was very helpful, she really pushed us and she really prepared us well. Not only for the PADI Instructor Examination but also for the real world. It was obvious why she has a 100% first time pass rate.

How did you feel when you passed the PADI Instructor Examination?

I was so relieved and happy. I felt like I had achieved something amazing. I’d made my way up the PADI ladder and was able to teach another of my passions.

What’s the plan now?

I’m spending the next couple of weeks team teaching with the amazing instructors at Trawangan Dive to learn how they schedule courses. The quality of the instruction is so high that I can learn a lot from these guys. I already have a good idea about scheduling because I assisted on many courses during my Divemaster course. But now I’m obviously looking at things from a different perspective.
I am in the fortunate position of being able to speak three sought-after languages – English, French and Spanish, so I don’t think I’m going to have too many problems finding work. Especially when I’ve got some experience under my belt. And I’m working with Ayala to get my five specialties so I can become a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer once I’ve got my first 25 student certifications.
And then we’ll see. There are so many amazing places to work as a dive instructor. I can’t wait to begin exploring the possibilities!

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

http://www.idc-gili.com/meet-matt-the-adrenaline-junkie/

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. 

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