IDC

By , 12 March, 2014, No Comment

I came to DJL Koh Tao to complete my Divemaster, Instructor and MSDT internships. When i arrived on Koh Tao I was an AOW(Advanced open water) diver. Within three days of being here i completed my rescue course and EFR. I had a lot of fun doing my divemaster internship I got to meet a lot of people who helped me along the way. I spent four weeks doing the divemaster internship and was lucky enough to pick up some work as a DM for DJL. It wasn’t long before I started my IDC(Instructor Development Course).

At DJL we have three Course Director’s who teach us the skills necessary to go to the IE(Instructor Examination) with the confidence we need to pass. Peter Nieuwhof, Guy Corsellis and Patrick Tassin all have a wealth of knowledge that they can’t wait to pass on to the new candidates. The IDC is run over 14 days, 14 quite intense days but they also make it a lot of fun. We learnt about the business of diving, marketing and our role as instructors also a lot about the Physics and Physiology involved in diving all of which are very interesting. Our Course Director’s have the ability to teach the IDC with confidence which is why here at DJL we have a 100% pass rating for all candidates.

Since passing my IE I went on to complete my MSDT(Master Scuba Diver Trainer) this includes certifying 25 new students and doing 5 PADI specialty course’s, these include Deep, Wreck, Nitrox, O2 Provider and Search and Recovery. I’d like to thank all the Instructors at DJL for helping me get to where I am today. For anyone who is thinking about coming to Koh Tao to complete their Divemaster Internship I would highly recommend you stay on a little bit longer to complete your IDC and maybe even your MSDT it is well worth it and will help you in your future endeavours of being a dive professional.

OLLIEblogpic

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Take a trip to Koh Lipe

By , 6 March, 2014, No Comment

402302_10151129723905256_1945312658_nIf you have completed your open water course, and are looking for an interesting and beautiful place to continue your dive adventure, why not make Koh Lipe, at the southern end of the Andaman Coast your next stop.

Despite being quite a long way, you get to spend much of the journey asleep, making it a very easy journey.  My favourite way to travel there is to take an afternoon ferry to Chumphon, then pick up the sleeper train to Had Yai.  Personally I would choose 2nd class fan sleeper if available, as I am not a big air conditioning fan.  The lower bunk is always preferable though, as it is a little bigger and you get a window.  From Had Yai, there is a minibus transfer service to Pak Barra pier, where you can take the

speedboat ferry service to Koh Lipe.  Another option is to take the sleeper ferry from Koh Tao to Surat Thani, then pick up a minibus across to Pak Barra.

So what is there to do in Koh Lipe, well for a start the diving is world class, expect massive schools of Moorish idols, clown fish, stone fish, soft corals, plus Koh lipe offers drift diving, being effortlessly swept along by the current, for a different and exhilarating dive experience.  Those with the required qualifications will love the shipwreck of a substantial fish processing vessel.

The island also has its own unique vibe, be expecting live music and laid back bars, plus some really good restaurants.  As well as a dive school DJL has its own accommodation, ranging from budget dorm rooms to hotel style luxury rooms with balconies overlooking the stunning beach.

Book your trip to this little gem today.

ED

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Stingrays

By , 2 March, 2014, No Comment

Let’s talk stingrays for a minute.

Stingrays are found quite frequently while diving here on Koh Tao.  There are two main types of stingrays that we see: The blue spotted ray and the Jenkin’s whipray.

The blue spotted ray is the more common stingray and its usually found subtly hiding under rocks during the day, although occasionally they’ll be just chilling out in the open almost as if they want divers to check them out.  They have very alien-looking eyes that protrude from their heads and spiracles behind their eyes to allow them to breathe.  The blue spots serve as a warning to other fish that they are poisonous and should not be messed with.  But no need to worry, they are not aggressive in the slightest and are perfectly safe.

The Jenkin’s whipray is rarer and although it doesn’t have any bright colors on it, it is a little more spectacular due to its larger size.  It’s quite a sight to behold.

Both rays are more active at night when they can be seen swimming around and hunting for mollusks by digging into the sand.  It’s one big attraction of doing the night adventure dive on your PADI Advanced Open Water course.

-Petestingray

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how i ended up on koh tao

By , 28 February, 2014, No Comment

All my life I’ve been drawn towards the ocean, wondering what was down there in the deep. A couple of friends an I were backpacking “the world”, and we did our open water at Davy Jones’ Locker. It was like an epiphany. I knew I was hooked from the first time my head got under water and I was actually able to breath effortlessly. I wanted to learn more. I wanted to learn it all. I spent most of my money diving, as much as possible around the world! When I returned home, my logbook showed 17 dives and I was an advanced open water diver, in my eyes there were no way back. I wanted to make a career out of diving. I did some research on becoming a divemaster and I ended up where it all started, Davy Jones locker. The divemaster internship got me even more hooked on the underwater world, so, just before Christmas, I finished my instructor course. And now, two years after my first dive, I’m working where it all started: DJL Koh Tao.

 

Happy StudentsAnne Elise Kandola, MSDT

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Essential skills for the dive industry

By , 24 February, 2014, No Comment

If you are working towards a career as a divemaster or instructor and want to put yourself in the most employable position, The Dive Shop Operations package from DJL diving on KT will give you the skills you need to handle the operational needs of the typical diving company. In the one week course you will get hands on experience of operating and maintaining compressors, blending enriched air using continuous flow and partial pressure blending systems, servicing tank valves, fully servicing balanced and unbalanced regulators, plus an overview of cylinder visual inspections and oxygen cleaning procedures. Having this skill set makes you much valuable as a professional level diver, if working on live aboards, or at dive schools and resorts, plus it can be a good way to earn some extra cash and of course, save yourself a fortune by being able to repair you own gear. The course also includes 3 certifications, Compressor Operator, Gas Blender and Equipment specialist. Former student Paul said ‘It is the best thing I have ever done!’ For more information drop in to DJL in north sairee.

EDP1010844

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