Archive for December, 2009

Divemaster Internships

By sea-dog, 11 December, 2009, No Comment
luke learing surface cover during divemaster course in Koh Tao

After spending 3 years traveling between Thailand and the UK I decided it was time to do something in Thailand. I was
searching the internet for divemaster internships around Thailand and after many e-mails sent and received I decided to do my divemaster internship with DJL diving on the island of Koh Tao.
I first arrived here just after Christmas 2007, to a great reception. I was shown my home for the next 2 months while I would be doing my course, introduced to the team at DJL and given my own full set of dive equipment which was my own to keep. So i did my Open Water course, Advanced Open Water course, First aid training and rescue diver. By this time I already had taken full advantage of the unlimited fun diving included and was well on my way to getting the 20 dives needed to start the Divemaster course. During my divemaster training I learnt how to organise a busy dive boat, how to safely navigate and lead divers around divesite and about all the theory behind diving. But the best thing about the course apart from the partying on the island was assisting the dive instructors at the shop on their courses, getting to watch and learn from experienced professional PADI instructors was amazing and made me decide that this was the job for me .
So after many hangovers, intro to tech dives, diving with whalesharks, bullsharks and all the other amazing underwater life here I finally completed my Divemater course and was lucky enough to be given a job as a divemaster here at DJL. After I working my ass off for a year and gaining loads of experience and losing a few pounds i was ready to take the next step in the PADI system and go on to do my PADI instructor training here at DJL. It takes just over two weeks of classroom and water work and I learned how to use my divemaster skills in new ways to teach people how to dive. I was finally there after lots of hard work I was a PADI Open Water dive instructor and was given a job here at DJL. Now I’m still on the amazing island of Koh Tao working a dream job, meeting lots of people and diving all the time. So when you come to Davy Jones Locker to do your Divemaster Course you don’t just do your course and then leave, we will help you with your future career in diving if thats the path you choose.
See you on the island soon.
Luke White

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Search and Recovery

By christo.wolfaardt, 8 December, 2009, No Comment

I have recently been on a excursion to recover an anchor from the bottom of the ocean in Koh Tao.  On the South West side of the island is a place called Sai Nuan beach, and this was the location of the anchor.  The ojective of the recovery operation was to use certain search patterns to locate the anchor and bring it up to the surface.  My trusty comrade Hektor accompanied me on this dive to make sure that we could handle any problems that might occur.   We got dropped off and made our descent into the blue.  When we located the anchor it seemed to be stuck in some fishing net and it was entangled quite badly.  I always wondered why I would ever need to use my dive knife, but on this day it was certainly needed.  It took us no longer than 8 minutes to untangle the anchor and bring it to the surface.  Search and Recovery is certainly an interesting part of diving.  You learn how to tie certain knots like the bowline, two half hitches and the Sheet Bend.  Very cool!  You also learn how to bring objects up to the surface with lift-bags.  Also very cool!!

I highly recommend the Search and Recovery Speciality course and you can  give it a go here at Davey Jones’ Locker. See you soon…

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DJL research marks for new wreck diving expedition in the straits of Mallacca

By tim, 3 December, 2009, No Comment

Getting-help-from-local-fishermen-to-locate-shipwrecks-in-Straits-of-Mellacca

Tim and the team from Ko Tao were up to old tricks in the straits of Mallacca recently, on an as yet, undisclosed island talking to fishermen for an upcoming expedition to look for a WWII Japanese shipwreck, The Maru which was lost in an action by the submarine, The Tally ho in 1943. The official War record report has the chart datum 50 metres in the area, so we’ll probably be running the expedition using a tri-mix. We were also there to secure logistical backup for Oxygen, Evac and boat transportation to the mark with another diving company in the area. When the team arrived we set off to talk to some fishermen and came across a Thai vessel which looked promising, Tim jumped on board the boat and was met by a group of irate Thais all wondering what this Farang was doing on their vessel; but soon had their tongues loosened and put their knives away when Tim pulled the chart out and offered cigarettes and whiskey. We managed to procure some very interesting new targets in the area. The trip is planned for the next neaps which is at Christmas time; watch this space…

Looking-for-shipwrecks-in-the-Straits-of-Mallacca

The team comprised of Tim, Juliet and Fri.

We incorporate this type of research into our exploration diver package which is an add-on to the divemaster internship.

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Frankie joins the DJL diving team

By frankie, 3 December, 2009, No Comment

So began my new lease of life at Davy Jones Locker on the 1st of November and what a month it has been. Well at least there are blessings of having worked on Koh Tao for a while and having done my technical diving with the company.  I didnt have to learn a million new names! Of course though, it always takes a bit of time to get used to how a new shop works and their way of doing things. Luckily the team were all really great and helped me to adjust.

So after getting settled in, it was time to start teaching.  This was to be my first opportunity to use my BSAC instructor qualification which of course is always a little nerve racking but with some hard work I had high hopes of producing some exciting new divers.  So indeed it proved, because as I was teaching my first pool session the weather took a turn for the worse.  In came the wind!!  Well after a couple of shallow shore dives we were ready to head out to the big boat. The conditions were not perfect,  but when are they.  No problems for my student Marie though who was in the water and descending like a pro within a matter of minutes. She was clearly progressing into a confident and competent diver.  Watching  her develop from what had been a nervous new diver into one taking charge and able to monitour herself and others under water always gives you great satisfaction and we all wish her all the best in the future.

As the month continued I was able to keep that ball rolling and I have to congratulate the lovely Chloe and Sian on completeing their Sports Diver course. This included a wonderful job of briefing and leading me around Twins on what was only their tenth dive. A really impressive achievment and one of which they should be extemely proud.  They also managed to provide some hysterical moments, that I will never forget.  Just ask poor Ian about being rescued by these two young ladys.  Nonetheless they perservered and turned out to be enthusiastic learners and great fun to teach. So Chloe now its time for your Boat Handling, eh.

All in all though it has been productive and enjoyable first month and lets hope there will be many more. You will be hearing from me soon………….

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new gapyear internship options

By tim, 3 December, 2009, No Comment

After the overwelming success of our internship program this year DJL are proud to announce a new catagory option that will involve learning about the ecology of the reefs around Koh Tao and basic surveying techniques. It will help us to accurately record and track the impact divers and eco tourism have on the reefs in this area, giving us a different slant on diving here. The program will give our students valuable skills to take on to schools in other regions around Asia so we can better understand the impact eco tourism has on these fragile environments. The program is to be called Eco Diver and will be running alongside our very popular Divemaster Internship Program for the summer of 2010. Look out for the full itinerary on our website. Batfish

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