Why join our Marine Conservation Divemaster Internship?

Our Marine Conservation Divemaster Internship is run by our in-house Course Director, Ann, who is dedicated to teaching you to become a safer, better, more environmentally aware diver.  Some of the things that we include in your marine conservation internship:

  • Similan and Surin Islands – the best diving in Thailand
  • Discounted rates on extra Similan liveaboard trips
  • Day trips and local dives
  • Coral surveying
  • Learning about marine interactions, both positive and negative
  • Fish Identification
  • Coral Identification
  • PADI specialty courses
  • Discounts off dive equipment
  • Get involved in a local beach cleanup programs

Marine Conservation Divemaster Internship

OVERVIEW

To start the Marine Conservation Divemaster Internship, you need to have a minimum of 40 dives, have PADI Advanced Open Water and PADI Rescue Diver (or the equivalent from another agency), and have completed CPR/first aid training within the last 24 months.  If you do not yet have your PADI Rescue Diver you will need to arrive early to complete the missing courses to ensure you are trained up to the level of skill required. 

We are able to teach all levels of diving, and would be happy to tailor a plan for you to meet the minimum requirements.  We can also update your CPR/First Aid training if it was more than 24 months ago.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Preserve the unique ecosystem of the Andaman Sea Coastal reefs
  • Dive in the tropical waters of the Andaman sea. 
  • Earn your PADI Divemaster and PADI Dive Against Debris Speciality certification.
  • Make new friends when you work with a group of like-minded individuals from around the world.
  • Immerse yourself in Thailand culture, learning the language and sampling authentic Thai cuisine. 
Ann Christmas - Padi Course Director

Ann Christmas
Course Director

Ann teaches advanced level courses from Rescue Diver right up to Open Water Scuba Instructor.

Derek Hamel Divemaster and Videographer

Derek Hamel
DM and Videographer

Derek guides customers, takes amazing video, and looks after our social media

Gary Gammage - experienced instructor

Gary Gammage
Owner

Gary is a very experienced instructor. He focuses on planning and logistics to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Aew is our admin assistant and keeps our dive centre running

Aew
Admin Assistant

Aew is the amazing person who keeps our dive centre running: PADI paperwork, official forms, bookings, and emails.

TRAINING

Each program includes introductory workshops, ongoing presentations, as well as on-the-ground professional support provided by our very own trained staff members. In addition, our training programs are critical for helping us to ensure the long-term impact of our sustainable development projects in Khao Lak.

FISH AND CORAL IDENTIFICATION

Learn how to identify fish and coral species that are important to our marine conservation program. This training includes a powerpoint identification exercise and an in-water identification exercise.

BEACH PLASTIC POLLUTION

Learn how to categorise waste collected during beach cleans and input plastic pollution data for analysis.

CORAL PROPAGATION

Learn how to use Coral Propagation techniques to help rescue and restore coral reefs. This activity is seasonal and does not happen year-round.

CORAL WATCH MONITORING

Learn to use a method of identifying coral health developed by the University of Brisbane. The method is used by citizen scientists and professional researchers to monitor coral all around the world.

INCIDENTAL SIGHTINGS

Participants learn to identify megafauna common in the region such as stingrays, manta rays, moray eels, sharks, sea turtles, and large pelagic fish such as barracudas.

THREATS TO CORAL REEFS

Gain insight into the threats faced by reefs globally, such as climate change and the resulting coral bleaching, plastic pollution, and unsustainable fishing methods, as well as how these manifest in local areas.

INTRODUCTION TO CORAL REEFS

Learn about the basic biology of corals and the underlying biology of the reef system.

HAZARDS OF THE REEF

This includes a discussion of the marine organisms found in the surrounding waters like stingrays, fire coral, sea urchins, lionfish and scorpionfish, that might cause harm to swimmers and divers. Participants learn how these can be avoided and how to treat injuries if they occur.

PADI CORAL CONSERVATION SPECIALTY

The Coral Reef Conservation Specialty course teaches participants about the importance of coral reef systems and how to conserve them. You will learn how you can help conserve coral reef systems. Through classroom discussions, you’ll learn how coral reefs function and the complex nature of life on a reef, why coral reefs are so important, why many coral reefs are in serious trouble, and what you can do to prevent further decline.

DIVING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

You will learn extra diving skills to enable you to actively assist in Coral Propagation.  

OPTIONAL EXTRA TRAINING AVAILABLE

PADI RESCUE DIVER

If you haven’t completed your PADI Rescue Diver Course (or equivalent with another agency) we can complete the course when you get here.  Make sure to arrive a few days early so that we can get this done.

PADI SPECIALTY COURSES

You can expand on the training that you did in the PADI Advanced Open Water Course, with some extra dives, to complete PADI specialty courses.  Courses that are offered are:

  • Peak Performance Buoyancy
  • Search and Recovery
  • Deep Diver (40 m)
  • Enriched Air Nitrox
  • Underwater Naturalist
  • Emergency Oxygen Provider
  • Coral Conservation
  • Wreck Diver
  • Night Diver

PADI MASTER SCUBA DIVER

Once you complete 5 x PADI Specialty Courses, the PADI Rescue Diver Course and have a total of 50 dives, you can be certified as a PADI Master Scuba Diver – PADI’s highest recreational rating!

PADI logo

PADI CERTIFICATIONS

Earning a professional diving qualification, such as those offered by The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), is a necessary step for many aspiring marine biologists. All our marine conservation programs include training by certified dive instructors that allows participants to qualify for a range of PADI and Coral Watch certifications including PADI Divemaster and with the possibility to continue on to PADI Scuba Instructor. The Dive Against Debris Speciality is offered to all participants on our marine conservation programs.

CoralWatch Coral Chart Diver

This course teaches you how to survey, identify and monitor corals in an environmentally friendly way.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  • 24-hour emergency contact number
  • 24-hour in-country support
  • Access to G2S Services and Discounts
  • All necessary project equipment and materials
  • All necessary project training by experienced staff
  • Coral reef ecology
  • Location orientation
  • Long term experienced staff
  • Lunches while on dive or snorkel trips
  • PADI Dive Against Debris Speciality
  • Real hands on experience learning about the challenges of marine conservation in this region
  • Use of O2 equipment workshop
  • Discounts on Dive equipment and trips
  • Use of a basic set of dive kit, e.g. mask, fins, wetsuit, BCD, Regulator

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

  • Meals (except on boat trips)
  • Additional drinks and gratuities
  • Extra local excursions
  • Flights
  • International and domestic airport taxes
  • Medical and travel insurance
  • Personal items and toiletries
  • Visa costs 
  • Divemaster crewpack and certification fees

Start Dates:

9th January 2023

6th March 2023

29th September 2023

12th January 2024

Price
79,700 THB
Divemaster Crewpack & Cert fees are not included
Includes shared accommodation
for 12 weeks

ACCOMMODATION

We have a limited number of ensuite twin rooms available in the dive centre.  Ther accommodation does not have cooking facilities so you will eat out most nights, and there are lots of restaurants and lots of price points to choose from.

Our rooms include a fridge, so you can keep yoghurt, milk and cola close to hand.

MEALS

You can get Thai meals from 50 THB upwards, with European food (pizza, schnitzel etc) from around 200 THB.  Lunches are included when we are out on a boat.

COMMUNICATION

You will be busy whilst on the program, so make sure friends and family know how often they can expect to hear from you. Mobile phone reception is available everywhere on land, but is often very limited or non-existent on the dive boats.

It is possible to buy a Thai SIM card and phone credit at the airport which can be used with your unlocked cellphone. Internet connection is available at the dive centre, and mobile data packages are very cheap.

CLIMATE

Khao Lak is on the west coast of Thailand, known for its tropical climate. The ocean is rather warm, which make it perfect for swimming, paddle boarding, snorkeling, and diving. The temperature remains fairly constant throughout the year, roughly 28°C or 82°F.

The humidity is very high, and it may take you a while to adjust.  We recommend loose fitting clothing as this helps a lot.

We use ‘Cheaper than Hotel for our Airport transfers, and can strongly recommend them.

You can find them on facebook – the owners name is ‘Boss’.  Please let us know your arrival times, and of course any unexpected delays or changes to your schedule.

You may choose to spend a couple of days in Phuket before coming up to Khao Lak.  If this is the case, you can get a local transfer to your Phuket hotel and then catch the bus up to Khao Lak.

You need to be in Khao Lak the day before your internship starts, to get settled in, and make sure you know where to get breakfast.  We recommend that you get here a couple of days before if possible, so that you have time to get over any jet lag from your journey.

The nearest airport is Phuket.  Khao Lak is an hour north of the airport.

If you fly into Bangkok, then you will need to get a short internal flight down to Phuket.

Alternative options are to fly into Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and get a short flight from there to Phuket.

khaosok kayak all year round

Explore the Khao Sok National Park.  Go kayaking, hiking and stay in bungalows on the water.

Phang Nga Bay all year round

Visit Phang Nga bay, James bond island and see the stunning limestone karst formations.

Thai temple

Explore the local temples of the region.  Phang Nga is mainly buddhist, with lots of beautiful temples.

takua pa temple

Explore the heritage of Takua Pa old town. Colonial buildings, great food, hidden coffee shops.

khao lak beach

Explore the wonderful beaches of Thailands west coast.
Miles and miles of white sand and coconut palms.

colourful coral

Go scuba diving or snorkeling in the Similan or Surin Island National parks. Khao Lak is the diving hub of the region.

Engaging with a new culture teaches not only global awareness but adaptability and critical thinking.  These skills are highly valued in the modern marketplace, and are a necessary part of becoming a Dive Professional.

Local and cultural immersion is encouraged and is also one of the most enjoyable aspects of your experience.

Luckily, there are many activities you can get involved with in your free time, or  before and after your program.  Use your evenings and weekends to explore diverse and eclectic topics like Buddhism or how plastic pollution and climate change affects Indian Ocean coral.

We won’t sugarcoat it — traveling abroad is usually a complex process that carries an element of risk. But this is exactly why we’re passionate about keeping to the highest safety standards during your internship. We believe that learning abroad should be an enjoyable experience that carries as little risk as possible.

We work to high standards and we expect you as a trainee dive professional to work to the same high standards.

YOUR IMPACT

Our aim is to educate you on local and global issues, so that you continue to act as an active global citizen after your program, helping to fulfil our mission of creating divers that care about our marine environment and work to protect it.

As a Dive Professional we expect you to take the principles of marine conservation with you to every place you work in the future.  We hope that you will actively teach all your students and customers how they too can reduce their impact on our oceans.

Go2Similan aims for the most thorough training and our goal is to make you an employable Divemaster who is ready to go on to become an Instructor.

What is the Go2Similan Divemaster training program like?

You will sink into the world of scuba diving. Not just being taught, but actually working alongside your instructors on our courses, day trips and liveaboard trips, arranging and conducting trips to Khao Lak’s local dive sites. You will learn how a shop runs, how to coordinate a dive trip, to supervise divers in the water, and how to assist in teaching courses.  Our Go2Similan Divemaster course is for the passionate diver – who wants more!

There’s a lot to take in. You will have an amazing time, with lots of new experiences – leading dives on the dive sites of the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock with “your divers”. You will be looking after our guests safely as you share your passion for the marine life you see. Getting them and their equipment ready for the next dive.

In the shop you will get hands-on training for the real world – seeing how trips are planned and prepared for, getting equipment serviced and packed, and the unavoidable paperwork (there is always paperwork – especially in diving) ready for each guest.

When you join Go2Similan, you’ll see that things are different. We are passionate about safety and service. We are a small dive centre with a personal touch. You will be mentored through the internship with our own in-house Course Director, Ann Christmas, but you’ll work alongside lots of other instructors on the boats.

It is not often you can take time out of your life to live in the tropics, have fun, enjoy amazing Thai food, dive some of the best dive sites in the world (Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon , Koh Tachai), visit white sand beaches and still end up with a career!  So take this opportunity, and get in touch.

deep diver

Go2Similans Divemaster training program will bring you experience, knowledge and skills that allow you to work as a dive professional anywhere in the world. Because it’s run by a Course Director, you know that your mentor has lots of experience, and if you want to move on to become an instructor she’ll make sure you are ready.

All of this AND you will join Similans diving trips during your divemaster course. With these trips you will have the chance to see and dive with mantas, turtles, whalesharks and all the other species of marine life that make the Similans and Surins – one of the top 10 dive destinations in the world.

If you have questions – why not contact us directly for more info?

You will get back as much as you put in

We will give you expert instruction, lots of dives, a life-changing experience, regular feedback and reviews, and support you all the way.  We want you to join in and be a part of the team.  We hope that you’ll put the effort into your study, take part in all the activities, and make the most of all the opportunities that we offer you.  If you do, you’ll have an amazing time, learn so much more than you expected, and come out ready to work as a dive professional.

Did you know that Go2Similan is the only 100% Aware dive centre in Khao Lak?

We donate to Project Aware with every certification that we issue.  Not only do we donate to Project Aware, we also support Shark Guardian and take an active part in cleaning up our local environment and ecosystem with Trash Hero Khao Lak – YOU will be an active part of this too. We believe that as dive professionals, it is our responsibility to increase the environmental awareness of everyone we work with.  We hope that you too will carry on, educating not just your customers, but the dive centre you eventually work at and your fellow divers about conservation efforts and community actions.

Thailand Divemaster life: Staying and living in Khao Lak

Khao Lak is a seaside resort town on the West coast of Thailand. It’s the closest point to the Similan Island National Park (one of the top ten dive sites of the world). It’s just an hour north of Phuket.

Living here is fairly cheap with lots of relaxed places to live. There are lots of hostel rooms locally or you can book yourself into a local hotel / bungalow.

Khao Lak has some beautiful beaches, and waterfalls just a few minute ride away.  The Khao Sok national park is just an hour from here, and you should definitely make time while you are here to go visit it.

Khao Lak isn’t a party town. Sure it’s got bars and restaurants, but what it’s best at is being a hub for divers and diving. It’s a great place to learn. If you are serious about becoming a diving professional, you’ll fit right in.