Divemaster – Scuba Instructor Frequently Asked Questions
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Divemaster – Scuba Instructor Frequently Asked Questions

Got a question about diving internships? We have the answer…

 

We have gone to great lengths to answer all the questions that you may be thinking of when looking for a Scuba Diving internship / Dive Guide / Divemaster / Scuba Instructor program.

 

It could be questions about travel to Tenerife, diving experience, what’s life like on a Divemaster internship, what do I need to join a scuba Instructor course, etc.

 

Please check the links below to find a wealth of information, however if your question is not answered just let us know with an e-mail and we would be happy to answer it for you.

Are Pro fees included?

All fees are included on recreational courses.

However Professional and Membership fees are not included. 

Beginner (Zero) to Divemaster

Our Zero to Hero Divemaster internships / programs include:

  • All Diving Courses from beginner to Divemaster
  • 6 Weeks Accommodation
  • Your own set of professional scuba diving equipment (Optional extra)
  • All SSI Digital Materials
  • All Certification Fees
  • A minimum of 60 Dives during dive internship (expect to log between 60 and 100 dives)

Introduction
Take this awesome opportunity to become a Divemaster whilst spending 6 weeks on the gorgeous island of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. With almost daily flights to the UK and only 4 hours flying time, flights are very affordable.

Within days you will be diving some of the best dives sites in Europe meeting Turtles, Sting Rays and a huge variety of aquatic life. Meet our international groups of interns and instructors and start making friends for life.

Divemaster internship
Working as a Dive Guide or Divemaster (the first professional rating in the SSI system) is one of the most enjoyable diving jobs in the scuba diving industry. Once certified as a Divemaster you can lead divers on underwater tours of the underwater world, coordinate dive trip logistics and taking on a leadership role as a professional diver.

Our 6 week scuba diving internships combine absolutely everything you need to train from beginner to Divemaster; all scuba diving courses, Digital materials and fees, accommodation and if you want even your own set of scuba diving gear to keep.

Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime. You’ll be working through scuba  courses in sequence, logging many dives and becoming part of our Dive Team. On your dives, which will be almost daily as part of your internship you will start by learning and gradually increasing your dive knowledge and confidence until finally taking on responsibility of leading dives and having a great time along the way.

What’s involved in the scuba diving internship?

Dive Training
Our scuba diving internship follows SSI Total Education System in sequence.

Dive training proceeds in gradual steps with our expert Team of experienced instructors who will ensure you are comfortable and competent at each stage.

Here are the key steps:
1. Open Water Diver
First we’ll teach you the basics of scuba diving with training including scuba diving theory, shallow water skills and 4 open water dives exploring the best of our underwater world You’ll get certified to dive to 18M and develop scuba skills which are a foundation for everything to come.

2. Advanced Adventurer Diver 
Next we make 5 more training dives to expand your scuba diving skills and experience into specialised areas of diving. This includes deep diving to a maximum depth of 30 meters, underwater navigation and options for night diving, photography, buoyancy control, search and recovery dives, wreck diving and more.

3. React Right (First Aid / CPR) and Stress & rescue Diver 
Training moves up a gear during the combined First Aid & Rescue Diver program.

We begin with a one day CPR/First aid qualification before heading out to the water to learn how to manage and prevent scuba diving emergencies, including both surface and underwater rescue scenarios. You’ll learn and master rescue skills and emergency management, then be put to the test responding to simulated problems. Most people describe this as the best course in the PADI system!

4. Divemaster Internship
Now the step up to dive professional; you’ll develop expert level scuba diving theory, assist with student divers in training and learn to guide certified divers on underwater tours. You’ll be challenged during watermanship and problem solving exercises, create a map of a  dive site and conduct a scuba review for a ‘rusty’ diver. You’ll take on real responsibility, becoming a valued diving professional.

Unlimited Diving
Between these courses and during the Divemaster phase of the internship, you can also fit in some non-training ‘fun-dives’.

You’ll pair up with other intern’s or one of our Divemasters and head out to the dive sites, enjoying the underwater terrain and aquatic life. This is a great way to develop your navigation skills and get familiar with the dive sites.

Scuba Diving Equipment
As part of the scuba internship you have the option of buying your own full set of brand named, professional quality scuba diving equipment at a huge discount. As a professional you will be expected to own all your own kit, however If you choose not to purchase we loan most of it to you for free!

Divemaster Course Materials and Certification Fees
The diving internship also includes all required digital materials and certification fees for your training.

SSI materials included;
SSI Open Water Diver digital Manual
SSI Adventurer digital Manual
First Aid digital Manual
SSI Rescue Diver digital Manual
SSI Divemaster digital Manual
Science of Diving digital Manual

Accommodation
With our internships we include 6 weeks accommodation completely for FREE.
If you want to upgrade your experience, you can reserve your own room, in an apartment, or an entire apartment for yourself, at an additional cost.

Already Certified? Get credited on your internship package
If you are already a certified diver or have some of your own dive equipment, let us know. We’ll be able to give you full credit for whatever dive certifications or diving gear you already have.

Just let us know by submitting the following form and we’ll send you a customized quote.

After Qualifying as a Divemaster
Qualifying as a Divemaster opens a range of exciting new options & you’ll be well-prepared to take advantage.

You could put your new Divemaster rating to use by seeking employment within the recreational diving industry. Otherwise you could further your training through to SSI Instructor, which enables you to certify new divers. Or you could diversify into specialized diving activities such as underwater photography or videography, deep/technical diving or marine conservation.

The good news is that if you decide to continue your training, you can simply pay the difference to upgrade to one of our longer dive internship programs. So there’s no disadvantage in opting for the 6 week Divemaster internship to begin.

Internship Start Dates & Booking Procedure
Here at the Divemaster internship Academy we don’t tell you when to start. We run our scuba diving internships as a rolling program, with convenient start dates every 2 weeks.

To secure your spot we will require a small deposit.

Book now / Contact Us

Beginner to Scuba Instructor

ZERO to Hero!

Our dive internship includes:

  • All Diving Courses from beginner to Open Water Instructor (OWI)
  • React Right Instructor 
  • 24 Weeks Accommodation
  • Your own set of professional scuba diving equipment (Optional)
  • All SSI Digital Materials
  • All Certification Fees
  • Unlimited Dives during dive internship (expect to log between 100 and 300 dives)

Introduction

Take this awesome opportunity to become a Scuba diving Instructor whilst spending 6 months on the gorgeous island of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. Get qualified to certify new divers anywhere in the world with the PADI system. The SSI Instructor is the most sought after diving professional in 187 Countries!

Within days you will be diving some of the best dives sites in Europe and meeting our international groups of interns and instructors and start making friends for life.;

Scuba Instructor Internship:

Imagine getting up in the morning to glorious sunshine knowing you will spend most of the day underwater and with people who’s lives your about to change forever! That’s the day of a Scuba Instructor

Open Water Instructors are the most in-demand professionals in the scuba diving industry, and this internationally recognized qualification allows you to work in diving all over the world.

Our 6 month scuba Instructor internship trains you from beginner right through to Open Water Instructor, giving you all the training, skills and experience which you need along the way. You’ll get to log hundreds of dives, getting see a huge variety of aquatic life, wrecks, Sting Rays, Sharks and perhaps a few Dolphins.

Best of all, you’ll get to meet and work together with people from all over the world, and as your diving internship progresses you’ll become a valued member of the dive team, taking on responsibility, becoming an expert level diver, and have a great time in the process. This really is the adventure of a lifetime and will open up many exciting opportunities.

Our diving internship includes absolutely everything which you need to train through to scuba Instructor – scuba diving training, equipment, materials and accommodation. Let’s look at each in more detail:

Scuba Diving Courses: Open Water to SSI Instructor

The dive internship follows SSI’s scuba courses in sequence, building new diving skills and experience at each stage. Here are the steps:

1. Open Water Diver
First we’ll teach you the basics of scuba diving with training including scuba diving theory, shallow water skills and 4 open water dives exploring the best of our underwater world You’ll get certified to dive to 18M and develop scuba skills which are a foundation for everything to come.

2. Advanced Adventurer Diver 
Next we make 5 more training dives to expand your scuba diving skills and experience into specialised areas of diving. This includes deep diving to a maximum depth of 30 meters, underwater navigation and options for night diving, photography, buoyancy control, search and recovery dives, wreck diving and more.

3. React Right (First Aid / CPR) and Stress & rescue Diver 
Training moves up a gear during the combined First Aid & Rescue Diver program.

We begin with a one day CPR/First aid qualification before heading out to the water to learn how to manage and prevent scuba diving emergencies, including both surface and underwater rescue scenarios. You’ll learn and master rescue skills and emergency management, then be put to the test responding to simulated problems. Most people describe this as the best course in the PADI system!

4. Divemaster Internship
Now the step up to dive professional; you’ll develop expert level scuba diving theory, assist with student divers in training and learn to guide certified divers on underwater tours. You’ll be challenged during watermanship and problem solving exercises, create a map of a  dive site and conduct a scuba review for a ‘rusty’ diver. You’ll take on real responsibility, becoming a valued diving professional.

6. Instructor Training Course

Finally, we’ll train you how to teach diving in the Instructor Training course (ITC). You’ll learn about the standards which we have to work to as scuba diving instructors and we’ll teach you how to deliver classroom, confined water and open water teaching presentations. You’ll learn how to control a group of students in the water, and identify and correct student diver problems, making sure all your students qualify as safe, confident divers. This is an intensive course with a steep learning curve and  you will achieve a real sense of achievement as you raise your level.

7. Instructor Examination

The last step is the Instructor Examination (IE). An external team of SSI instructor examiners visits us from the SSI head office , to evaluate instructor candidates in an intensive 2 day evaluation. You’ll be assessed on your scuba diving knowledge, classroom teaching, shallow water skills presentations and open water teaching. You’ll be required to deal with simulated problems and show that you’ve got what it takes to work as a Scuba Diving Instructor. Your diving Internship will have you more than ready for this examination – once the IE is complete you’ll be certified as an Open Water Instructor and there’ll be a bit of celebrating!

Unlimited Scuba Diving

And, throughout your diving internship you can make as many dives as you want. At any stage throughout the internship, you can take a break from the training and enjoy some ‘fun dives’. You’ll pair up with other intern’s or one of our Divemasters and head out to the dive sites, enjoying the underwater terrain and aquatic life. This is a great way to develop your navigation skills and get familiar with the dive sites.

Digital Course Manuals and Certification Fees

The diving Internship includes all the digital manuals, slates, cue cards and *certification fees which you need to train through to Open Water Instructor:

Accommodation for your PADI Internship

For the 6 months of your diving Internship you’ll be staying in an apartment near the Academy. The accommodation is fully fitted with all mod cons. You have the option of your own apartment, or to make your internship cheaper sharing an apartment or even sharing a room which we provide for FREE.

Start Dates & Internship Booking Procedure

We run our scuba diving internships all year round as a rolling program so you can begin whenever you prefer.

Interested? Want to change your life forever?

Contact us via e-mail

Booking procedure for Dive Guide / Divemaster or Scuba Instructor internships / programs

Are you ready to reserve your Divemaster program / internship place?

You have 2 options either complete the form located here to get a personalised cost for your chosen internship package.We’ll answer any questions which you have about our internships, diving equipment, accommodation etc, or any random questions you may have.

Or drop us an email and let us know which scuba internship you’re interested in.

Ensure you check the FAQ section and the terms prior to booking.

Dive Guide / Divemaster  / Scuba Instructor start dates / end dates

Please check our availability for Divemasters or Scuba Instructor courses before reserving. 

Due to our popularity there can be periods when we are full.

Dive Guide / Divemaster / Instructor reservation Deposit

We’ll ask you for a small deposit of €100 to book your place on the Divemaster internship / program or €400 for the instructor course. you can choose between paying via Credit Card or Bank transfer.

Once that’s done, you can go ahead and book your flights to Tenerife. Current airlines are Ryanair, Easyjet, Jet2, British Airways, Tui, Condor to mention a few.

Divemaster / Instructor Payment Balance

After we have received your deposit we will contact you and confirm when the balance is due. This is usually split into 2 equal payments with the first payment 8 weeks before arrival.

Payment can be made via Bank Transfer free of charge.

Whats next?

After you have confirmed your reservation by sending your deposit we will contact you with a payment schedule, registration pack and finally a helpful “what to bring” list.

Have a question?

Contact us here

Can I choose which apartment or villa to stay in on my internship?

Unfortunately no. We have to place people where the spaces are.

Can I bring my own scuba diving equipment?

Yes. If you have your own scuba equipment it is best to bring and use .

If bringing suits etc please ensure you bring the hangers etc

Can I work and do a Divemaster program?

Your days and weeks will be pretty full, so the only opportunities you will have to obtain work is on your 2 days off.

The days off are not fixed, so any work you can find will have to be very flexible.

Also the “off” time is for studying and relaxing so we highly recommend you do not combine both.

Cleaning..... Is it included?

No. The programs are residential and the accommodation is supplied for FREE, so you are expected to maintain your room / areas yourselves.

Our costs are very low as we have removed things like daily cleaners.

If you leave the apartment in a condition that it is deemed a professional cleaner is required you will be invoiced the full cost of this.

Deposits

When arriving we ask for 2 deposits.

The first is €30 for safe return of the key on your departure.

The second is €100 cleaning deposit. If your room / communal areas are left clean and tidy we refund the deposit.

Finally you can make the transfer via bank, but then we do need to charge a 7% local tax, and your refund will be sent via bank transfer as soon as your DM application is processed.

Please note refunds to some banks may be charged by your bank. We are not liable for these charges.

Currently this is banks in the UK , USA and Switzerland.  

Do I have to pay for gas?

No, the cost is totally inclusive.

In extreme usage circumstances we may ask you to contribute towards any unexpected costs.

No, the cost is totally inclusive.

In extreme usage circumstances we may ask you to contribute towards any unexpected costs.

Do I need my previous PADI training manuals?

Yes, You need to have a set of PADI manuals.

PADI materials required
To be a PADI professional you MUST have a full set of current PADI materials.
You receive these when you complete a PADI course.
If you have been certified by another diving agency you will need to purchase a PADI manual relative to the certifications you currently have.
If you wish we can accept an image of the manuals, prior to arrival, if Version number shown.
If in doubt, please contact us.

*RDP Tables / eRDPml – For certified Open Water divers only
*PADI Open Water manual for certified PADI Open Water divers only
*Adventure in Diving Slates – For certified PADI Advanced divers only
*PADI Adventures in Diving manual – For certified PADI Advanced Divers only *Rescue management slate – For certified Rescue divers only
*PADI Rescue Diver manual – For certified PADI Rescue Divers only

Do I need to be able to swim?

Yes, you must be able to complete a 200m swim or 300m snorkel for the open water course and 400m swim and 800m snorkel to take part in the Divemaster programs.

Do I need Travel or Diving insurance?

Yes, you definitely need both!

Diving insurance is required by law in the Canary Islands for all divers, and in addition as you will be embarking on a Professional course you must have insurance that covers this.

Many policies are available and you have the option to find your own or we can arrange this for you.

Since we opened we have never had a diving accident, however in the event of someone needing treatment this would run into the 10’s of thousands! We have many hospitals in Tenerife, both State run and Private, however they would all require payment for a diving accident, so for the few Euros a policy costs, we advise every diver to take it out.

Diving insurance only covers you for incidents relating to diving, so we strongly recommend you also have Travel insurance.

Check your policy carefully to ensure you have taken out the right cover. Dont forget things like your cameras, phones and laptops need to be covered as well as personal accidents, health and cancellations.

Again there are many companies providing travel insurance, and you may even find you are already covered by various institutions such as your Bank or Credit Card company.

For the amount it costs to take out a travel insurance policy, it’s not worth taking the risk of not having it.

Do I have to pay for electric?

No, the cost is totally inclusive.
In extreme usage circumstances we may ask you to contribute towards any unexpected costs.

How do I get from Tenerife South Airport to the Dive Centre?

You have 2 options of transfer from Tenerife South airport to the Tenerife Diving Academy;

1/ The Bus station is located just outside the Terminal building.

Take the 111 Bus towards Santa Cruz and get off at the bus stop “Abades”. It is around a 20-minute journey and the cost is approximately €2.50.

The accommodation is around 15 minutes’ walk from the bus stop.

2/ The Taxi rank is right outside the Terminal building.

By Taxi you can arrive from the airport to your accommodation and the cost is between €15 – €25 depending on the time of day and any National holidays.

How fit do I need to be for the PADI Divemaster course?

Health & Fitness
You don’t need to be an Olympic athlete to join a scuba internship, but should have basic fitness.

Scuba diving is a very relaxing activity, and is significantly less physically demanding than swimming or snorkeling. To be able to take part in one of our diving internships you need to be in basic decent shape, but nothing special!

And stating the obvious, you also need to be able to swim. You don’t need to be an especially strong swimmer, but it’s essential that you can swim and are comfortable in water.

During your diving internship you will be given ample opportunity to practice your swimming and snorkelling and we encourage you to do so, to improve your all-round basic fitness.

Medical Questionnaire for all Scuba Internships
There are many specific medical conditions which have the potential to be unsafe for scuba divers. These are listed in the PADI Medical Questionnaire.

Examples include ear or sinus surgery, drug or alcohol abuse, cancer, heart disease, pregnancy etc.

If you think you may have concern over a particular illness or injury, contact us and we can discuss it with you, before booking.

How much spending money do I need for my PADI Divemaster / PADI Instructor program - internship?

Just so everyone knows we use the Euro in Tenerife.

The island is relatively cheap, compared with the UK and most other European countries, depending on your spending habits!

Our internships include your accommodation, as well as electricity, gas, and normal utility bills, so thats all covered.

Average prices depend on where you go, so here are some examples to help you budget.

Water €0.80 – €1.60 for 10ltr

Lager from €1 – €2.50 a pint

Large Vodka and Red Bull €2 – €5

Burger and chips €4.50 – € 8.00

Steak and chips €8 – €25

Pizza €4 – €10

Meals out €8 – €50

Shopping at the supermarket

12 large eggs: €1.96

Small pack of bacon: €0.95

Pack of 6 tomatoes: €1.38

Pack of boiled ham: €1.00

Loaf of bread: €0.57

Carton of long-life milk: €0.45

Tub of Flora margarine: €1.76

Based on previous interns the average weekly spend on groceries to stock your fridge and cupboard is between €30 – €60

Once a week we have a shopping trip to the “big” supermarket where everyone can stock up on the favourite and required food / drinks.

If paying by Credit card / Debit card in a shop you will require ID, usually your passport.

ATM’s are everywhere and the cost for withdrawal depends on your bank and the bank you are withdrawing from. This is from free to €2 per withdrawal.

I have no experience of scuba diving at all, is that a problem?

That’s not problem. We will take you from having no diving certifications at all to the first of the PADI Professional ranks, the PADI Divemaster and even on to PADI instructor and beyond.

Many of our most successful Divemaster candidates have started with no diving experience.

The most important attribute for any Divemaster or diving professional for that matter is……………………. Attitude!

We have trained many candidates from zero to PADI Instructor and they really do make the best employees for our affiliate Dive Centres.

I'm not a certified diver, can I still become a PADI Divemaster?

100% yes.

We have had many “non divers” over the years who have gone on to complete their PADI Divemaster and then PADI instructor courses.

As a non-diver you have the huge benefit of not having any bad diving habits and usually progress very quickly.

I'm already a PADI Rescue diver with loads of dives, how quickly can I become a PADI Divemaster?

We have different duration’s depending on your current level and number of dives .

Check the following page for the minimum duration’s required to become a PADI Divemaster.

Click here for all of our programs

Late Payment

When you reserve your place on one of our PADI Divemaster programs / internships or PADI Instructor Development courses (IDC) we send you a payment schedule.

This will include the amounts and the dates on which the payments are expected.

We do not send reminders for payment prior to the payment date, so ensure you make a note in your diary of when payments are due.

If you are unable to make the payment by the specified date please let us know as soon as possible.

If payment is not received by the payment date we reserve the right to charge an additional fee to cover expenses.

Mobile Phone connections

All the major Mobile Phone companies are represented in Tenerife. We suggest if you want to use your mobile phone for calls back home you contact your provider to ensure you will be on the correct tariff.

You can purchase a Spanish mobile phone very cheaply here if you want to be able to communicate with anyone on the island.

Currently a cheap mobile with €10 of credit will cost €20

Night life & Entertainment in Tenerife

Tenerife has everything you could possible want in regards of entertainment, nightlife, watersports and relaxing.

For nightlife you got the hot spots of Playa de Las Americas with 100’s of bars and clubs, or beautiful restaurants overlooking the Atlantic in Los Cristianos, culture in the North of the island in Santa Cruz or Puerto De La Cruz, stunning botanical gardens, and even a volcano!

Other highlights, other than diving that we can arrange are;

The largest Water park in Europe
Jet-skis
Horse Riding
Parascending
Guided walking tours
Whale and Dolphin watching
Go-karting
Parasailing
Boat trips

We actively encourage all of those enrolled on to our PADI Divemaster and PADI Instructor programs to get out and see our beautiful island whilst here. One final note, whilst we respect everybody’s opinions we do not offer or assist in trips to either of the Animal Parks in Tenerife.

Whilst they are still a huge attraction for many, we firmly sit on the side of Whales and Dolphins should NOT be kept in captivity!

Payment options, how do I pay?

You can pay your reservation deposit online with credit card, debit card etc or by Bank Transfer.

All other payments are via bank transfer or cash prior to receiving your accommodation or training commencing.

Special vaccinations for Tenerife and Canary Islands?

Covid

The entry requirements are constantly evolving so it is your responsibility to check with relation to Covid.

Each Country has different reciprocal arrangement’s, so you will need to check what the current requirements are specifically for you to arrive.

If you are you are unsure about any information please check for specific entry requirements for YOUR Country via the Spanish Health website. 

We suggest all your normal vaccinations are up to date, and know when you had your last ones were.
We do not have any issues relating to Malaria, SARS, Bird Flu or any other disease you may find in Asia etc.

First Aid Kit
As a point of information you may want to bring a small first aid kit with you for your own personal use.
Things like headache tablets, indigestion tablets, and any normal medicines you use at home.

Tell me more about Tenerife and the Canary Islands.

Tenerife is the largest of the seven Canary Islands.

Tenerife sits in the Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of North Africa and enjoys eternal sunshine – one of the reasons that makes this beautiful island such a hotspot for millions of tourists every year.

Tenerife is a volcanic island that has been sculpted over time by several eruptions, the last being in the early 20th century. It has a great mix of rugged terrain, dramatic landscapes and a sub-tropical climate with temperatures averaging 20°C – 22°C in the winter months and 24°C – 36°C in the summer.

In March 1936 Francisco Franco was posted to the island by a Republican government wary of his growing influence and power. He agreed to collaborate in the military coup that led to the Spanish Civil War when the Canary Islands fell to the Nationals in 1936. Consequently many people moved away from Tenerife eager to escape from the new regime. Today Tenerife’s population is around 900,000 and around six million tourists visit the island every year.

The magnificent sight of Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain, welcomes you as you come into land and in the winter can even be covered in snow while on the coast the sun shines as usual. There have been four recorded volcanic eruptions with no casualties at all; two in the early 1700s, the third in 1798 and the last known eruption was in 1909.

The island has been developed since the 1970s, benefiting from massive investments that in turn have led to it becoming the economic capital of the Canaries. The actual capital city is Santa Cruz, located in the north.

Over the years Tenerife has become a popular holiday destination and it’s easy to see why with dozens of great resorts to choose from. From the well-known resorts of Playa las Américas and Los Cristianos, the stunning cliffs at Los Gigantes to the pine forests in the national park…this island has so much more to offer other than great weather.

Tenerife has two World Heritage Sites, one National Park, and 42 natural protected spaces. These are just some of the treasures to be discovered in Tenerife. Whether you come alone, with your partner, or just ready to get a unique experience thanks to the wide range of activities that will make your stay in the island unforgettable.

The diving in Tenerife is some of the best in the world! How can we say that, because with everything taken into account we have the best of all worlds.

Great weather all year round, no tornado’s or rainy seasons for us. Warm Atlantic ocean, people often forget we are just off the tip of Africa, basically nowhere near Spain at all. 1,000’s of species of aquatic life including Turtles, Sting Rays, Angel Sharks, every kind of Moray Eel, Barracuda, Dolphins and even several species of whale.

No language problems as most of the people speak excellent English and will always give you a helping hand with your Canarian (yes its a Canarian dialect not Spanish)

No political problems as seen in many parts of the world, easy and affordable flights to Europe.

We could go on but you get the picture, we love the Island of Tenerife 🙂

Visas and Permit for scuba diving internships / programs

To complete your diving internship you may need a Visa.

If you are from any European country you do not need a Visa.

If from the UK you do NOT need a Visa if completing your program in 90 days or less.

For all other Countries, check with your local Spanish Embassy for any Visa requirements.

No-one requires a work permit as you are not in paid employment.

What happens when I arrive for my PADI Divemaster / PADI Instructor internship or program?

Your program starts on a Monday with your induction / orientation at 9 am and we are open from 8.30 am.

If you want to arrive outside of this day / time we can recommend some great hostels.
All of the programs are residential, and we provide shared rooms for free.

All of the PADI courses are a mixture of scuba diving theory, shallow water work developing new skills and of course getting out into the ocean. The entire PADI system is progressional and so you are constantly building on what you have already learnt and progressing towards the ultimate aim of PADI Divemaster or PADI Instructor.

What is not included in the quote?

You can request a cost based on your choice of duration, accommodation type etc.
There are certain things that you will be required to either already own / possess or be ready to purchase or rent (where possible), if you have not done so already.
These are considered “personal” items, but for clarification;

Mask and snorkel (All diving models accepted
Boots (Rental option available) 
Diving rattle (Underwater audible device with magnet stopper- NOT Tank Banger) (Rental option available) 
Log Book (Must have writing space for Buddy / Observations / Buddy teams)
eRDPml (Latest PADI version with Instruction booklet)
RDP Tables (Latest PADI version with Instruction booklet)
Diving Knife (Rental option available) 
Diving slate (Rental option available) 
Medical  (Certified by a medical professional not related to you. Request form if unsure)
Diving insurance (Must meet Spanish standards – Request more info if unsure)
Diving computer (Rental options available)
Timing Device
Diving compass (Rental option available) 
Hangers (Required for personal dive kit BCD etc of sturdy design)

For Instructor courses IE arrangements are not included. 
Transfer to and from airport is not included. 

PADI membership fees not included.

A deposit is required for cleaning and safe return of your key. If key returned and room cleaned deposits are refunded via bank transfer.

All social and travel costs not included. 

What will I do on an average day during my PADI Divemaster internship / program?

As you are starting to realise by now we are not a “typical” Dive Centre, so your day will be very different to interns at other Dive Centre’s!

As an overview for the week, firstly we only work 5 days a week!  And when we say work, we mean train you.

You will be diving most days either taking part in a course, brushing up on your skills or just diving for fun.

These days start at 9am where you will get your diving equipment together before going off to dive in either our House Reef which is just outside our door.

Normally you will do  2-3 dives per day. All our PADI dive internships include ample diving, so even if you want to take a break between PADI courses, you’re still welcome to head out with the Team for some extra ‘fun dives’ (non-training dives).

When you’re not out diving, we’ll be working through the other components of your PADI courses. This will include scuba diving theory covering all important diving principles (physiology, equipment, physics etc), and brushing up your scuba diving skills to perfection.

Depending on the individuals and the group, you may have 4 days a week diving and 1 practising your diving skills and studying. Either way the Team are very flexible to do whats best for you.

The day ends around 4pm with all the gear cleaned and put away

What Instructor Speciality's are in the Silver and Gold packages?

The Silver package contains; 
Oxygen Provider
Nitrox
Navigation Diver
Shark Conservation
DSMB

The Gold package contains the 5 from silver and;
Compressor Operator 
Dive Against Debris 
Deep Diver 
Wreck Diver
Fish ID

What is the accommodation like?

The accommodation we supply is all located nearby.

It is best described as functional and ideal for those on a residential course.

All of the accommodation is fitted with TV, cooking facilities, washing machines, kettle etc.

We class them as basic and functional with everything you need for your short stay.

You have the option of sharing a room, which we give for FREE, or having a room to yourself.

If you have a specific question relating to the accommodation please contact us.

What's the Recreational Scuba Diving internship?

The Recreational Scuba Diving internship is something very unique to the Divemaster internship Academy.

Over the years we have had candidates who loved diving, loved Tenerife, loved the camaraderie of an internship but don’t want to be Divemasters or don’t want to study.

So we introduced the Recreational internship. The internship is basically 3-8 weeks of diving!

Other than diving you will have presentations about safe diving and additional diving theory, but no study, no courses (unless you want to join in on one).

The rest of the internship stays the same, with the only major differences being you will have more spare time and no certification at the end, just lots of dives and life long memories of a great time with fantastic people.

The Recreational Diving internship is cheaper than the normal internships as there are no PADI materials to purchase.

For more details complete our form here

Contact Us

When can I start a diving internship?

We are fortunate enough to have great diving a all year round, so join when suits you best.

All of our programs are on a rolling start which means you can join when it fits best into your current schedule.

The start dates and availability for the PADI Divemaster programs can be found here

For PADI Assistant Instructor, Instructor and MSDT programs the dates can be found here 

The only restriction you may find is that due to our very unique Divemaster internships we get fully booked very quickly, so we advise to book as far ahead as you can.

For the PADI instructor programs an additional restriction is your final instructor exams (IE). These are carried out by PADI Examiners who are flown into the island at set dates throughout the year. Obviously you will want to time it so your are ready to take the exams at your best.

We can advise you when the instructor exams are so you will be able to best work out when to start for maximum results.

The Programs start at 9am on the Monday morning.

When do I need to check in / check out from the accommodation?

Check-in day is Monday after your induction / orientation.

If you wish to arrive outside of these hours we can suggest some great Hostels or of course you can use one of the 1,000’s of hotels, and you can then join us from 8.30 am on Monday morning.
If a Bank Holiday day / Fiesta day then your arrival day will be Tuesday. 

Check out day is Friday at 13.00.

During your last day you will come in to the Dive Centre and complete any paperwork and return any equipment you have loaned.

You then have the rest of the day to ensure the apartment is ready to hand back. This is at 1pm on Friday.

If you wish to stay beyond that time we can charge you a weekly rate until such time as you leave, as long as we have availability, or of course you can check in to a Hostel / Hotel.

Please note we only offer weekly rates not daily. 

Where do you dive?

We have an amazing MAMP House Reef literally within a few hundred metres of the Dive Centre, which all dive centres travel too frequently.
The Bay consists of 4 different dive sites all offering great opportunities for training and fun dives. 
We have many other dive sites available to us, however when booking on shorter duration programs time is limited to travel to these and complete your Pro certification in time.

If on a longer program or booking a PADI Speciality like Wreck diving then this gives us a great opportunity to go to other sites. 

The priority is to complete your Pro certification on time. 

Which airport in Tenerife is closest to the Dive Centre?

The closet airport is Tenerife South. This is serviced by the majority of the budget airlines.

Who does a diving internship?

A very short answer would be every type of person you can imagine!

However all interns have something in common, a love for being in the ocean and being part of an amazing aquatic world. The span of ages, both genders, nationalities and reasons for completing our diving internships is vast!

It’s not unusual to have the real adventure seekers, people changing their careers after 20 years of doing a different job, graduates on summer break or Gap Year students, or people who have taken early retirement and looking for a new challenge.

Some people are using our diving internships as an extended break or scuba diving gap year; it’s a very economical way to gain a professional PADI scuba diving qualification gives you a means to earn money whilst you travel.

For other individuals the decision to join one of our PADI dive internships is a change of career, seeking a more challenging and fulfilling line of work.

Although not exclusively, a large portion of our diving interns are pre or post university gap year students from all around the world.

We also get a range of people from working backgrounds, either taking an extended break or planning to switch careers and work within the scuba diving industry. We have had Bankers, Policeman, Council workers, Swimming instructors, Life guards, Office workers, Builders, ex Soldiers and a Milkman, to name a few!

Is it men or women, on the internships? We used to say it was 60% men and 40% women, now its at least 55% women and 45% men!

In particular the Canary Islands are VERY safe for solo female travellers. We do not have the political troubles as seen in places like Egypt, we do not have the male dominated society of places as seen in Asia and we have a very low crime rate compared with most European countries.

Our Instructor Team is also well balanced with male and female instructors. We do not segregate the genders in training as we believe everyone should be treated equally.

As for the nationalities of interns we have had just about everyone you can think of! The most common are English, Irish, Scottish, Spanish, Dutch, German, French, Finnish, Swedish, American and Italian. The others have been from Egypt, Canada, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and even Malawi!

It is the huge range of nationalities, ages and genders that’s so awe-inspiring to work at the Academy.

To be present when a group sits down to chat over a drink at the end of the days diving and witness a span of ages from 18 to over 50, male and female, married, single, English, Dutch, American and Egyptian, etc, all very excited to be telling each other what they saw that day, is the most rewarding experience for our Instructor Team. It is often commented if all politicians were Divemaster interns, the world would be a much better place!

Why choose us for your PADI internship or PADI Professional program?

We are simply the best place to come for your PADI Divemaster or PADI Instructor internship. We run our internships totally differently from any other Dive Centre. We have radically changed the whole methodology behind scuba diving training for the professional and put YOU first! Add to this our beautiful surroundings with great weather almost 365 days a year and cheap flight connections to all of Europe and the family atmosphere and you will start to understand why we are number one for internships.

Here are some of the reasons that make us special:
PADI Divemaster Training Academy
We are not a Dive Centre that also tries to do internships, we are an Academy for PADI Divemasters and PADI Instructors! That means a dedicated team of instructors to teach, train and inspire YOU.

With a limited intake of interns and a high ratio of Instructors to interns we believe we are in the best position to give you a fantastic time during your scuba diving internship.

Having trained a huge number of PADI Divemasters and PADI Instructors we have listened to all the feedback and taken all “the best bits” and combined them into one Academy for your best experience and highest possible standards.

Want a job? We only employ Divemasters and Instructors who have been trained by us, why? Because of our very high standards no other Dive Centre matches our expectations. Once you have completed your internship you are welcome to stay on for more experience and if exceptional there is always a strong possibility of employment with us.

The Divemaster internship Academy has a friendly and fun atmosphere with lots going on and a great social scene. We believe you should work hard and play harder!

Because we train diving professionals from all levels you will get to experience and chat to all kinds of divers from all over the world.

Best location in Europe? We think so!
We are located in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. With almost daily connecting flights to most of Europe and the “budget” airlines flying to Tenerife, flights are very affordable.

In Tenerife we have everything from Europe’s largest Water Park, a stunning volcano, long sandy beaches, beautiful warm blue Atlantic ocean and 1,000’s of bars, restaurants, cafes, and so many things to do, on your days off you will be spoilt for choice.

Experienced Instructors
At the Academy we have a team of very experienced PADI scuba diving instructors, with many years of teaching experience behind them. Our emphasis is on making you a safe, competent diver and dive leader .

We are very proud to have the only resident PADI Platinum Elite 300 Course Director on our Team for all Instructor training as well as being the only Dive Centre with 2 PADI Master Instructors and a Staff Instructor on full time staff.

Our Instructors are able not only to teach you to be a PADI Divemaster and PADI Instructor but also give you the extra knowledge to get into employment quickly and how to avoid the pitfalls that a lot of newly certified Divemasters fall into when trying to find work.

The whole team are committed to high standards of service and safety, demonstrated through our excellent safety record. Since opening we have never hand a serious diving related incident. Something we are very proud of and rigorously strive to maintain.

Safe, Fun & Friendly Scuba Internships
Staying safe is the most important thing when scuba diving, and we’ll make sure that you clearly understand all the PADI training that you receive and act as a safe and responsible diver.

But we also remember why people get into scuba diving – to have fun! The tone of our dive internship programs in general is to enjoy ourselves whilst staying safe.

Social Environment
Our team of PADI instructors, Divemasters and interns such as yourself makes for a great social crowd where there’s always something fun going on.

Once you arrive in Tenerife for your dive internship you’ll be sure to settle in quickly, make lots of friends and become part of the Team.

During the day even though you will be busy with diving, diving theory or practicing your pool skills, fun is never far away. The training Director who has experience with training in many fields, not just diving, firmly believes people learn better and quicker whilst having fun, and this is seen throughout the Academy.

In the evenings you have time to relax and enjoy yourself. The training Team can show you the best places to go, the most exciting things to do and where the best deals are. The nights will vary from chilling with a BBQ, to dancing the night away in Tenerife’s top bars and clubs.

We have a 5 day week, unlike most who work a 6 day week, so you will have plenty of time to relax, explore and have fun.

Whats next?
Following the links below to contact us or complete the form with your details to get a personalised cost of your internship package.

Contact us

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