u/Moodijudi8059

Hey my dad lives in Tucker and I’m coming to visit for a week.

Always looking for activities me him and his wife can do together and I’ve been getting really into my local trivia night lately.

I’m looking for anywhere in near or around Tucker with a good trivia night, good atmosphere. Anything you’ve got as far as recommendations I’ll take!

Thanks in advance

How do I choose a training center? I don’t believe most expensive always means the best id love to hear some of your experiences. I’m wanting to begin a career as a deckhand. Ive don’t have much experience with boats besides working as a Divemaster.

Some background details are also that I have double nationality (including American), am fluent in French and Spanish, I have formal culinary training and experience and am also a Yoga Alliance certified instructor. But I want to work the exterior.

Any advice is appreciated. I’ll be in Florida next month. Also if any recs for crew houses I’d take those too (or if it even makes sense to stay in one). Thanks

Hey scuba community <3

Hopping on here to share some perspective and recent experience I have gathered.

About two months ago I did my open water cert for the first time. I loved it so much and as I’m in between jobs and traveling I decided to keep moving through certifications. I was skeptical about going straight to DM training but after consulting with the instructors around me and friends I was heavily encouraged to go for it.

There’s plenty of controversy about ‘zero to hero ‘ programs and I came here to say that it is entirely dependent upon the individual diver whether they are CAPABLE or qualified to head directly into their DMT. Many people on this sub will say it’s a scheme and it should never be done but I vehemently disagree.

In order to even begin my DMT I did a lot of fun diving for about three weeks straight. On these fun dives I dove with “experienced” divers, some of who have been diving for literal decades. Thing is, the majority of them could barely control their buoyancy, were colliding with each other constantly, had no control of air consumption and zero awareness or fitness as divers. Experience can mean one dive a year for five years but that does not equate to having a clue what you’re doing under there, how dive theory works, or how to properly maintain/ operate equipment.

In my case, having grown up a swimmer in the Pacific Ocean, surfing, snorkeling and playing as a young child in different currents and swells, this gave me insight and comfortability that made everything come very very easy. My open water was a thrill and so far my DMt has been a great experience. Before even finishing I have assisted on research dives, and been offered a dm position at my current shop.

All that being said, I do think PADI is pushing people through certifications who are completely unqualified to hold the titles and that being certified with a title from PADI means little to nothing. I’ve seen so many divers who should never be allowed to hold their certs, most concerning are the rescue divers and dms that paid the fees and got handed the cert after attempting the skills and eventually being passed through despite failing and failing (including overweight, out of shape DMs who are not fit enough to fulfill duties or respond to certain scenarios)

Ive been on fun dives with dive masters, rescue divers, advanced divers who haven’t the slightest clue of how to manage their air, avoid crashing into coral, how to act around marine life or how to dive in a safe manner.

I assisted in a rescue course yesterday with a student who was panicking the entire time and needed to be towed through the current all day long, only for her to be handed her rescue diver cert at the end of the day.

Would love to hear some of your guys opinions if they differ or if anyone has had similar experiences..

Hey all,

I’m looking into transitioning to become a deckhand (26f). I’ve been sitting on this the past year and the career move is the direction I’m ready to take things.

I’m trying to get a picture of how attainable this goal might actually be. I’ve looked into the certs required and the ones that would give me a leg up and I plan to get them at Seascope in Antibes. Then look for a job there.

Some things about me:

• 3+ years of work in hospitality, administration, service industry

• I have a B2 fluency in French, basic Spanish skills and am a native English speaker (American)

• Rescue Diver Certified (around 40 logged dives)

• Yoga Instructor 200H Yoga Alliance certified

• strong swimmer, comfortable in and around the water

• Bachelors degree in Psychology

I’m familiar with Antibes and would plan to do about a week of certification work at the beginning of September then look for a job following that.

I’m here to ask for:

• advice
• if it’s a feasible idea to get a job in September in the Med OR if im better off going to Florida
• if these qualifications are the kind that might help my case as someone with no boat experience

I’ve done seasonal work in France already where I worked 60 hours weeks. I’ve worked overnight shifts, I’ve been away from family for extended periods so I have a decent idea of the level of commitment it takes but I’d love the opinion of someone who’s experienced in the work already.

Thanks in advance!

Hey all I’m seeking some advice,

I’m in Utila Honduras right now and just finished my OW. Having grown up in the water it all feels very natural to me and I’m no stranger to the ocean, getting to experience it through this medium is like a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to get certified and Id love to eventually work in a career that allows me to be in the water on a regular basis wether it’s in conservation work, research or in a dive shop.

I have a unique opportunity being here as it’s basically the cheapest place to get certified and I’m on a flexible timeline. I realize zero to hero programs are a bit controversial so I want some input from this community.

I wouldn’t be going directly into a job as a DM but since I’m here now and can afford it I want to do the certification now. I’m young, fit, I’ve done a lot of open water swimming in much harsher conditions than the Caribbean. I also have free diving and snorkel experience (I’m from San Diego) which has given me some advantage in taking to this skill.

So do you guys think it’s a good idea to seize the opportunity and just go directly to certification as a DM? to clarify, I would NOT be seeking a DM position immediately after, I would want acquire a lot more dives in different conditions before doing that but I am heavily considering getting the certification now rather than later.

(I know about the rescue courses between AOW and DM) and would be logging minimum 50 dives before the DM)