PADI Divemaster Internship Koh Tao, Thailand with DJL Diving

Welcome to our Divemaster Internships Section

Looking for a new and rewarding challenge that offers excitement and adventure? Want a diving internship that allows you to work abroad? Need an undergraduate summer internship that’s different? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Come and take a Divemaster Internship package with us on Koh Tao and become a professional-level diver.

Imagine living on tropical Koh Tao island – working in scuba diving as a PADI Divemaster!

At DJL Diving we offer many scuba diving packages, one of our most popular being our Divemaster training internship packages here on Koh Tao, Thailand. Training you from beginner to PADI Divemaster with the option to go further. This is an excellent way to start your scuba diving travels equipping you with everything you need to work and travel around the world in the scuba industry leading certified divers on fun dives and conducting Scuba Reactivates and refreshers for certified divers who haven’t dived in a while.

DJL Diving is based on the beautiful island of Koh Tao and we also have another dive center on the island of Koh Lipe, Andaman Sea, both in Thailand.

As part of your dive internship, you’ll get to explore the amazing coral reefs, diving sunken shipwrecks, and spectacular pinnacles, make lots of new friends, and enjoy yourself along the way!

The price of our Koh Tao Divemaster internship packages starts from just over 80,000 baht if you are already qualified as a Rescue Diver or equivalent with a variety of options and add-ons. At Davy Jones’ Locker, we can provide everything you need to set yourself up for a great diving gap year: PADI Scuba Diving Courses including Open Water, PADI Advanced Open Water, Emergency First Responder (EFR) and PADI Rescue Diver and PADI Divemaster, with accommodation for free. You also receive your own full set of scuba equipment plus all student materials, and certification (extra Divemaster application fees 245 AUD). Our students also get unlimited diving during the Divemaster Internship and FREE FUN DIVING FOR LIFE at Davy Jones’ Locker Koh Tao.

Take our Divemaster internship on Koh Tao to become a PADI Divemaster, which will give you a ‘ticket to travel’ & work in the world’s most beautiful locations.

How much does the PADI Divemaster Internship package cost?

The cost of the Divemaster Internship package does depend on a few different things, for example, how many months it takes you to complete the courses, the average is around 2 months, but some people complete everything within a month if they already have some diving qualifications. Some people aren’t in a rush and want to log plenty of dives to build up their experience levels so take longer than 2 months. The extra specialty course you would like to take and you may also decide to upgrade parts of your equipment package or may already have some items of equipment which will also affect the overall cost.

With these factors in mind here’s a quick breakdown of different options to give you an idea of what it will cost you to become a PADI Divemaster:

Silver Divemaster Internship

• Divemaster + Own Equipment + 8 weeks accommodation = 89.000 THB

Gold Divemaster Internship

• Divemaster + Own Equipment + 10 weeks accommodation + 5 specialties = 114.000THB

Platinum Divemaster Internship

• Divemaster + Own Equipment + 12 weeks accommodation + 5 specialties (included Side-mount and cavern) + Tech 40 = 150.000THB

You can also decide to take some of the Divemaster Internship Add-on options which will change the overall cost.  These include getting involved in Rebreather diver training with the Rebreather Diver add on. You can train to drive power boats for diving applications with the Power Boat Handling add on, or even learn to work as an underwater videographer with our Underwater Videography add on. You can also continue on to become a PADI Dive Instructor. There are some prerequisites to this course, contact us for details.

In this section we go into more depth about how the diving internships are run, what is included and basically try to give you a good idea of what to expect.

If you have any questions regarding our Scuba Diving Internships in Thailand, drop us an e-mail, we’re happy to answer and try to do this within 24 hours.

You can see the upcoming Divemaster Internship schedule of start dates on the site.

 

If you aren’t planning on ever working as a Divemaster once you complete the Divemaster Internship then there is another option available our Master Scuba Diver 1 month package, where you don’t have annual Divemaster membership fees to pay and it also doesn’t come with an equipment package included which makes the package cheaper. It is also only a 1 month program too and so if you don’t have as much time available can work out to be a good option. There is more information about the Master Scuba Diver package.

***IMPORTANT*** Please check the PADI medical guide by clicking here to ensure that the there is nothing that will prevent you in taking either of these courses.

 

Let’s now look at how our Gap Year Diving Internships are structured:

Our dive internship constitutes a comprehensive diver training package to make you into a great dive professional. This includes scuba diving courses, equipment, accommodation and materials.

You can customize your gap year internship to match your areas of interest, timescale, future intentions and budget.

All internships include the ‘PADI Divemaster Internship Package’ [2 months]. You can then choose ‘internship add-ons’ to specialize in different diving areas.

On this page, we introduce you to the Divemaster Internship Package and look at each internship add-ons.

Structure

All internships commence with the:
‘The standard PADI Divemaster Internship Package on Koh Tao’
This lasts two months and includes everything you need to get from beginner to PADI Divemaster. Specifically, that means;

PADI scuba courses from beginner to PADI Divemaster which is the first professional-level qualification in the PADI system.
– PADI Open Water (It has an extra cost if you need it)
– PADI Advanced Open Water (It has an extra cost if you need it)
– EFR + PADI Rescue Diver (It has an extra cost if you need it)
– PADI Divemaster

Your own full set of scuba diving equipment to keep, Aqualung Package, you can upgrade if you wish.

All PADI E-learnings and materials

2 months accommodation (if required in a shared room).
Job Placement Scheme – We’ll actively help you look for work as a Divemaster whether it be on Koh Tao or the rest of the world, we’ll help steer you in the right direction!

Gain experience working as a PADI Divemaster on Koh Tao after completing your Internship.
We provide more than just the basic Divemaster training here at DJL as we realize that most people will eventually want to continue on with their diving career and become Instructors and so we also teach additional dive theory to you so that you are prepared for when you come to take the Instructor course. Without this additional training, the step between Divemaster and Instructor can be a big one.
Unlimited diving during the internship & FREE Fun Diving for LIFE
Prices for this two-month internship start at 73,000 baht (if you are already qualified as a PADI Rescue Diver or equivalent with a current EFR certification)**

At the end of two months, as a qualified PADI Divemaster you have the option to continue your education with our optional ‘Gap Year / Internship Add – ons’ [Step 2].

This allows you to gain expertise in specialized areas of diving, such as deep technical & wreck diving, boat handling, underwater videography or becoming an diving Instructor by taking the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC.) We do also offer further courses like the Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) qualification and even Staff Instructor.

If you don’t want to go further, that’s fine!!

Below are the different add on options to your Koh Tao Divemaster Internship;

Optional Add-on 1

Instructor Development (PADI IDC) Internship

Carry on and become a PADI Instructor by continuing on to do your PADI IDC here with us.

NB you must have been qualified as an OW diver for at least 6 months and have a minimum of 100 logged dives(which you should log during your Divemaster Internship) before you can start the Instructor course.

Optional Add-on 2

2 weeks extra

Boat Handling Course

Gain an internationally recognised power boat handling qualification, this is subject to availability of a teaching boat as it sometimes based in one of

our other dive school locations.

Optional Add on 3

4 weeks extra

Underwater Videographer

Learn to produce quality underwater videos – train & gain working experience. Paid internship – get wages!

Optional Add on 4

Integrated into your 2 month Internship

Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver

Get a step ahead of the competition by becoming a Rebreather Diver!

In the following pages, we’ll go into more detail about how the 2-month PADI Divemaster Internship package works. We’ll look in detail at the courses, equipment, and accommodation.

You can then read about the add on options, extending your dive internship into different areas of diving.

In Ko Tao Thailand we are fortunate enough to have a twelve-month diving season, so DJL is open year-round – this means is the start date is up to you!

Our Diving Internships are conducted as a rolling program – you can start diving anytime.

Our busiest times on Koh Tao are around February and March, plus during summer months (i.e. typical Western holidays). During peak season the island does get very busy, but this is a great time for dive training, plus there will be a lot of employment opportunities following graduation as a PADI Divemaster.

Taking a summer / gap year scuba diving internship with DJL Diving is a great opportunity to get quality scuba diving education in a beautiful location.

We have the right staff and facilities so you can train to become a capable dive professional and enjoy great diving at the same time.

Diving Internship introduction

 What is so special about a diving internship with DJL?

We will explain below the unique opportunities and experience you will gain by taking a diving internship with DJL Diving on Koh Tao.
We will show you what is special about Koh Tao and talk about the benefits of learning with DJL Diving.

See the fantastic underwater world around Koh Tao, Thailand

The coral reefs and underwater pinnacles around Koh Tao are home to an amazing diversity of tropical marine life.
During your dive internship on Koh Tao, you’ll get to see colorful reef fish such as butterfly fish, emperors, parrotfish, and triggerfish and also see many other reef and sand dwellers.

There are large oceanic fish species here like trevally and barracuda, and you might see larger fish such as the giant grouper, bull shark and reef shark.

The highlight for many divers is seeing the huge [but harmless] whale sharks that visit Koh Tao. Around the island you may see whale sharks of 7-8 meters in length. Spectacular!

Real responsibility, become a member of our dive team

At DJL Diving you will a key member of our dive team.

You’ll gain a lot of practical experience by taking care of customers and helping ensure that things run smoothly.
DJL Diving is a busy dive center. We are not huge, but we are a dynamic, lively PADI diving center catering for customers on a daily basis.
During your diving internship with DJL, you will help with customer organization, give briefings, guide snorkellers and assist Instructors with training courses.
You will gain professional experience and get a good insight into how the dive center runs. You can expect to become a competent PADI Divemaster Course Koh Tao.
If you want to work after you graduate as a PADI divemaster, we will help you with your first steps in finding a job as a dive professional.

A very experienced international dive team.

Our instructors are amongst the most experienced in Asia.
The DJL Diving instructors have taught all over the world. Two of the senior instructors have more than 15 years diving experience.
Our instructors have worked in Thailand, other parts of Asia, Europe & the Caribbean, bringing a great deal of diving knowledge to DJL Diving Team.
Each instructor has his own specialities which results in wide & varied teaching sources. In addition to the core elements of your dive internship we can offer the following specialties:
Technical Deep Dive Instructor Training, Wreck Diving Powerboat & Seamanship, Dive shop operations (including Gas Blending, Equipment and compressor maintenance), Digital underwater photography and videography, First Aid / CPR / give oxygen Search and Recovery.
Most courses are taught in English, but we can also offer courses in Spanish, Dutch, French and German.

While you are doing your divemaster internship, you will be supervised by an instructor [which ensures that you will complete all of the Divemaster course requirements and that you will be taken care of], but you will also get opportunities to work with our other instructors. During your diving internship it is the aim of the instructor team to offer you the best possible chance of being a great diving professional.

You’ll also have an amazing time learning here!

Diving and Socialising

One of the most important things when you are travelling abroad is the people you meet.
Koh Tao is a lively destination with plenty of beach resorts and a great atmosphere, it has many visitors from around the world – Europeans, North and South Americans, Scandinavians and Asians – we have customers from everywhere.
Taking your diving internship with DJL Diving on Koh Tao will mean that you get to know a wide range of people from very different backgrounds.
A Divemaster internship on Koh Tao really has international flair!

DJL’s Boats

In this part of the world, most people use converted fishing boats for diving. There are many reasons for this, the boats are affordable to convert and easy to dive from, and the Thais have a great deal of experience using & maintaining them.

DJL’s ‘Big boat’ is a 20 meter converted fishing boat. It has tank holders with space to cater to 30 divers. It has all of the required and necessary items like emergency oxygen, western toilet, sun deck ,snack and beverage facilities.

We also have our own ‘small boat’ which we like to call either the “bathtub” or “long tail, both of which it is not. She’s a 5 meter flat bottom boat that we take directly from the beach to our big boat. Best part about this is, we never have to deal with the crowds packing in and out on the pier and cross 1-8 other dive boats to get to ours.

Diving Research & Deep Wreck – Tech Diving

A characteristic feature of DJL Diving is our devotion to shipwrecks, technical diving and the neverending search for new wrecks.
We are passionate about diving research and always active in organizing exciting diving expeditions. It doesn’t generate a large amount of money, but it is the reason many people at DJL work in the diving industry. There is always something new & exciting to discover.
You would not enroll for a course at a university that doesn’t conduct research, we apply the same principle for diving. Researching current and modern scuba diving trends and techniques keeps everyone interested and makes for a dynamic, stimulating environment for learning and working.
Whilst taking your PADI Divemaster internship with DJL Diving, you will have the opportunity to take some additional Tech courses which will then allow you the chance to participate. You can begin with diving on our local wrecks, then maybe take part in the research.
Over the last few years, we have located and dived many wrecks in Thailand and beyond. To read about the last diving expeditions, take a look at seaexplorersclub.com

Wide variety of dive sites around Koh Tao

With its diversity of dive sites Koh Tao has a lot to offer visitors. Surrounding the island are shallow coral reefs where you can see a variety of tropical sea life. Further out are more isolated dive spots such as Chumphon & Southwest Pinnacles, which are the habitat for bigger fish.
Koh Tao also has deep wrecks such as the Unicorn and Torpedo [Thai cargo ships] & a Japanese WW2 Schooner. With DJL you get the chance to dive on these wrecks.
The distance to our diving locations is short, which gives more time for diving – we go out at least twice a day. We try mix it up with which different dive spots we go to as much as we can, so that you can see more and keep it interesting.

12 months diving season in the Gulf of Thailand

Due to the size and location of Koh Tao, we are in the fortunate position to be able to provide diving all year round. No matter what the weather conditions are, we can always dive on the sheltered side of the island. Even if it’s windy, our position in the Gulf of Thailand means that the waves do not usually get too high.
We are open all year round, so you can start your dive internship whenever it suits you!

Divemaster Internship Steps

Steps for PADI Divemaster Internship

Start your Divemaster Internship with DJL Diving, ideal if you are taking a Gap year or looking to change your career to diving. Our Divemaster internship package includes all courses from beginner up to PADI Divemaster.

You’ll also receive all required diving manuals (which are thankfully mostly digital these days), your own set of scuba equipment to keep, unlimited diving during the internship and student materials (for example dive planning tables) plus all application fees.  When you take the Divemaster Internship package with a minimum of a BCD and full set of regulators then you do also get the added bonus of FREE fun diving for life here at DJL Koh Tao, this is in addition to the standard unlimited diving people get whilst completing their Divemaster course with us.

Getting a Visa for your Scuba Diving Internship in Thailand.

Lets now take a look at the visa regulations in Thailand & how to get the best possible visa for your diving internship, plus discuss some frequently asked questions:

If you make no prior arrangements & fly straight into Thailand you’ll be issued with a 30 day ‘Visa On Arrival’. Since the duration of the internship is usually around two months you’ll either have to do a ‘visa run’ to another country in order to remain in Thailand, or you can go over to the immigration office in Koh Samui and get your visa extended by 30 days there.  If you take the latter option then there is also the option to use a company on Koh Tao to send your passport over for you to get the 30 day visa extention.

“Visa Runs”

This means crossing the border out of Thailand and then re-entering. If you do a “border bounce” you will leave Thailand, cross the border, then come back in on the same day. However tourists are now limited to the amount of times this can be done over the period of 1 year. Depending on which country you are from you will either be issued with a stamp for 15 days or 30 days, so it’s worth checking this with your local Thai Consulate or Embassy before you come over so you are aware of the current rules. If you go to the Thai Embassy/consulate in somewhere like Malaysia, Lao or Cambodia you can apply for a 60 day tourist visa which can then be extended by 30 days in Koh Samui before it expires, giving you a total of 90 days.

What is the best visa to get to come over and take your Divemaster Internship in Thailand?

You can apply for a visa before you come to Thailand from Thai Embassies or Consulates in your home country and you will probably save money on travel and visa costs if you obtain a visa before you arrive. At present the standard visa that is issued is a 60 day single entry tourist visa, which can be extended by another 30 days in Koh Samui before it expires.

There is also a new STV Special Tourist Visa which is a 90 day visa that has just started to be issued which will allow people to stay for 90 days and then this visa can be extended for two more 90 day periods once you are in Thailand. This visa is available if a person applies in their home country. However, the regulations and requirements to obtain this visa are quite strict so it is best to check with your local Thai consulate to see if you can obtain one of these visas.  There are also new agencies that have opened recently since the Covid-19 pandemic who will help you to get a visa before you come too, some of them will offer to get you a Business Visa and Work Permit so that you can stay here and work here legally on a Sponsored Work Permit, we haven’t used the company that is linked to as yet as this is a new service that we have been made aware of by people we know that have used them and they seem legitimate so far.

If you qualify for a visa over 60 days you’ll usually need a couple of documents from us (which we will e-mail to you once you have paid your deposit for the internship as we are confirming that you are coming to take the training with us and so essentially acting as your sponsor for the visa). There is an application fee but it works out much better than going down the ‘visa on arrival’ route as it is usually cheaper and a lot less hassle once you are here.

You need to contact your local Thai consulate for the exact fee, but expect it to be a little over 150 US dollars for the longer visas, the 60 day tourist visas are around $60 currently in 2020.

Our advice is don’t leave things till the last minute – sometimes these things take a while to organize so be proactive, but also check if there are any rules about when you need to enter Thailand to activate your visa as with some of them you have to enter Thailand within a certain period of the visa being issued.

10 Good Reasons to complete your Divemaster Training with the DJL Family

Just in case you’re not convinced yet, here are ten of the best reasons to take a scuba diving internship in Thailand.
1. Explore the underwater world of fantastic corals, stunning marine life, isolated pinnacles and sunken wrecks. It really is incredible.
2. Practice your foreign language skills. Not only will you get the opportunity to pick up some Thai, but many of our diving courses are also conducted in German and Spanish.
3. Whether you intend to continue working in the Dive Industry or not, being a dive professional is an interesting addition to any CV .
4. Develop your team working, problem solving and leadership skills as you become a valued member of the DJL dive crew.
5. Experience life overseas, appreciating a completely different culture and people with fantastic foods and a different way of life. This isn’t the same as ‘travelling’ – you’ll get a much more authentic feel of what Koh Tao is like.
6. Although not strenuous, scuba diving is a physical activity – get fit doing something you really enjoy.
7. Spend time in one of the most beautiful places in the world, living on a small tropical island in the Gulf of Thailand.
8. Meet and work with a rich variety of people from all over the world – both staff, other interns and customers.
9. Build up confidence by giving presentations and by the end of the course, you’ll be comfortable delivering dive briefings to varying group sizes.
10. Do something different – gain a new perspective on life by exposing yourself to an original and unique experience.

What’s next after becoming a PADI Divemaster?

What options are available once you finish your Dive Internship?

At the end of your diving internship, if you’re not ready to return home, there are many new options open to you.
Extend your Gap Year Internship with Paid Work in Diving:
Koh Tao Thailand is a popular dive destination.

At the end of your gap year dive internship, as a PADI Divemaster [or PADI Instructor if you choose the instructor Course Add-On], there are many opportunities to work in diving.

Social Aspect

The Social Side of Taking a Gap Year Scuba Diving Internship:

One thing you don’t have to worry about is enjoying yourself during your PADI Diving Internship here on Koh Tao Thailand.

We have a great social scene, so you’ll be sure to have a lot of fun. Most people that travel to Koh Tao are here on holiday, so pretty much everyone is in a good mood. Plus our staff and other interns mix to form a nice social crowd.

After a days diving we can normally be found enjoying a cold beer in one of the beach bars, or enjoying one of the many restaurants that Koh Tao has to offer. There’s always someone to hang out with!

You’ll make lots of great friends and get to meet people from all over the world – this is one of the best things about taking your dive internship here in Thailand.

In Koh Tao, there’s a party going on somehere every night.

Because Koh Tao is a beach resort environment [with a lot of young people] there are many people out partying & drinking every night of the week!

This raises an important point – excessive drinking & scuba diving don’t mix. We all enjoy a couple of beers in the evening but it’s unwise to ‘get hammered’ when you know you’re diving the following day.

We all need to let our hair down from time to time – that’s fine! You just need to plan a day off diving if you’re intending to have a late night!

With regard to diving internships our policy is this: You can take a day off whenever you want. If you sign up for dives we expect you to turn up. It’s not great when you don’t show because you’ve got a hangover – simple common courtesy.

We want you to turn out as a strong PADI Divemaster, and enjoy your time here on Koh Tao, Thailand.

You just need to find the right balance of work & play!

Taking an internship to become a dive pro is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding activities you can do.

It’s a great moment when you make the transition from being just another diver, to someone that the other customers look to for guidance and advice. Working as a Divemaster is a great experience.

What kind of people take Scuba diving internship with DJL?

There is no stereotype of what kind of people join our diving internships – the one thing they all have in common is they are searching for an exciting and rewarding challenge .

Over the years we’ve enjoyed working with interns from all over the world. This includes people from the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Israel, Canada, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland and France.