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Approved by MoD in support of the ELC Scheme - ELC # 2266
If you are leaving the military, why not consider a career in scuba diving?
We can help you become a professional diver in as little as 2 months, with opportunities to continue your professional development and advance your skills further - to Instructor level and beyond. No previous diving experience is necessary. So, if you have never dived before or you are already a qualified diver, read on to find out what opportunities we can offer you.
Below is how you can go about becoming a PADI Instructor and have most of your training fully funded by the British Governmant if you are currently serving in the military, about to leave or have recently left.
Firstly I want to let you know the basic minimum standard PADI progression of courses required to become an Instructor as follows:
Courses that can be started any day of the year by request:
- PADI Open Water Diver
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
- Emergency First Response (EFR) Primary/Secondary Care
- PADI Rescue Diver
- PADI Divemaster
Courses that are held 6 times a year to coincide with the scheduled PADI IE's:
- PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC)
- PADI Instructor Examination (IE) (run independently by PADI on a fixed schedule 6 times a year in our resort using the same facilities as used in the IDC)
You will also need the following:
- You will need to have been diving for at least 6 months since your first entry level course such as the PADI Open Water Diver or BSAC Club Diver or Ocean Diver).
- You will need to show us a total of 20 logged dives before you can start the PADI Divemaster course.
- You will need to show us a total of 60 logged dives before you can go to the PADI IDC.
- You will need to show us a total of 100 dives logged in your personal log book before you can go to the IE. There is an exception to this though if you are completing either a 6 week career program with us or you complete at least 5 other Instructor level courses with us such as EFR Instructor or Specialty Instructor. If this applies to you then you will need to ask us for more details.
If you have started off with BSAC as many have in the UK then it is very easy to crossover to PADI as follows:
- BSAC Club Diver qualifies to enter the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course.
- BSAC Ocean Diver qualifies to enter the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course.
- BSAC Sport Diver qualifies to enter the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course.
- BSAC Sport Diver with 20 logged dives documenting experience in deep and underwater navigation diving qualifies to enter the PADI Rescue Diver course.
- UK Military Diver qualifies to enter the PADI Rescue Diver course.
- BSAC Dive Leader with 20 logged dives and CPR/first aid certification (if not you can always complete the EFR Primary/Secondary Care with us) within the last 24 months qualifies to enter the PADI Divemaster course.
- BSAC Advanced Diver qualifies to enter either the PADI Assistant Instructor course or PADI Instructor Development Course.
Our Go Pro I Resettlement program takes you from any BSAC or PADI certification level to PADI Divemaster with some valuable add-on programs at a discounted package rate and includes, depending on your current level:
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
- PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty Diver
- PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) Specialty Diver
- PADI Search and Recovery Specialty Diver
- EFR Primary/Secondary Care and Care for Children
- DAN Oxygen Provider
- PADI Rescue Diver
- PADI Divemaster
- One week Divemaster Internship
It includes all required PADI, EFR and DAN materials; certifications and applications to PADI, EFR and DAN (excluding DAN Membership); all dive equipment rental, boat, tanks and weights. (You will be required to purchase some accessories during your Divemaster course though.)
You receive special discounted rates on equipment purchases and fun dives during your training. The usual course duration from Advanced Open Water to Divemaster is approximately 40 days. You will complete approximately 70 open water dives which you can log. You will then qualify to enter the IDC or Go Pro II Resettlement program but will need 100 dives to enter the IE if not completing a 6 week career program with us or 5 other Instructor level courses.
Our Go Pro II Resettlement program takes you from PADI Divemaster or BSAC Advanced Diver to PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, PADI Certificate 3 in Scuba Instruction, EFR Instructor and Enriched Air (Nitrox) Instructor including:
- PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) Specialty
- IDC Pre-Study and Preparation Workshop
- PADI Instructor Development Course
- EFR Instructor course
- PADI Instructor Examination
- PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) Specialty Instructor
It includes all required PADI and EFR application and exam fees, tanks, weights and boats but does not include equipment rental as it is usual for candidates to have their own personal equipment at this level. You receive special discounted rates on equipment purchases if you want to purchase from us. Training materials are not included. You will need to ask us for a list and check what you have already to find out what extra items you need to purchase. This program takes 23 days and is on a fixed schedule as we are limited by the IE dates which are set by PADI. This year we have 6 scheduled programs. You will complete 8 open water dives which you can log.
We also have an MSDT Prep course which takes 4½ days or our Go Pro III program for a couple of days more and is usually held a day after the IE where you learn to teach a wide choice of 5 Specialties plus DAN Oxygen First Aid in the Go Pro III. This will make you better prepared as an Instructor, able to teach more courses and therefore more employable when you are looking for work.
To complete both the GO Pro I and II you will need almost 2 months here. We also offer a free one month very valuable Instructor Internship after you successfully complete your PADI IE.
We can offer a wide range of accommodation choices. Firstly you have a choice of single or twin share Budget, Poolside or Seaview rooms in our resort. Please see our El Galleon website for details on accommodation choices. We can always offer you a package price together with half board. Then you have a wide range of local rooms or cottages starting from a basic cottage with fan, cable TV and cold water shower. They range up to better quality rooms with air-conditioning, cable TV, kitchen, refrigerator, hot and cold water, balcony and beach front or sea views, with many in between. Prices are very low compared to the UK.
We work together with a travel agent in the UK or we can recommend an online ticketing website.
Drinks and meal prices are very low or you could cook for yourself for even less so it is cheap living here. There is a wide range of restaurants, bars and discos for entertainment. For the adventurous there are kayaks and motorbikes for rent and mountain trails and waterfalls to explore.
Ministry of Defense Resettlement Scheme allowances you will be entitled to include:
- The Standard Learning Credit (SLC) for personal development. You contribute 20% of the cost and the Service provides up to 80% up to the limit. You register first but the money will only be released after you show proof you have completed training.
- Individual Resettlement Training Cost (IRTC) is available for the cost of a resettlement course.
- Accommodation and subsistence allowances from single Service authorities. We are overseas so you are entitled to both an accommodation allowance and a subsistence allowance since it is a residential course. This depends on the number of years in service; if you have over 16 years service you get the full 40 days allowance.
- Enhanced Learning Credits. The Enhanced Learning Credit (ELC) Tier One for 4 years or Tier Two for 8 years service since joining the scheme can be claimed for the Go Pro II Resettlement program completed with us because we are a PADI Vocational Centre, the course meets level 3 under the NQF, you receive the PADI Certificate 3 in Scuba Instruction, and Asia Divers are an Approved Learning Provider number 2266.
The financial year end for the ELC funding is March 31 and your allowance is good for up to 3 years and you can claim for up to 10 years after leaving.
You should verify the actual amounts with your Resettlement Officer.
You are eligible for up to 7 weeks time spent on resettlement activities if you have spent over 16 years in Service.
You need to be careful because we have seen a lot of misleading and incorrect information around. The only scuba diving course which you can apply for funding by ELCAS is one leading to the PADI Certificate 3 in Scuba Instruction because this is equivalent to Level 3 under the National Qualification framework. The only place you can do this course is a PADI Vocational Centre. Currently there are only 3 outside of the UK including us and we are the only one in Asia but only two of these are Approved Learning Providers. You must do the course in the dive centre you apply for the CAN through. You cannot do the course elsewhere whether it is supposed to be a branch, an affiliate or partner dive centre or any such thing. You need to be careful as otherwise you may not be able to apply for any more money or worse still have to refund the money! You are quite welcome to check with the PADI International Ltd. office in Bristol or do a search for Asia Divers on the ELCAS website at www.enhancedlearningcredits.com to verify our status.
For ELC funding you will need to apply for a Claim Authorisation Note (CAN). Claim forms must be submitted to ELCAS at least 15 working days before the course starts and ideally at least 5 weeks between submitting a claim and needing to book the course. You then give us the CAN along with your 20% deposit and we submit our Invoice in approved format to ELCAS for payment to us direct by cheque on or after the course start date. Note that we are VAT exempt because we are outside of the UK.
For Resettlement funding you will need to start by registering with CTP by completing MoD Form 1173. Then you need to apply by completing MoD Form 363. You should also consult with your Resettlement Officer or SRA.
Please review this information then when you have decided which courses you would like to complete or if you need any more information or advice, or have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact us: info@idc-inparadise.com
Looking forward to working with you in your Dive to Success Professional Resettlement Training.
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