I’m sat here in the corner of the beach bar, after leading a couple of fun dives this afternoon, reflecting on my journey so far at Crystal Dive, wondering how did this all happen. A couple months ago I arrived to Koh Tao with just a handful of logged dives after doing my PADI Junior open water course at 14 (Thanks Mum and Dad!). I had forgotten most of the dive theory over the last 10 years, but I still had the memories of how great it felt to be underwater. Once I had finished my education, I knew I was ready to do my Divemaster. After some lengthy research and recieving recommendations I chose Crystal, and specifically their aptly named, Lifestyle Package. Now I’m still here with Crystal, working as a Divemaster with the lifestyle was dreaming of while at university. So when asked to write this blog about my experience so far, of-course I said yes!
Three steps to landing on Crystal…
There are so many different dive schools, it can become a daunting task trying to decide who to choose, especially when you’re about to spend most of your savings on the course.
- Choosing a location: I found the location will have a huge effect on the price of the course, with Koh Tao coming in as one of the cheapest. Alongside this the forgiving and reliable dive conditions on Koh Tao means you can fit in more dives in less time than other locations.
2. Choosing an Agency: Before starting my research I was naive to the fact that there are other options to PADI (Embarrassing!). There’s actually quite a few! In the end I did choose PADI because most of the job adverts I had seen, requested PADI divemasters.
3. Choosing the School: As mentioned, I wanted the divemaster lifestyle, with the intention of working in the industry. Crystal seemed to be geared towards that, with pretty much all their staff having done all their training in house. They explained the Crystal standard is not just about ticking the boxes of the PADI minimum requirments, and more about gaining as much hands on experience as possible, which made sense to me.
So what makes up the Crystal Standard…
To qualify as a PADI Divemaster you could technically just assist on parts of one Open Water course, and one Advanced course. During my time at Crystal, I completed 3 Open Water assists and 3 continued education assists (advanced/rescue etc), with the option for more. To my knowledge Crystal is the only centre on Koh Tao doing this and giving you so much real hands-on time with students. The Crystal Dive program is the emphasis on real-life experiences. The additional assists you receive are a fantastic opportunity to put your learning into practice. Assisting on real PADI courses like the Open Water Course, Advanced Open Water Course, and even Rescue Diver Course was for me, was the highlight of my Divemaster. I found myself gradually taking on more responsibility, guiding students through their first experiences underwater, and troubleshooting challenges alongside experienced instructors. The hands-on experience gave me some amazing moments, seeing students going from complete novices to accomplished divers!
You can also be signed off as a Divemaster with just 60 dives! If I’m going to be honest the main reason, I signed up for the Divemaster Lifestyle package was the unlimited diving perk! Before, during, and after my Divemaster course, I had the freedom to dive as much as I wanted. Who can say no to free diving for life!? It was carefully explained to me that I could dive as much as I want forever as long as I stayed in PADI status and had my own personal Dive Insurance! Ultimatly by the end of my Divemaster its safe to say I got my money’s worth with well over 100 dives. And yes, I did take part in the 100th dive ritual, if you know, you know ;).
Why choose the Lifestyle Package…
As stated earlier, I chose the `Lifestyle Package´ they were offering, which seemed to simplify the process of getting me from just a few logged dives to a fully qualified and employable PADI Divemaster with no hidden costs.
Getting Equipped with the Lifestyle Package: The Goodie Bag
During my orientation for the course, I received a 15l dry bag full of toys I would need for the course. PADI state the minimum equipment requirements of a dive professional are:
- Surface marker buoy and reel (marking our position for boats above)
- Underwater Compass (to not get lost, 60% of the time, every time)
- Cutting Tool (useful in any emergency situation, mostly used during dives against debris with the Coral Tribe)
- Whistle (thankfully never needed)
All of these were in the bag, along with other essentials, which I didn’t even know I would need until starting the course. These would include:
- Slate and Pencil/eraser (needed for my mapping and sometimes settling some underwater discussions)
- Dive Site Guide (useful for orientating myself with the underwater world of Koh Tao)
- PADI Materials and Membership Fee (Instructor manual, and other standards related slates to make sure I’m doing my job properly)
- T-shirt (I mean who doesn’t love a dive shop T)
Its cheaper for Crystal to buy these things in bulk than for me to source all these myself so it was a no brainer! All I had to do was remember to put them in my dive bag when heading to the boat. To be honest, I think they would rather give you all these items on orientation so you don’t have any excuse for not having them on the course! Plus on the day of orientation we received our own personal dedicated Diving Insurance for a year. Something I think every diver should have and again saved me the hassle of deciding who to be covered by and what policy I needed.
Lifestyle Package Specialties Courses…
One of the standout features of the Divemaster Lifestyle Package is the two inclusive PADI Specialties. I wasn’t sure how beneficial these would be, but my opinion quickly changed.
1. Emergency Oxygen Provider, which is essential for any diving professional. This specialty expanded on what I’d learnt on my Rescue course and taught me how to handle dive emergencies effectively and how to provide emergency oxygen to divers when necessary. The practical training we received prepared us to respond confidently in any unlikely incident, ensuring the safety of our divers. The classroom session with Course Director Oli, expanded on some key concepts of decompression theory and injuries which helped massively when I got to chapter 8 & 9 of my Divemaster Theory.
2. Peak Performance Buoyancy Course was an absolute game-changer. I felt like I was already pretty good at buoyancy and didn’t really need this class, but I was humbled for sure! Firstly, we got into the pool to do our “Crystal Workshop”. This is where we practiced lots of different techniques and Oli took 1.6kg off my weight, initially I found it really difficult, but as I put into practice some of the relaxation techniques and methods taught to us, I found it a lot more effortless. I couldn’t believe I’d been diving with 2 extra weights for my 40+ dives leading up to this! Next was the ocean where we met all the requirements for the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy class. My highlight of this course was on Dive 2 when Oli got us all to reel away from the buoy line swimming at the same level back towards him, then performing what he’d taught us in the pool: The infamous Back Fin! That was a good day, I finally felt I could reverse underwater!
Lifestyle Package Optional Internship: Gaining MORE Real-World Experience
Upon completing the Divemaster course, I had the opportunity to enrol in an optional working internship program. This was a game-changer for me, allowing me to put my training into practice with real customers. For me it was super valuable to be able to work with real life customers under the supervision of experienced members of staff and receive their feedback and continue developing.
Learning from the Best: PADI Platinum Course Directors…
Perhaps one of the most significant highlights of my Divemaster training was being taught by not one, but two PADI Platinum Course Directors (they definitely didn’t tell me to say this). Crystal Dive is the only dive centre on Koh Tao to have this top level of instructor teaching the Divemaster program, which all jokes aside definitely increased my development and learning massively. Bob & Oil’s wealth of knowledge and experience was immense, giving me information and things I couldn’t get from a book or even You Tube!
Keen on Marine Conservation?
Crystal Dive partner with The Coral Tribe, a marine conservation organisation with strong commitment to marine conservation. One of the things I did as part of my program was working with Coral Tribe, (an organisation focused on coral restoration and conservation efforts in Koh Tao). I did lots of different activities with them ranging from: Micro Plastic surveys, Beach clean ups, deploying structures for coral restoration and Dive Against Debris! I must say Dive against Debris was my favourite, its a couple of underwater clean up dives where we go “treasure hunting” having a friendly competition with our fellow divers who can find the most trash and the most interesting item.
Embracing the Crystal Community…
The social scene at Crystal was fantastic for meeting people with some of the people I met being lifelong friends now. There were regular events hosted for us, whether it was a Mini Golf or movie night, not forgetting the free BBQ crystal puts on for us! As a graduate of Crystal Dive, I felt a strong sense of belonging within the community. The staff and fellow Divemaster candidates became like family. Whether it was studying late into the night, sharing a meal after a day of dives, or participating in beach clean-ups, the sense of community here is something I loved!
Conclusion: An Unforgettable Journey
Looking back, choosing the Crystal Dive Divemaster Lifestyle Package was one of the best decisions I ever made. The combination of exceptional training, vital resources, and unlimited diving opportunities created a perfect cocktail for me in professional career.
If you’re considering furthering your dive career, I couldn’t recommend Crystal Dive Divemaster program anymore. It’s more than just diving; it’s about becoming part of a larger community, meeting lifelong friends, growing as a leader, protecting the ocean we cherish, and having a few of the best months of my life! Dive in and begin your adventure at Crystal Dive—come and join the fun!
By Tobi Eisele
© Crystal Dive, Koh Tao
