News
Down Shifting in Sharm el Sheikh
With 2019 now thoroughly upon us, perhaps you are planning to re-evaluate your options and make a fresh start. Perhaps you want to get out of the rat race and down shift to become a dive professional somewhere like Sharm el Sheikh?
But is it all that it is cracked up to be?
Being based here at Camel Dive Club & Hotel in Sharm el Sheikh, I am surrounded by individuals that decided to take the giant stride and become a dive instructor, to live their dream of daily diving and being paid for it!
One such individual is Julia from Russia who currently works as an Instructor with us at Camel Dive Club & Hotel.
Julia was a manager of a bookstore in St Petersburg, Russia and an avid diver. Consistently using her holidays to try to escape on as many dive trips as she possibly could. As a side-line, Julia was also studying foreign languages including English and French. Julia went on to complete her PADI Divemaster course and inspired by her Instructor, decided to take the leap to a full time dive instructor abroad. Her instructor told her that she would easily find a job in Asia, as at that time (2011) there were many Russian-speaking travellers to that area. Sure enough, Julia advertised herself on the PADI employment board and within a matter of hours had secured her dream job in the sunshine.
Over the many years that Julia has been diving around the world with her dive career (including Vietnam, Sri Lanka, the Emirates, the Maldives, Qatar and Egypt), she told me she, “doesn’t regret one minute!”
Julia’s favourite memory of becoming a professional diver is of diving with two whalesharks in one day in the Maldives where the local guides advised her that it was an extremely unusual occurrence.
Is it all diving with Sharks and sunbathing on the boat, as most of our families and friends believe?
In a word no!
It can be a sometimes physically tiring and gruelling job, when it comes to tank lifting and the like. As well as having to be constantly happy, even if you have had an argument with your boyfriend the night before.
However, even the tough bits have a plus side. The tank lifting keeps you fit and trim. In addition, sometimes, when you have to put a smile on, it even makes you feel happy. Honestly, I don’t really find any negative aspects of following your diving dream.
When I asked Julia if she had any advice for anyone thinking of forsaking his or her business suit for a wetsuit, she replied, “DO IT!”
For more information about Camel Dive Club visit their website by clicking here.
Blogs
Four opportunities to go pro in 2024 with Dive Friends Bonaire
Dive Friends teaches the Instructor Development Course (IDC) several times a year to students who are eager to share their passion for diving with the world.
Dive Friends is known for the personal approach throughout the course. Their in-house course director will lead the students through every essential step, mentoring them to achieve their fullest potential as a dive instructor.
Applications for the following IDC start dates are now open:
- 12 April
- 5 July,
- 20 September
- 29 November
Partnership with Casita Palma
If the student opts for the IDC-Deluxe or IDC-Supreme package, their accommodation will be arranged for them at Casita Palma. This small and quiet resort is within walking distance from Dive Friends Bonaire’s main dive shop location and has everything you need to relax after an intense day of IDC training. Breakfast is included, so the student will always be fuelled and ready for their day.
Contact Dive Friends Bonaire’s Course Director Eddy for more information: coursedirector@divefriendsbonaire.com.
Blogs
SOMABAY: Scubaverse Trip Review (Watch Video)
In a video created exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman visits SOMABAY in the Egyptian Red Sea to experience the diving on offer there.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
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