DOCT Divemaster Program 2002

  DOCT's flagship project of training up local residents began in 2001 when The DOCT was
formed on Phuket with the intention of trying to encourage and welcome the participation of Thai Nationals into the diving industry. They offered to train up any eligible applicant from open water to divemaster at no cost. The actual cash value of the training provided to the successful applicants would amount to thousands of Baht. The initial year saw 22 qualified applicants, 13 of who completed the program to be certified as divemasters. Six graduates gained full time employment in the diving industry with all the expenses being met by the members of the DOCT.

2002 saw 63 applicants answering advertisements in the Thai media and on web sites, from which 25 were successful in meeting the five pre-requisites (see box). Many of the applicants already had employment in other fields and undertook their studies and hands on experience on a part time basis. Others were able to study full time. The program, now in its second year, has evolved into an enjoyable one, and the 45 diving companies that make up the membership mostly operate on the island of Phuket although there are other members in Khao Lak and Koh Lanta On the 21st September, coinciding with World Clean Up Day 13 of the 15 recently certified received their Divemaster certificates from Club Secretary Udo Hartig at a “Thank You” dinner and ceremony in the evening.

The ceremony rounded up a busy day for DOCT members who also cleaned up a couple of coral reefs, one at Racha Yai, the other at Coral Island. In all over 120 divers, instructors and staff donated their time. Five boats were used to ferry the busy amphibious refuse collectors, kindly supplied by Scuba Cat, Kon Tiki, South Siam Divers, Santana and Dive Asia.
The DOCT works hand in hand with the Police, Immigration department, TAT, The Phuket Tourist Association, The National Parks and The Royal Forestry Department.

For more information on the divemaster training program and other DOCT activities, contact the DOCT through any Phuket based dive center (see ads this issue for details).

To be eligible to apply for the DOCT divemaster training program, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

1. Be a Thai national over the age of 18.
2. Be able to swim.
3. Have good command of the English language sufficient to be able to read the manuals and teach.
4. Have a reasonable level of education.
5. Intend to work in the dive industry upon successful completion of the program