By Mark Soworka, Course Director Buddha View

The dive industry really can offer a great career.  I was lucky enough to start off diving as a kid, introduced to scuba by an enthusiastic underwater photographer who was a teacher at my High School in Australia.  I really never had any desire to be a dive instructor, but after years of traveling the world with great opportunities to dive exotic sites from Africa, South America to the Arctic, I just did not want to go home.  Becoming a dive instructor gave me

the opportunity to stay in the tropics and earn an income from something I really enjoy.  Now, as a PADI Course Director, I am fortunate enough to pass that opportunity onto other travelers by teaching the PADI Instructor Development Course. 
I’ll be directing Yvonne’s and Valentijn’s path towards becoming Divemaster, Instructors and eventually Master Scuba Diver Trainers.  So occassionally, I will add a little bit to this blog to give my version of how they are going on their quest to become dive instructors.  So far, they are off to a great start.  Enthused by the reef ecology lectures and assisting courses, even nailing the physics and physiology without any problems.  Now, with most of the Divemaster book work out of the way, they have the opportunity to really gain loads of experience on Koh Tao, diving and assisting courses daily.  The Underwater World Festival may keep them busy for a couple of days of beach and dive site cleanups, turtle release and giant clam projects, and great music, beers and entertainment.  But, that is all part of becoming a dive professional on Koh Tao.