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Good Reasons for taking a Scuba Diving Internship in Koh Tao

People join our scuba gap year programs on Koh Tao for many reasons, whether to enhance their employment opportunities, broaden their experiences or simply to have a good time. Here are some of the benefits of taking a Thailand diving internship:

Having Fun: Initially, people are attracted to scuba diving internships because it sounds like fun. Once you're stuck into the Thailand gap year internship you won't be disappointed. Especially for pre or post university gap year students it's a great way to relax and unwind after strenuous studying, whilst still learning new skills and having a positive experience.

Aquatic Adventure: If you've never tried it before, scuba diving is something completely different. You'll be exploring Koh Tao's tropical coral reefs, investigating giant isolated rock pinnacles and caverns, and will even get the chance to dive sunken ship wrecks. Add to that the spectacular marine life that populates the dive sites - you'll be seeing reef fish, sea snakes, turtles, moray eels, cuttlefish, stingrays, seahorses, barracuda, sharks, maybe even whale sharks and more. It really is amazing. You see much more marine life underwater than you'll ever see on land.

Experience Life on a Tropical Island in Thailand: Koh Tao is a tropical paradise. Every day you can enjoy scuba diving in clear blue waters, tasting spicy asian cuisine, relaxing on perfect beaches and enjoying a cold beer during the spectacular sunsets. Warm sunny weather and exotic culture, groves of palm trees lining water and laid back beach bars to enjoy the evenings. What could be better?

Developing new skills and experiences: Working in scuba diving requires a well-rounded personality and a wide mix of skills. Throughout your dive internship you'll be developing many of these and building experiences which will stand you in good stead whatever you decide to do in the future. Examples include team working, being organised and using initiative to solve problems, taking on a leadership role, communication skills and delivering presentations. All of these are important transferable skills will help you wherever you end up.

Gaining a Professional Qualification: And achieving a professional qualification as a PADI Divemaster or PADI Instructor will look interesting and impressive on any resume. If you plan to stick around and work in diving, these are the critical accreditations which will open up new and exciting opportunities. Even is you plan to return home and work in a different industry, carrying a professional scuba diving qualification is sure to get some recognition and provoke interest.

Scuba Diving is a Ticket to travel: Many scuba diving resorts are located in some of the world's most beautiful destinations. Australia, Thailand, the Red Sea, Caribbean, Mexico, Borneo, Maldives and many more idyllic spots are popular with divers. Qualifying as a PADI Divemaster or Scuba Instructor gives you the opportunity to travel to and seek employment in these places. As a PADI dive professional you have a cheap way to travel the world, getting paid gap year work as you go.

Great Value Scuba Gap Year in Thailand: Thailand is an inexpensive destination to visit. Simple Life Divers has been running on Koh Tao for a long time, and has great resources and infrastructure, strong industry connections and excellent contacts around Koh Tao. We're able to pull all this together to give you unbeatable value for money on your gap year in Thailand. Our dive internships package together absolutely everything you need - accommodation, PADI courses, diving equipment etc, so all that remains is for you to muster a small budget to cover you food and drinks which are very inexpensive here on Koh Tao (see budgeting for your diving internship). Overall you get exceptional value for your Thailand gap year.

Getting Fit: Although not especially strenuous, scuba diving is a physical activity so heading out on the boat each day is bound to get you in good shape. It's a good way to get fit without the effort! And unless you're albino, those days in the sun are bound turn out a healthy tan!

Meeting people from all over the world: Not only is Simple Life's team of full time staff and interns made up of an international mix, but also our day-to-day diving customers come from all over the globe. During the months of your PADI diving internship, you'll meet, work together with, assist and make friends with people from all over the planet. The rich variety of backgrounds and perspectives makes things interesting and will open your eyes.

Gaining Fluency in a Foreign Language: Following on from the last point, since you'll be coming into contact with people of many different nationalities, if you have basic proficiency in a foreign language you'll have ample opportunity to practice and perfect your speaking and listening skills.

And although that you'll become fluent in Thai, you'll be sure to pickup a few survival basics - hello, thank you, how much etc. (See below)

Scuba Diving Internships in Thailand: Thai Language Basics

99% of people on Koh Tao speak excellent English and are used to dealing with foreigners (except for the old coconut farmers who are a million years old). However, if you make the effort to learn a few Thai phrases it goes a long way with the Thai's and is sure to gain some appreciation from Nam Chai - our boat captain! And if you really get into it, there's a Thai language school on the island where you can take an introductory class.

First things first, Thai has it's own alphabet, which without studying you won't be able to read. So instead we write things down as they would be pronounced in English (transliteration).

Secondly, speaking Thai is slightly different for men and women. Here's the main difference; most sentences conclude with a word which is a sign of respect.

Men should use the word 'khrap'.

Women should use 'khaaa' instead.

If you use the wrong one it's not the end of the world, but you'll be sure to cause some amusement amongst the Thai's. So here we go - basic phrases to give you a head start for your scuba diving internship in Thailand:

And some numbers:

Thailand Scuba Gap Year Testimonial

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