Life as a Divemaster Trainee at Soul Scuba
So, you've signed up for your divemaster training here at Soul Scuba, in the heart of Raja Ampat…congratulations! But what can you expect? What does life look like on Kri Island, what will you get up to during your time here, and what do you need to pack? Our current DMT Josh Edwards fills you in on all the need-to-know details below.
Prepare for paradise
I'll start things off by saying this – you could not have picked a better place to do your divemaster training. Raja Ampat is a phenomenal dive destination and truly lives up to its reputation as "the last paradise". I've found that the longer you stay here, the more it gives you. By doing a divemaster course, you're well positioned to have some incredible experiences.
The reality of life on Kri Island
For anyone coming out here, I always find it's best to prepare them with a dose of reality. In comparison to what we're all used to, Kri Island is remote. We're living in the jungle out here, and life is pretty basic. Homestays have electricity (running off noisy fuel generators from 6pm to midnight), but sometimes we don't. Food tends to be some sort of fish or chicken with rice and vegetables, and there's certainly no pizza or burgers. Thibault has dreams of a wood fired pizza oven but one step at a time.
Accommodation is simple – rustic wooden bungalows on stilts above the water, with a mattress and mosquito net. The rest is up to your interior design skills while you stay with us. We also share our rooms with occasional spiders, cockroaches, and rats. These are the facts of life out here.
It's worth noting that there is the port city of Sorong about 2 hours away by boat where you can stock up on supplies – I highly recommend doing so before you get here, and I'll mention a few essentials later on.
The day-to-day life of a divemaster
So, what does the average day look like as a divemaster at Soul Scuba?
You'll typically begin at 6am by helping our guides set up the tanks and gear on the boat. There's time for breakfast, brushing teeth and then everyone hangs out in the dive center from 7am, waiting for our guests who will arrive by 7:30.
As part of your role as a divemaster, you're responsible for making the guests feel welcome and getting to know them. You'll answer their questions and address any needs and requests they may have. As you'll learn in your training, it's a good opportunity to prepare for your dives by finding out what level and confidence your divers are at.
Once everyone's arrived, the boats will head out for the morning dives. There are two dives in the morning, interspersed by our surface interval where you'll be serving hot drinks and snacks. During the dives, you'll be assisting and backing up one of our guides, watching and learning how they do things. You may also need to bring some guests up to the surface early if there is differencies of the air compsumption, and there are still others in the group who have enough air to continue. As your training goes on, you'll begin to be given the responsibility of doing boat and dive briefings.
The boats return to our dive centre for lunch (usually between 12 midday to 1 pm) and then there's a third afternoon dive leaving at 2:30 pm. Whenever the boats come back to the dock, a key part of your role involves helping the crew offload all of the gear, clean it and get it drying on our rack. You'll also have guests wanting to log their dives and ask questions about what it is you saw out there, so start brushing up on your marine life knowledge!
If you're not on the night dive (which usually leaves just after sunset, around 6:30 pm), you'll be part of the dive guide meeting that takes place every night at 7 pm. This is where we discuss what went right (and wrong) during the day, helping us to shape up the next day with which guide takes which guests and deciding which dive sites we'll aim for. This is one of my favorite parts of the day because it's a chance to exchange stories and knowledge – a chance for you to learn as a divemaster trainee.
Once the meeting is done, you'll help the team prepare all the gear for the next day, and then it's time for dinner around 8 pm. Makan-makan! The days are long out here, but they're also packed full, and you're super busy, so time flies. You'll be in bed fast asleep in seconds, ready to do it all again the next day.
Office days
I'll be the first to admit that nobody wants to be in the office while in a place like Raja Ampat, but this is also a crucial and valid part of your divemaster training. Some days you won't dive but instead take care of various office duties. This includes managing and checking in our guests, getting through your theory learning, cleaning the dive center, and assisting with gear maintenance.
Sometimes you may be ill with a cold or ear infection (I've been there, done that), so being in the office is inevitable. It's another great opportunity to learn about the reality of running a dive shop out here in Raja Ampat and will prepare you really well if you're looking to go on and work in such a place.
What to pack
We all have different wants and needs but I'll give you a few top tips on what to bring with you to Kri Island.
Suncream. This is a no-brainer. We're near the equator and the sun will literally fry you. Bring some suncream, and make sure it's coral-reef safe! You can also buy Reef Save Sunscream at Soul Scuba Divers.
Headtorch. Like I mentioned earlier, we don't always have electricity out here. To avoid fumbling around in pitch black darkness, do yourself a favor and bring a head torch.
Portable charger. With the above in mind, it can be useful to have a portable charger to hand for those times when you need power and don't have it. You can charge stuff at the dive centre which has 24/7 power from our solar panels, but it's not always convenient for you.
Snacks. We all need home comforts, and after a long day, a little bit of chocolate can be a great reward. Bring snacks with you because you simply can't find them out here in Raja Ampat. (Try to be reasonable when bringing snacks to the Island since we are trying to cut our plastic intake on the Islands)
Telkomsel SIM card. The only service provider that works out here is Telkomsel. Make sure you pick up a SIM card so you have some signal to let your family and friends know you're still alive. Or…you know, if you want to go off the grid and disappear, then you can do that too.
Dive gear
You don't have to have all your own dive gear, but it certainly helps. Soul Scuba can provide all the stuff for you but I've found it's made me a better, more competent diver by having all my own stuff and knowing how it works inside out. Some essentials I'd recommend to start with include having your own mask, an SMB and fins. The BCD, wetsuit and regulator can be taken care of here.
FAQs
Is there WiFi on the island?
Yes, we do have WiFi here at the dive center. Sometimes it works amazing, other times it's not so good. That's life out here.
Can I bring my camera diving?
I tend to tackle this one on a dive-by-dive basis. You should discuss with your assigned guide and peers whether it's appropriate to bring your camera on a dive. Ultimately, as a divemaster trainee your primary concern and focus should always be the safety and enjoyment of your guests.
There are some dives where you'll be with people who are competent and don't need as much assistance, so you may have time to get your GoPro out and capture some things. You just have to remember how quickly a camera can pull your focus and energy away from everything else.
How do I get to Kri Island?
You can read our blog post here for everything you need to know on getting to Kri Island. There's lots of other useful information on there too, like…
Can I withdraw cash on the island?
Nope. Please be sure to bring cash with you!
Does it matter if I can't speak Indonesian?
No, don't worry. We're an English-speaking dive centre and all our guides speak and understand English. Of course, you'll definitely learn a few Indonesian words and phrases while you're with us!
What about food, how does that work?
As part of being a divemaster trainee with us, all your food is provided by our lovely kitchen staff. That's breakfast, lunch, dinner, and tasty snacks in between. Feel free to bring your own stuff to cook too, but don't expect michelin-grade amenities in our kitchen. Since we live on the island, our main protein is fish, we have vegetables and rice in every meal. Indonesian-style breakfast includes cakes, if you wish to have eggs or salty breakfast you can ask the kitchen staff to prepare you an omelet. If you have any specific diet or allergies, please mention them beforehand, and we can advice you if your diet is suitable for this island.
What's the weather like in Kri?
We're about as tropical as it gets out here. We're very close to the equator, so we get all of the weather in one day. In the morning it could be heavy rain and thunderstorms, by the afternoon it's clear blue skies and blazing sun. There's really no exact science to predicting the weather here, so pack accordingly. A rain jacket, umbrella and hat could prove very useful.
Read more about different weather patterns on our previous Blog post here
For other useful answers, be sure to read our FAQs.
Final thoughts
This is one of those experiences you'll remember for the rest of your life. Come with a smile, a can-do attitude, and make the most of every single day! Things work a little differently out here in Papua, and you'll do well to be flexible and adapt to changing plans and situations. We look forward to welcoming you into the family. See you soon!
Writer Josh Edwards
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