Yomps, Adventure Travel Experiences

Fiji Divemaster Internship
Full Itinerary

Obtain a PADI Divemaster diving qualification in Fiji, get experience working in the dive industry, dive with experienced Divemasters to learn the trade, scuba dive to see Fiji’s incredible marine life, learn about equipment maintenance and cylinder filling, volunteer on marine conservation projects to help endangered coral reefs, explore stunning Fijian islands and obtain a qualification to work in the scuba diving industry on this remarkable Fijian diving adventure!

Fiji

Day 1 to 3 - Arrive in Fiji and experience a traditional Fijian welcome

Your Fijian adventure begins when you arrive in Nadi International Airport, where a Yomps representative will take you to your nearby accommodation. On your way you will get your first glimpse of the soaring volcanic peaks, emerald forests and golden sands of beautiful Fiji. At your accommodation you will get a chance to relax, recover from your flight and get to know who your colleagues will be for the next six weeks over a refreshing welcome drink.

On the second day you will catch an overnight ferry to Savusavu (also known as ‘The Hidden Paradise’ of Fiji) – a small township that is known for its hot springs, harbour and local market that sells a variety of colourful fruit and vegetables and locally caught fish. In Savusavu you will get your first taste of Fijian culture and also be taught the protocol that needs to be observed when living in Fijian communities. On day three you go on a short journey to a local village, where the programme’s base is located. Here you will unpack, settle in and experience a traditional Fijian welcoming ceremony, a sevusevu, in the village. The ceremony is an important aspect of Fijian life that is amazing to experience, not only because it will give you your first taste of the traditional Fijian drink kava root, but because although you come as strangers you will leave as friends!

Day 4 to 28 - Start your Divemaster internship, be involved in marine conservation, dive amid stunning marine life that includes hammerhead sharks and be a part of crucial marine conservation research – all whilst experiencing Fijian culture and learning the Fijian language

Volunteers will spend the first week living in the Fijian community, experiencing their unique culture and fully taking part in village life. Predominantly, you will learn about the subsistent lifestyle that most islanders live, picking up bits and pieces of information as you talk and mix with the local people. At the weekend, you may wish to attend the Sunday Church services to take part in the uplifting singing. Otherwise you could join the villagers to play volleyball, go hiking, swim, learn to weave or even play some touch rugby with a member of the Fijian Under-21 Touch Team. Whatever you do, the communities of Fiji are renowned for their friendliness and hospitable welcome, to make this week the cultural highlight of the six weeks for many. Often volunteers remark how they walk down the street they are met with a chorus of ‘Bula!’ (a Fijian greeting) and a host of friendly smiles, to make you realise why so many ex-patriots from all over the world settle here.

During your time in the village, your accommodation will be in one of the local houses. The village conditions are very basic but comfortable; some of the houses are really basic hut-like buildings that have no power or running water, others are basic concrete houses with running water. Whatever the conditions, they all add to your authentic Fiji experience as you will live in the same way as the local people, possibly even using a bucket with holes in to shower!

As you adjust to village life, you will work hand-in-hand with experienced dive professionals on your Divemaster internship. This internship has been designed to be very flexible, so participants can mould the programme to their individual requirements and level of participation. You will have specific Divemaster courses in order to pass the Divemaster qualification, with lessons that cover a variety of subjects, including physiology, physics, dive equipment, teaching skills, decompression sickness, how to map a reef and even about the diving business. You will also work with the dive professionals, seeing to the maintenance of equipment, helping clients with their dives, aiding the everyday running of dive operations and helping with a variety of other dive certification courses at the dive centre. By acquiring an increasing number of diving skills, as well as honing the knowledge you have already developed, you will be able to assist instructors once you have qualified. Putting your knowledge to the test, you will lead dives to explore the clear waters and see the amazing marine life that includes hammerhead sharks, soft coral, sponges, crustaceans, jellyfish, eagle rays, barracuda, tuna and a rainbow of tropical fish. Your experienced instructors will oversee and review your progress, providing you with a constant source of information, support, guidance and safety.

As well as being designed to be flexible (allowing participants the freedom to be as involved as they like in the various sectors of the Divemaster course), this Divemaster internship is designed to help to protect the local reef. Participants will receive training from the PADI fish identification expert instructor and marine scientist, learning the skills needed to survey reefs and conduct fish counts, and joining a long-term project initiative that aims to develop parts of the coral reefs into being ‘Marine Protection Areas’. The inspiration for such areas comes from traditional measures the Fijians put in place, where fishing was made forbidden in areas of endangered coral. Over-fishing, blasting, pollution, climate change and other human impacts continue to threaten coral reefs, endangering a whole biodiversity as well as the coastal communities who rely on the coral reefs as their source of food. The Nature Conservancy released figures in 2003 that predict if destruction continues at the current rate, 70% of the world’s coral reefs will have disappeared within the next 50 years. All is not lost though as coral reefs respond well to conservation measures that aim to rebuild the coral and allow marine life to develop and flourish, such as the conservation measures you will help to implement. Indeed by joining this programme, you will make a huge difference to the coral, as the data you collect can be used to identify sections of the coral reefs requiring protection and monitor the recovery rates of such areas. You will begin surveying certain selected reef areas and doing fish counts to ascertain whether there is a need for it to be classified as a Marine Protected Area (MPA). Once classified as a MPA, you can keep an eye on the improvement of the area, collecting more fish count data to see how it is developing. The work we will do is an important part of ensuring the coral reefs do not diminish to irrecoverable levels. All your efforts will truly be a real help towards saving such a fragile part of the world.

Participants also play a valuable role in educating the local community about their reefs and encouraging the vision for more MPA sites to ensure the future sustainability of reef areas. Yet as well as working in the community, you will also be able to immerse yourselves in their way of life and culture, learning a range of Fijian skills, including how to cook traditional Fijian dishes, fish the way Fijians do and speak the Fijian language (in classes that are taken in the open air of Fiji, rather than being cooped up in classrooms).

In the afternoons, you will have time to mingle with the locals, hike in the glorious local hills, hire mountain bikes to explore the stunning area further afield, or practice our volleyball and touch-rugby. In the evenings you can relax and enjoy some delicious local Fijian food (that you may have helped to prepare) whilst practising Fijians with the friendly locals, and later joining in the kava drinking sessions while discussing how big that fish really was!

Each day, you will have the opportunity to experience something new during your stay. You are likely to take part in most of the following things (and more!):

• Learning about local medicines made from native plants
• Going fishing Fijian-style
• Relaxing on the beach and swimming or snorkelling in the warm, crystal clear waters
• Taking a bamboo raft (bilibili) to nearby islands
• Going on walks in the jungle to swim in the waterfalls
• Learning basic Fijian phrases
• Eating traditional meals cooked in the ‘Lovo’
• Playing the national sport of Fiji – 7’s Rugby

Accommodation for the second week of the programme will be in backpacker accommodation in Savusavu. Weeks 3-4 see you staying in self-catering accommodation, near the dive shop on the Koro Sun side. Here, you will be able to relax together as a group and enjoy a good standard of amenities.

Day 29 to 36 - Discover Savusavu Bay, help to implement and maintain marine conservation measures in some of the best diving sites in the world, and go on an excursion to either a stunning tropical rainforest, a fantastic snorkelling spot, or a town rich in history and culture

Your home for this week will be a backpacker accommodation. You will begin the week in Savusavu Bay, where lush tropical green scenery combines with mysterious old volcanic peaks and glorious crystal waters to make this part of the world a truly hidden paradise. Here, you will be able to use your newly acquired diving abilities and qualification to explore the world-class sites of Koro Sun and the Savusavu Marine Protected Area. Over these few days you will work towards marine conservation, whilst experiencing all that these stunning marine environments have to offer.

On days 33-34, you will embark on an over-night excursion within Vanua Levu or its surrounding islands (transport, backpacker-style accommodation, and breakfast and dinner are included on the trip). The location and activity type of the excursion varies according to the time of year, weather and the wishes of the group. Therefore, the trip you undertake may not even be decided until you are in Fiji. A few of the possible options include visiting:

1) Taveuni Island – Known as the ‘Garden Island’, Taveuni is the third largest island in Fiji. The island is covered in tropical rainforests and three well known waterfalls are within easy trekking distance

2) Natewa Bay – This is the largest deepwater bay in the South Pacific. It has beautiful panoramic views and fantastic snorkelling. There is a hidden lake, which is connected to the Koro Sea and a salt lake which is surrounded by rainforest and coconut plantations

3) Labasa town and the surrounding area – The town itself is an excellent destination in which to see Indian and Fijian cultures blended together. There are many ethnic craft shops to visit and the town is a beautiful sight in November when the local Hindu people celebrate Diwali. Around the town, there are archaeological ruins, beautiful beaches and even a floating island!

Please note: As previously discussed, you will always have the option of doing this or, alternatively, if you wish you can get more experience at the dive centre.

Day 37 to 42 - Chill for the last few days of your Fijian adventure

Your last few days will be spent relaxing on the shores of the gorgeous Coral Coast. The island ferry will transport you to this final resting place, at a funky resort near Sigatoka town, where you will have nothing but fun for your remaining Fijian days. You can take a dip in the pool, relax in waterfront hammocks, bathe in the warm sea or just relax and improve your tan. Also, for a modest cost, you having the option of joining in a few active adventures, such as tubing, horse-riding, hiking, kayaking to different islands and islets, walking through the bush to a local waterfall, going on a day trip to visit the Sigatoka sand dunes and much more!

In the evenings there is nothing better than to sit outside in the tropical air with a drink in hand, watching a spectacular sunset marking the end of another perfect day. This is, of course, before you reenergise and dance until the sun comes up!

You will then be transferred back to the Nadi accommodation for the final night, before going your separate ways the following day.

- Qualification Required Prior To Starting Course

To start the Divemaster internship programme you should:

• Already be qualified as a PADI Rescue Diver
• Have a valid Emergency First Response (EFR) certification
• Have at least 30 logged dives (see below if you don’t).

Extra Dives Required? If you do not yet have 30 logged dives then don’t worry, you can catch up with the number of dives required by doing extra diving at a cost of £25 / US$50/ €30 per dive.

- Three Phases in the PADI Divemaster Programme:

1. Watermanship and Skills Assessment

• Watermanship and stamina
• General diving skills

2. Knowledge Development

• Diving physics
• Diving physiology
• Diving skills and environment
• Supervising students in training
• Dive management and control
• Dive planning
• Emergency assistance plan for diving emergencies in the local area
• Mapping a local open water site

3. Practical Application

This involves training activities using various structured training sessions, simulated scenarios and internship sessions with actual PADI programmes. These training sessions enable you to gain practical experience as an instructional assistant and a supervisor of open water diving activities, both as a coordinator and as an underwater guide.

- 2009 Prices

Book for 2009 or 2010 before 31st December 2008 and get todays price before the price increase.

2009 price when booked from 1st January 2009	Pound sterling (£)	US Dollar ($)	Euros (€)
	2,450	4,850	3,495