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Marine Conservation, Divemaster Internship and MSDT Course (Directory Program)

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  • Locations: Puerto Morelos, Mexico
  • Program Terms: Academic Year, Calendar Year, Fall, J-Term, Jan Term, Janterm, May Term, Semester, Spring, Summer, Summer I, Summer II, Summer III, Summer IV, Trimester, Winter
  • Homepage: Click to visit
  • Program Sponsor: GVI 
Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Click here for a definition of this term Language of Instruction: English Housing Options: Dormitory, Hostel/Hotel, Other
Program Description:

Marine Conservation, Divemaster Internship and MSDT Course
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This comprehensive course takes you from a recreational diver to PADI Instructor in 30 weeks. The course includes a specific coral research and marine conservation focus, exclusive to GVI programs, allowing you to become a marine protection advocate when training recreational and professional divers in your new globe-trotting career as a PADI Instructor.
 
PROGRAM FOCUS
 
Even more so than becoming a PADI Divemaster, becoming a PADI Instructor allows you to travel the world and earn a living while exploring some of the top diving destinations on the planet. The main focus of most dive centres is training divers, and given that only Instructors can conduct most PADI programs, the hiring standard at most dive centres is Instructors, rather than Divemasters. Master Scuba Dive Trainers are even more valuable to dive centres as they are able to teach sought-after speciality courses to clients. 

The GVI PADI Instructor internship is designed to help you master the skills necessary to succeed in this demanding field. In addition, our instructor program includes a focus on marine conservation research, which ensures you are uniquely qualified to work on marine biology initiatives in protected areas. It includes the PADI Coral Reef Research Speciality, a speciality developed by GVI in collaboration with PADI. It is only available on GVI marine programs.

Your 30 week course starts when you join GVI’s international marine conservation team on Mexico’s Carribean coast. Here you will complete the preparation for your PADI Divemaster while learning about and assisting the team with their marine conservation efforts. This might include conducting underwater surveys the marine life found on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest in the world, collecting plastic from the beach and reef and submitting the data to an international database, and conducting endangered sea turtle research. 

If this training portion of your internship is successful, you will go on to complete a work placement at a local dive centre, assisting them with planning and leading dives. Here you will get ready for your PADI Instructor exam and then start preparing to earn your Master Scuba Diver certification.  

Before joining the internship you will need to be at least PADI Open Water Diver certified or have an equivalent qualification. If you are already PADI Divemaster qualified or extensive marine conservation training already please speak to us about tailoring this program for you. Options are available to complete the program without these elements.

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LOCATION
 
GVI’s base camp is in the town of Puerto Morelos, situated on a stretch of the Carribean coastline known as the Riviera Maya. Puerto Morelos is the oldest town on the Mexican Carribean coast.  The Riviera Maya is a top tourist destination, and there are many spots for snorkelling and diving in this area. 
 
While the biggest industry in Puerto Morelos is tourism, fishing comes in a close-second. The fishing trade is essential to the economic well-being of this Mexican community. Volunteer work in Puerto Morelos focuses on community development and marine conservation.
 
Volunteers assist the local community in planning and implementing sustainable practices aimed at making a positive impact in Puerto Morelos. 
 
This may mean assisting the local community with beach cleans, to reduce environmental pollution. It could also involve volunteers contributing to marine conservation by running environmental awareness workshops with school children and the broader community. Another way that sustainability is promoted is through programs focused on the conservation of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, and other marine life.
 
These programs look to find the balance between the usage and maintenance of natural resources in Puerto Morelos. Volunteer work in Mexico that’s focused on marine conservation has an immediate effect on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, as well as on the well-being of other marine life in the Riviera Maya.
 
By contributing to sustainable development efforts on land and in the sea, this volunteer work in Mexico can go a long way in contributing to the sustainability of the Puerto Morelos community.
 
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
 
  • Become a PADI Instructor and start preparing to become a Master Scuba Dive Trainer
  • Earn your PADI Coral Reef Researcher Distinctive Speciality, a speciality exclusive to GVI. 
  • Gain extensive work experience in dive instruction and marine conservation.
  • If staying 8 weeks or longer you will complete your Biological Survey Techniques training and qualification.
  • Earn your GVI ILM Leadership Development certificate, a qualification recognised by the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM).
  • Learn to train divers in the tropical waters of the Caribbean sea.
  • Immerse yourself in Mexican culture, learning the language and sampling authentic Mexican cuisine. 
  • Make new friends when you work with a group of like-minded individuals from around the world.
 
If applying for this program to obtain credit from an institution, GVI can supply learning outcomes and support in the application.
 
For more information, check out our video https://youtu.be/vKuzdAOzQDg