Non-Professional and Professional Internships

WE WANT YOU !!

Our Non-Professional Education Internship is for Certified Divers...

...who want to become Dive Professionals. This is the 2nd year of Sail Caribbean Divers' non-professional level internship program.

During the last two years nine students have completed the non-professional level program, earning over thirty certifications collectively. All have gained substantial diving experience and several of these students have gone on to join our Dive Professional Internship Program.

Application for and enrollment in this program is not an offer of employment or IDC placement. Enrollment in the Non-Pro Internship is also not a guarantee of your acceptance into the Pro-Internship. It is, however, an excellent opportunity to participate in an intensive dive educational training program. We have highly qualified staff with a wealth of teaching experience and our students get a chance to work with all of them during their educational programs.

We accept two candidates into this program per month. Students interested in our non-professional level intern program must be certified divers with a recognized agency. Students can join at any point in their diving careers -right after Open Water Certification, or later. Non-pro level student interns please see the grid below for details on courses you can participate in during your training internship. We offer Advanced, Specialty, Rescue & Dive Master certifications during the internship and the program is uniquely tailored to match your certification level. We've listed the basics here, but all PADI courses (beyond entry level) are available to you during the internship. All students will be attending class/diving 5 days a week. The remaining time students are free to dive, relax and enjoy the island pace or study for further educational courses.

What's the catch? None that we can think of, but there are some things you should know. The Non-Pro Internship can encompass 1 or more courses. Typically students should plan to be here for 4-6 weeks if they are enrolled in multiple courses. See this <FLOWCHART > for details on other PADI courses. To summarize, all applicants must provide:

• Proof of scuba certification from a recognized agency (minimum: entry level)
• Transport to/from Tortola, BVI
• Course materials for all continuing education courses (may be purchased at our facility)
• A $400 deposit to secure a place in the program, the balance of all course fees is due on commencement of each course
• Students may take advantage of low cost shared accommodation on request, but are not required to and may arrange their own accommodation.
• Willingness to experience and participate in the operations of a very busy PADI dive center

Our Professional Education Internship is for Dive Professionals

This is the 4th year of Sail Caribbean Divers Internship Program for dive professionals.

During the last three years over thirty people have completed the professional internship program. Candidates have come from variying backgrounds & experience levels, even some from our Non-Pro internship. All participants have gained invaluable experience within the dive industry. Several of our interns are now working here with us in the BVI. Others have gone on to work in Caymans, Thailand, and Australia.

Acceptance into this program is not an offer of employment or IDC placement. It is, however, a unique first hand experience with the inner workings of a PADI 5 Star Dive Center. We are the only dive center in the BVI with a resident Course Director. Mike Rowe has been in the diving industry for over 20 years and has successfully qualified over 300 instructors. Everyone dreams about it, you can be a part of it!

We accept two candidates into this program each month. Candidates must be PADI Dive Professionals (minimum level: PADI DiveMaster) before enrolling. Qualified individuals will join us for 30 days in a non-paid professional level internship position and will be included as a trainee on our team for 5-6 days a week. The remaining time interns are free to dive, relax and enjoy the island pace or study for further educational courses.

What's the deal? All candidates get Seamanship training on board our fleet of four Newton Dive Boats, and participate in everything our full time staff do every day. This is a comprehensive industry experience that will give you exposure to every facet of a dive business, including but not limited to:

• Experience/training compressor operation
• Experience/training to guide divers and snorkelers
• Assisting with PADI courses
• Assisting divers and snorkelers with travel plans & making reservations
• Experience assisting divers with equipment selection and gear purchases
• Experience in maintaining boats and scuba equipment
• Training in scuba retail management, retail, inventory and operating a scuba Point of Sale system

  

What's the catch? None that we can think of, but there are some things you should know. Applicants must be PADI Divemasters or PADI Assistant Instructors or have recently completed the SCD NON-Professional Level Internship. Pro Interns are NOT required to enroll in an IDC, but may want to after their internship. Pro interns who enroll in an IDC are eligible for 20% off Instructor Level Education. All internship applicants must provide:

• Proof of scuba certification from a recognized agency (minimum: PADI Divemaster)
• Transport to/from Tortola, BVI
• Course materials for continuing education courses (may be purchased at our facility)
• $400 deposit to secure a place in the Internship
• Shared accommodation is available on request, but candidates are not required to use it, and may make their own arrangements
• Willingness to experience and contribute to the operations of a very busy PADI dive center
• Pro level Interns must also provide proof of professional liability insurance

The Non-Pro and Pro Level internships can be combined in some situations. Candidates who are already PADI Rescue Divers for example, might join the Non-Pro program for the completion of their Dive Master certification and then enroll in the Pro program to put that training to use & practice valuable skills. To combine programs, please speak to our Course Director Mike Rowe directly. Contact him via e-mail: mikerowe@sailcaribbean.com.

And if you are still not sure if one of these programs is for you, here is what some of our recent interns have to say about the experience...

COMMENTS FROM ANNA WEEK 2

You will rarely feel more welcome when you find yourself in a new place than when you first arrive at SCD. From the moment I stepped into the shop, and even before when they picked me up at the ferry terminal, the entire staff has been utterly amazing and welcoming. They are ready and willing to help you out or answer questions, take you to town for groceries, invite you for a night out, or even out diving on your day off. I am into my second week in my internship at SCD and have so far gotten to do far more in that short amount of time than I thought possible. I have had the opportunity to dive, map dive sites, learn how to open and run the shop on Cooper Island, tie more knots than I can name, splice line, even drive the boats. Thanks to the staff here, I felt comfortable jumping headfirst into this internship and it will be an experience I will remember for a long time to come… and it’s not even over yet. I highly recommend this program to anyone who enjoys diving and just being out on the water; my one recommendation: bring an entire carry-on full of bug spray.

You can read more about Anna's time here and see some of the pictures she took on her blog.  

COMMENTS FROM ERIN WEEK 3

The Divemaster Internship at Sail Caribbean Divers has been a great opportunity for me. I completed my divemaster training a few months ago. I am confident as a divemaster, and my internship at Sail Caribbean Divers has given me the chance to understand and to be involved in every aspect of the diving industry. When I say every aspect of the diving industry, I mean every aspect. This includes tank filling, running the compressor, cleaning the boats, making sales at the shop and endless paperwork. Come prepared to work hard. But, with hard work, comes nice rewards and experience; I have already had a chance to drive the boats, maintain boats, repair regulators, and of course, guide customers on dives. The staff here is really friendly, helpful and understanding. I have been able to work closely with several members of the staff and each person has taught me a new trick of the trade. One of the best parts of being involved with Sail Caribbean divers is that everyone has great pride in their job and everyone gets along really well. It is a very positive environment and my only regret is that I can’t stay longer.

COMMENTS FROM BART WEEK 2

From the first day I got to SCD to do my Dive Master program, there was never a time where I felt I didn’t want to be in the shop. The staff here put me straight to work rigging gear, helping new divers get comfortable with their skills, and all those little things that you now do without thinking about them – stocking boats with masks and fins, setting up weight belts, spraying down the boats, and filling tanks. The instructors have also been more than energetic enacting dive scenarios that you should be prepared for as a Dive Professional. The best part of all is when you learn how to show other divers the same things you learn from SCD – there’s nothing like spitting a little water while being towed by a rescue diver in a practice scenario. Manning the shop at Norman or Cooper Island, driving the boats, leading diving groups – the list can go on and on. There are many places to dive around the world, but the professionalism and energy in this team makes it a place you want to stay. Nothing else can be said about this awesome spot in the BVI.

COMMENTS FROM REBECCA WEEK 2

From the minute I arrived at SCD in the BVI’s, I became one of the team. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and happy to show me the ropes. I went out on the dive boats and worked alongside the instructors.I learned everything from how to dock the boat, to cleaning the head!!! I've also dived the Rhone, which was amazing. We saw sharks, rays and a turtle.I've also helped at the shop on Cooper Island, driven the dive boat and guided guests on a dive. Even though I've only been here 5 days, I've learned so much and feel really at home. The days are long and hard work but we have fun along the way. On my day off two of the instructors took me to a local beach for the day and showed me around town. I feel this internship is giving me the training into how the whole dive operation works, at the same time as building my confidence as a diver and a dive professional. I would thoroughly recommend this program to anyone looking to work in the dive industry.

COMMENTS FROM JOANNE WEEK 4

Hard to believe I have only one week left with Sail Caribbean Divers. The last three weeks have been a whirlwind of learning the ropes, literally and figuratively, of a PADI 5 Star Gold Palm IDC Resort. Spending my days leading dives, guiding snorkeling trips, preparing and shutting down (i.e.,cleaning) boats, hauling and filling tanks, manning the base at Hodges Creek Marina or on Cooper Island, and taking in as much as I can from the beyond experienced staff I’ve been blessed to work with everyday has made this a fantastically comprehensive and worthwhile experience. Granted, most of my toes are permanently stubbed, my hands look like I work with razor blades, my knees have a seemingly permanent diamond imprint from kneeling on the front of the boat to hook a mooring ball, and I dream of diving nearly every night (but I consider those sweet dreams). Still, even when the days are long or the breaks are short, just the 20-minute boat ride back to base from Village Cay Marina (where we pick up cruise ship guests) or from Cooper Island, gives me a feeling of meditative peace. Watching the billowing clouds pass by, feeling the warm sun on my face as the salt dries on my now tanned skin, and remembering that I’ve done my best, learned what I could, and tomorrow is a new day.