GVI.2015.1

January 2015 Pez maya

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) Internship kicks off in

Mexico Objective

- To offer a high level professional diving certification that enables people that want to change their careers or enter to the diving professional World to do so with a unique specialization on Marine conservation.

- To equip our alumni with the knowledge and skills to further contribute towards key global and local issues such as environmental conservation, by gaining professional experience as an Instructor and continuing their scientific contributions in Sian Kaan Biosphere reserve.

Summary This flagship program was launched in October 2014 as part of our Dive Academy. Our first MSDT volunteer arrived on base in January. We have several bookings for MSDT volun-teers for 2015 and in preparation for this we are improving materials for enquiries, bookings and pre expedition information for future volunteers. By August we could have our first MSDT scholar arriving back on base. We have 2 experienced PADI Staff Instructors ready to mentor them into their first working role as a dive professional. Report The PADI Master SCUBA Diver Trainer (MSDT) program is GVI Mexicos new flagship pro-gram. Volunteers now have the opportunity to further their dive training from Open Water to a professional level; the second level of Instructor rating, MSDT. Currently Craig, our first MSDT volunteer, is on base for 12 weeks partaking in the Marine Expedition learning coral identification and the MBRS SMP monitoring methodology. This week he began his Rescue Diver training learning how to respond to divers in distress and unconscious divers, amongst many other skills. In April Craig will move to Xcalak and begin his placement at XTC Dive Center, completing his first professional level training, the PADI Divemaster course. Afterwards he will complete the Instructor Development Course and exams before finishing his program with the Master SCUBA Diver preparatory training.

Figure 1. Craig completing his Rescue course

GVI.2015.1

The Divemaster and Instructor Development Course cover topics including physiology, phys-ics, decompression theory, equipment and the environment as well as perfecting participants diving skills. The course has a large environmental focus with two distinctive specialties ex-clusive to GVI volunteers. These specialties give our volunteers the unique opportunity to teach divers worldwide conservation based courses that arent available anywhere else. On top of this all participants are trained as Emergency First Responder Instructors. These volunteers have the opportunity to apply to come back to Pez Maya in a Scholar posi-tion to gain experience instructing courses under the supervision of highly experienced PADI Staff Instructors. Whilst on the course they will also be involved in the day to day running of base and science training of new volunteers. These experiences will equip our alumni with the knowledge and ability to further contribute towards key global and local environmental issues.

Figure 2. PADI dive instructor Kerry training volunteers on Marine Rescue techniques

For more information on the projects here in Mexico, visit: http://www.gvi.co.uk/location/yucatan/