Commercial Diver Crossover to PADI Divemaster

Commercial Divers without the doubt are among the most qualified and with highest level of diving skills out there. When the hard work pays off and the time comes why not think of another career change within the diving industry and become Professional Divemaster or Instructor? PADI recognises the skills and experience of commercial divers however dealing with recreational divers and dive emergencies that might arise commercial divers need to learn a new set of skills to safely enjoy and supervise those recreational divers. To crossover, proof of any diving certifications (commercial or military) beyond the entry level and at least 20 logged dives are required to get the equivalent rating of PADI Advanced Diver. The next step is going to be a Rescue Diver assessment and the best way to do it is actually participate in the whole Rescue Course during which commercial divers will be dealing with typical emergency situations that recreational divers may face. CPR and First Aid training from the last 24 months is required prior to the Rescue Course. After that PADI Divemaster Course begins during which candidates learn how to assist instructors with dive courses, polish their diving skills to high quality demonstration level and help dive staff with certified divers during their fun diving trips all over Mactan and nearby islands of Cebu. All PADI Divemaster Courses are run exclusively by PADI Master Instructor and TDI Instructor Greg Maciejowski who has been living and teaching recreational and technical diving courses in the Philippines since 2005.

Prerequisites to get PADI Advanced Diver rating

• proof of certification beyond entry level + minimum 20 logged dives

Prerequisites for Divemaster

• Rescue Diver, 40 logged dives, CPR & First Aid Training in the last 24 months
• medical statement signed by doctor from the last 12 months

Duration of the Divemaster Course

• 3-4 weeks

Divemaster Internship

For newly certified divemasters Kontiki Divers offers free, unpaid internship for 1-2 months. During this internship all new DIVE PROs will be gaining more realistic, hands on experience at the dive center under supervision of our experienced dive staff. 

FREE Scuba Makeover

TDI Instructor Greg Maciejowski from Kontiki Divers is offering FREE Scuba Makeover experience for certified divers from any agency at any level who have difficulty with buoyancy, equipment and gaps in understanding dive theory. Sometimes student divers are rushed thru courses and have no chance to properly master all the underwater skills or understand how things work. Having the right knowledge and apply that knowledge is the only way to really take the most out of scuba diving. Sometimes it is just a matter of proper weight distribution or dive gear set up and sometimes problem could be more of a psychological nature like fear of drowning due to poor swimming skills. Whatever is the reason, Scuba Makeover will help you better understand all the aspects of diving. This half day experience includes basic theory review and 1 confined dive during which Greg will try to identify problems and give solutions.

Prerequisites

• certified diver of any age and agency
• proof of certification required

Inclusions

• basic dive theory overview
• equipment configuration
• 1 confined dive (problem finding & solutions)

Cost

• scuba makeover - FREE
• equipment rental - PHP380.00, full set incl. tank
• divers with own equipment - PHP100.00 for the tank
• facility fee - PHP100.00 per diver

Duration

• half day

Please email greg@kontikidivers.com for more details and schedule

IMPORTANT: Scuba Makeover is not a refresher course. Divers with many years without diving should do Scuba Review during which all basic dive theory and all basic diving skills are reviewed. 

Frogfish of the Philippines

Frogfish also known as Anglerfish is very special and hard to find by divers. As you see on the picture they come in different sizes and coloration which blends in to the surroundings. This predator can be found all over the Philippines in shallow and deep waters. Sometimes even in very unexpected places like under the pier or in some dirty shallow muddy places. Having a good local dive guide is a must if you really want to have those great pictures. Generally frogfish do not move much to our advantage when taking pictures however when disturbed the fish will move (hover) which is also very spectacular.

Nitrox Diving and Courses

For many years now Enriched Air (Nitrox) has been used by recreational divers all around the world. Majority of recreational training agencies offer 1 day nitrox courses. There is no doubt that diving with nitrox is beneficial. Lower nitrogen loading gives us longer bottom times and generally enriched air makes us less tired after multiple dives. PADI offers Enriched Air Diver course where after completing the course divers may use nitrox up to 40%. Technical Diving International (TDI) goes one step further and offers Advanced Nitrox Diver courses where divers may use up to 100% pure oxygen for added conservatism during their recreational diving and of course this course is a prerequisite for Extended Range Diver Technical course. There are some training agencies like Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) who use EAN32 (Nitrox 32%) as their standard breathing gas for recreational diving (no AIR diving). Standard regulator straight from the box may be used for diving with nitrox up to 40%. Oxygen cleaning is recommended for recreational nitrox use (up to 40%) and mandatory O2 cleaning is required for technical diving where up to 100% O2 may be used. Today all dive computers are nitrox compatible to at least 50% nitrox use and they are user friendly. Some divers may ask if there is additional work to be done prior to nitrox diving and the answer is YES but all we need to do is personally analyse the content of our scuba tank, put the sticker on it and off we go, that is it.

Scuba Diving and Courses with Kontiki Divers

Scuba diving and dive courses with Kontiki Divers Scuba Adventures all year round. We run PADI and TDI technical and recreational courses with small classes so the students can benefit the most out of each course. Conditions are great pretty much all year round with water temperature ranging from 26-30C and air temperature from 25C at night to 35C day time. Learning scuba diving with Kontiki is really fun. Good visibility and small classes make it easier and less stressful. Technical divers will love San Juan Wreck and Marigondon cavern. Kontiki House Reef wall is perfect for technical diver training. Beside courses we offer lots of fund diving on Mactan Island, Olango, Hilutungan, Nalusuan and Cabilao Island. For non-divers PADI Discover Scuba Diving is a perfect way to start underwater adventure. Divers who love makro will enjoy most. At Kontiki House Reef we still see school of sardines from time to time in shallow waters. Night dives are one of our specialties where we can see lots of crabs, shrimps, octopus and moray eels.

TDI Courses at Kontiki Divers

Kontiki Divers is offering TDI (Technical Diving International) courses which include the following courses:

Intro to Tech

This is an entry level no decompression technical course available for Open Water Divers with minimum 25 logged dives who like to learn fundamental technical diving skills which they can apply in their recreational dives and to gain more experience before enrolling in to TDI Decompression Procedures course. After certification divers can use double tank configuration in recreational diving. This course can be done in 2-3 days.

Advanced Nitrox Diver

This is a no decompression course during which you will learn how to use nitrox up to 100%. This can become very handy on some deeper recreational dives where you can use higher nitrox like 50% or pure O2 for additional safety in shallow water. This course is a prerequisite for Extended Range Diver Course. Advanced Nitrox can be done in 3-4 days.

Decompression Procedures Diver

This course is an entry level decompression diving course in which you will learn how to plan and execute a full deco dive under supervision of technical instructor. Maximum depth for this course is 45m. This course is a prerequisite for Extended Range and can be done in 4-5 days.

Extended Range Diver

This course further develops knowledge and skills of a technical diver. Maximum allowed depth is 55m while using air as a back gas and nitrox or oxygen as deco gases. Divers who graduate from Extended Range are ready to take the next step which is trimix or overhead environment courses. This course can be done in 4-5 days if all goes well.

Every scuba diving course is performance based therefore sometimes it may take longer to complete than the number of days listed above.

5 Star Service

Kontiki Divers Scuba Adventures is very proud to announce that it has been upgraded to PADI 5 Star Dive Resort. This very high rating is given to most professional PADI dive centers around the world for their outstanding achievements, professional approach to customers and very high standard in PADI educational system. Kontiki Team will continue great work and service for the diving community and try to improve even more in the best possible way. Just remember whatever you are recreational, professional, technical or non- diver who enjoy snorkelling you are always welcome in our dive center. Hope to see you soon.

Welcome Back!

This is Me Gregory Maciejowski from Kontiki Divers. It has been a while since we have posted anything on our blog. Lets say the blog was in hibernation! Hahaha! Anyway Kontiki Dive Center has been doing great since last year, we have had a busy season, lots of divers, courses, safaris and many exciting stories. Right now we are preparing for the next busy season. There is so much to do like overhaul all the equipment, repaint the dive shop, we are in the middle of writing new prices for the next 2012-2013 season. I thought that the next 3 months we just going to relax but how wrong I was?! Nevertheless it is better to be busy than to do nothing. I hope that you will enjoy the blog stories to come and visit us here at Maribago to do some dives.

Dive Against Debris with Kontiki Divers - Thank you very much!

Thank you very much to Lotty, Ian, Ivy and all Kontiki dive staff for participating in Dive against Debris on September 4th, 2011. Now our House reef looks much cleaner! We found all kinds of debris including: plastic bottles, beer cans, paper plates, glass bottles, shopping bags etc. All these debris were found in just 5 meter deep water which is obvious where it comes from. We wish that all the visiting boats are more careful about the garbage disposal. The reef we have here is not just for us but for the future generations therefore we ask everybody to do the part. Kontiki Divers will organize the same kind of event very soon again. We are thinking perhaps every month to help our reef to look good.

By: Greg Maciejowski

Alta Cebu Village Resort and Diving with Kontiki Divers

Kontiki Divers Team is proud to announce that has joined forces with Alta Cebu Resort which is located in Cordova on Mactan Island. This beautiful resort has more than 50 rooms including function rooms, swimming pool, restaurant, hot shower, cable tv and many other functions. Kontiki Divers is going to provide scuba diving education for guests from Alta Resort. We offer scuba diving experiences, courses, fun diving, day trips, dive safaris and other great diving adventures. The good this about Alta Resort is that they have the swimming pool where we will be conducting Discover Scuba Diving and confined water training from most of PADI diving courses. After initial training in the pool all the students will be transferred to Kontiki Divers in Maribago where they can complete rest of the course in the ocean under direct supervision of Kontiki dive staff. For more information please contact us directly.

By Greg Maciejowski

Dive Against Debris with Kontiki Divers

September 4, 2011 from 9am - 11am, Kontiki Divers is organizing dive against debris in front of our dive center in Maribago. All certified divers are welcome to join for free with exception of entrance fee. During this dive we will collect all the debris and make a report that shall help local government institutions in creating new laws about underwater protection. We need to stand together in order to secure the future for ourselves and our kids so they too one day can come, make a dive and say: "what a beautiful reef we got here". Project AWARE created this event as a additional event towards already existing Underwater Clean-up Days. We wish that all divers, regardless of training agency will join the forces and do something about the state of our oceans. We are planing to start this event on Sunday, September 4th at 9am with a briefing then after assigning teams we all go and do our part underwater then after the dive we collect and log all the debris on the special data card which we will send to Project AWARE. Please let us know if any of you are interested to join and we will be happy to provide more information.

By: Greg Maciejowski

Next Dive Safari August 27-30

Guys, we still have open space for our next dive safari on Aug 27. Price is 660 US$ for 4 days. We dive Cabilao, Balicasag, Alona Beach and other dive spots.

San Juan Wreck

I was working in a call center before I got this awesome job with Kontiki Divers. It was just one ordinary working day before Christmas of 2010 that I got invited to go wreck diving- San Juan Ferry, which sank during a storm some time in 2000. It rests 50m at the bottom on it's starboard side. Kontiki Divers regularly conducts diving expeditions to this wreck for advanced and experienced divers and I was just lucky to be invited and be part of this expedition with our Tech Director- Satoshi "Toyo" Toyoda, one of the world's most renowned Technical Diver. Immediately after end of my shift at 6:30 in the morning, Christmas day, I took off from the office straight to Mactan. No time for sleeping.. I'm going diving! I thought to myself that this is gonna be one unique Christmas celebration for me considering that this is my first shipwreck diving. And that was indeed a great experience! And that started it all. Just can't have enough about the underwater world. It never ceases to amaze me.

Last week Kontiki Divers Team set off for another expedition on this wreck. Take the tour with me guys! Check out this awesome video: 

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150310731557247&oid=168526919858433&comments

A BIG THANKS -from the Belgian diving group

Just got back from another great diving safari experience with Dive Master “Searex” of Kontiki Divers Scuba Adventures and 6 experienced Belgian Divers. The safari team spent 5 days around the neighbouring islands of Bohol- Cabilao, Balicasag and Panglao. This was my second time to join a dive safari and it just keeps getting better. Just as every diver would always say “each dive always gives you a fresh and different experience”.  As an adventurer myself, it felt really great being with the group who seeks life’s greatest adventures. This trip was simply a remarkable one.  

Some of the best sightings on this safari were a large banded sea snake (about 2 meters in length) at 20 meters and the pigmy seahorse at 27 meters during the first two days of diving at Cabilao Island, the chance of being able to see 7 sea turtles at a time on one of our dives at Balicasag Island was a site to marvel, 3 Ghost Pipefish near a wreck lying at 30m depth at Atlantis, Alona Beach, Panglao. The Island is located just southwest of Tagbilaran City, and is also famous for its diving locations and routinely listed as one of the top ten diving locations in the world. Numerous tourist resorts dot the southern beaches and cater to divers from around the world. Different kinds of nudibranches were everywhere on each dive that we made. My second best was a colony of mandarin fish. As it gets dark they started to rise up off the corals in pair for a few seconds, discharging their sperm and eggs into the sea. We were really amazed to witness that episode.  And to top it all, an absolute highlight during our night dive, currently recognized as one of the world's most venomous marine animals; the Blue-ringed octopus! It is 12 to 20 cm (5 to 8 inches), but its venom is powerful enough to kill humans. There is no blue-ringed octopus antivenom available. The octopus produces venom that contains neurotoxins and one of them is found to be identical to tetrodotoxin which is 10,000 times more toxic than cyanide. Tetrodotoxin blocks sodium chanels causing motor paralysis and respiratory arrest within minutes of exposure, leading to cardiac arrest due to a lack of oxygen. The toxin is created by bacteria in the salivary glands of the octopus.

The Visayan Archipelago always has something to prove that it has one of the richest places for marine life. Other than that, the Filipino people are gifted with a warm and welcoming character that it gives the Philippines a sense of freedom to explore the islands and experience its culture. As part of the Safari package, the safari team also had the chance to visit a few of Bohol’s tourist destinations like the Loboc River where we did a river cruise with lunch buffet, we saw the 26 ft python- “Prony”, the smallest primate- Tarsier, and of course the country's third National Geological Monument and proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage list- the Chocolate Hills.

Another five days of GREAT DIVING with Kontiki Divers! Time to get myself a new logbook!

Here's an e-mail we received from the Belgian group: Petra, Ingrid, Christophe, Koen, Thierry & Filip:


Dear Karl,

A BIG THANKS from the Belgian diving group, having done  Malapascua-diving & the Dive-safari from 18-27 April 2011. 

The first part, diving Malapascua was really beautiful & well organised. But the safari afterwards had that little thing more to make it excellent... being the superb service from Rex and Albert. 

Sea-Rex is really a first-class-diver, always looking out over us. He organised every part of the planning at our convenience, nothing was too much for him. On top, every underwater-speciality  we could ask to see he managed to show us within 2 dives (eg. Pigmy-sea-horses, sea-snakes, leaf-fish, frog-fish, Blue-ringed Octopus...)... Really top-act from Rex. 

Albert also will become a class-diver very soon: he already had the very good attitude of looking over us without being noticed. On top, he was a very pleasant & intelligent person to talk to. 

Please send our congratulations & deep thanks to both of them!

Kind regards,

Petra, Ingrid, Christophe, Koen, Thierry & Filip..

PS: we will make a selection of our underwater photos and send them to you.

The Belgian Diving Group

                              

Dive For Earth Day!

      As we prepared for the Earth Day celebration last April 22, 2011, we also looked into how much impact we have made on the environment. Approximately 71 percent of the Earth`s surface is covered by the ocean. But over the years our relentless drive for advancement has caused too much stress on the Earth´s underwater habitat. Just recently, a study was done and it turned out that 75 percent of the world`s coral reefs are being threatened by these local and global pressures. Leaving those species whose well being and existence relies solely on the ocean, greatly affected.

For this year's Earth Day celebration, Seven Seas Dive Center, Kontiki Divers Scuba Adventures together with Plantation Bay and 60 divers from the Philippine Navy, PNP, and Airforce joined forces but this time on a different battlefield- The Underwater world. The effort to combat underwater pollution creates a new challenge for these people who spent almost half of their lives to help in keeping our country in peace and order. Now, they cross to a peaceful environment in need of help.The action was headed by Dive Masters; Dario of Seven Seas Dive CenterandRex ofKontiki Divers Scuba Adventuresand P01 Vicente Pio of PNP Information Department.

   

  

It was a whole day event done on the Plantation Bay house reef where they were able to collect bottles, fish traps, nets and plastics. These are the debris that causes marine mammals to suffer and eventually die. An estimated 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles choke or get tangled by these types of marine debris every year. And 86 percent of all those affected are sea turtles.                                                                                                                        

  “Education and awareness  plays a big role in making this effort to combat against marine debris effective. People need to be taught and be made aware of the consequences to whatever actions they do to our planet, especially the Ocean.  - Rex (Dive Master). 

  Seven Seas Dive Center and Kontiki Divers Scuba Adventures have been working hand in hand with the local government and other NGOs in this annual beach clean-up activity to help provide action and awareness not only to the locals but the foreign tourists as well. 

                    

The day ended with a feeling of accomplishment that somehow we were able to take part of this worldwide effort to bring about change and have a reason to celebrate this year´s Earth Day.