First, congratulations on becoming a PADI Professional! Now, are you ready for the next challenge? YES?! 

Why did you choose to become a Divemaster?  Was it the personal challenge? Was it that you have a career in mind? Whatever the reason, it is  "Well Done and go for it", here at Dive Rutland,  we wish you well and are here if you want any help or guidance.

Below we have given you just a few ideas of what you could do moving forward, there are many more.

That is the most common way of using your newly acquired dive skills. Whether it’s a part-time job , seasonal adventure in the tropics, or a full-time position in a dive center, your main focus is to give an underwater tour to already certified divers or help instructors with the logistics and student's supervision. 

Here in the UK an instructor can not work without a certified assistant as we work under Health and Safety Exec.

You could do your Discover Scuba Diver Leader uplift or take the step to Assistant Instructor or straight to Instructor.  Here at Dive Rutland with our Professional staff and Course Director you can take any step you like.

Taking those next steps increases your chances of employment and gives you many more options.  In many popular dive destinations (like Indonesia, Maldives, Honduras, Thailand) you need a special visa to be able to work and those are mostly granted to instructors. ​

Many organisations will look for skilled, experienced divers just like you. This way you can progress your diving, gain further knowledge about marine life, and contribute to ocean conservation. Often you get food, accommodation, and of course, diving included. 

In the last decade the growth of the ‘superyacht industry’ increased positions for Divemasters and Instructors. However, these jobs often require additional boating qualifications like the STCW95 and can involve 80 percent deckhand/cleaning/maintenance work to 20 percent diving-related work. On a plus side, it will probably be the best-paid divemaster job ever and tax-free.

With the increased power of social media, there is a massive demand for underwater photographers. We don’t know a dive center that doesn’t have one. It’s a great source of income and the minimum required certification for that position is usually Divemaster

​While it might not be a dream come true for a newly graduated and excited Divemaster, you will still be surrounded by incredible marine life. It is a great option if you are still studying at university, need additional income, or are stuck in a landlocked location craving to blow some bubbles and we have instructors who have gone on to work at Aquariums such as Bear Grylls at Birmingham

​As a Divemaster, you are way more experienced than most recreational divers therefore you can provide others with your expertise on dive equipment, dive trips, and dive courses. 

​It’s sort of like a tour leader but for divers. By the time you’ve done your training, you should have an idea, how to run and supervise a dive trip. A great way to earn some extra cash and travel to top diving destinations is by organising dive trips for a group of certified divers. 

Get in touch and talk with us, let us know what it is you are trying to achieve and we will map out a training plan for YOU,

A stable platform is the most important skill in diving at any level and in any piece of dive equipment.  It is probably the skill that takes the longest to learn, in the early days of learning to dive the most frustrating, particularly, if in a Drysuit. It is a skill that we relearn the most often.
Every time we change our equipment configuration, or the diving environment, or the skills we are learning and mastering, in fact, sometimes buoyancy control just needs a little fine-tuning, but when you change a lot of things, it can take a lot of time to perfect.
 
So, whether you are still getting it right for the first time or fine tuning your skills you should PRACTISE, PRACTISE, PRACTISE

Compensating for poor buoyancy by wafting your arms or hands around, kicking your legs, constantly swimming to stay buoyant doesn’t hide that you are not in control, it just wastes air, takes effort and remember diving should be relaxing!
 
So practice and be brave.  Keep trying to be still or moving slowly while controlling your position in the water.  Make a mess of it, who cares, you are at least trying to do something about it and practise makes perfect after all.

So how to improve buoyancy, remember back to your open water dives, where you had to hover for a period of time, or if you did your Drysuit speciality you had to hover, while you were probably looking at some object.  This is a visual reference, pick a spot, look at it and concentrate on not moving, trying to stay level with that spot
 
Then become less reliant on that reference and start to feel neutral / natural buoyancy.  Take your eyes of the spot and continue to try and maintain position.  Use your ears as a guide, they give you lots of clues, but more than that you can feel the water buoying you up and when you breath in and out you will feel the gentle rise and fall, once truly cracked there will be no movement at all!

Complete a Peak Performance Course - it does not matter if you have done one before! or have a Boost 121 session with a diving professional

Then is the time to practise with other pieces of equipment, such as a DSMB
 
Now importantly do not forget about balance.  If your kit is well setup and your buoyancy is good, you should be able to move fairly easily even if in bulky technical kit.  
 
Good buoyancy control allows you to pivot on your balance point, which is generally somewhere around your midpoint.  This balance allows you to dive in a flat / skydiving position, but easily allow you to adjust your position if entering caves or caverns (subject to be qualified to do so).

Make adjustments slowly and methodically.  So, if you do need to adjust your kit, make a note of what you are doing and what effect it has in the water.  Don’t forget it can take a little time to relax into a new kit configuration and what felt difficult on the first dive may improve with time.  Take baby steps.  Add new equipment a little at a time.  

IF you are changing to twins for the first time, it’s easier if the rest of your kit (Drysuit, baselayer etc.) is the same as normal and also if the environment you are diving in is familiar.  

​A new suit, new cylinder configuration plus DSMB’s, Reels, torches etc. maybe one step to far and always learn new skills with qualified professionals.

I remember the first time on my twinset, it was not a comfortable experience and until 2019 was one that I only did when I truly had to, but then I found an instructor and a buddy who wanted to learn more about the technical world and we spent time working together to resolve the issues, practising (as well as changing equipment!).  but in the end we had a great week diving Scapa Flow, it was comfortable diving.  

​It just shows you need to keep practising and finding the RIGHT instructor is also part of the package and we are still on our technical journey - watch our social media.

As with buoyancy you need to practice and not just by swimming around.  Practise skills, drills and using your new equipment until it is easy.  Usually the skills you like the least are the ones you need to practise the most.
 
Take it slowly at first.  The first step when doing a new skill, or a skill in new kit, is to think through and plan each step.  Visualise what it is you are going to do.
 
Once underwater, TAKE YOUR TIME when practising new skills and work with your instructor to achieve if doing for the very first time.  Check / correct your buoyancy and depth between each step.  Once you have done it a few times you will find that you move much easier and the skill completion will be much quicker.  
 
New equipment or new combinations of equipment can take time to master.  Auxiliary equipment such as an DSMB you will not necessarily use on every dive, so always when possible take time to practise.

The NEW Suunto EON Steel Black is on its way and now available for pre-order

The Suunto EON Steel Black comes with Suunto  Fused™ RGBM 2 and Buhlmann 16 GF algorithms. This gives technical divers the possibility to choose their dive algorithm:  Suunto Fused™ RGBM 2 or Suunto version of Bühlmann ZHL-16C with Gradient Factors, allowing  them to match dive profiles with other dive team members’ devices

The new Suunto Fused™ RGBM 2 (Software update already available for “existing” Eon Steel devices) dive algorithm provides better possibility to deep air diving and repetitive diving​
Gives divers an option to choose from continuous or stepped ascent mode in both algorithms – Suunto is the only dive computer manufacturer who gives continuous ascent mode for Bühlmann.

Wireless connectivity with Suunto App and Suunto Tank Pods.  Suunto App is the digital logbook for divers. Dives can easily be transferred via Bluetooth to your mobile where the user enrich the dive data by adding comments, pictures and dive location.

The Suunto EON Steel Black now comes in a hard case. This allows the user to store their unit safely when not using. The outer sleeve has also been updated, with the EON Steel Black standing out against the white background, catching the consumers eye. On the sleeve side, it's features are clearly marked.
 
What's in the case?

• Suunto EON Steel Black
• Protective Boot
• Bungee cord and adapters
• Scratch guard
• International warranty leaflet
• Safety and regualtion leaflet
• Quick guide
• Suunto sticker

Anyone who knows us here at Dive Rutland will be aware that we are 100% Project Aware.  We have embedded the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle mantra fully into everything that we and occasionally it slows down some of our activities as we beg, borrow and steal (ok steal - not literally).

It also slowed down our application to become a PADI Green Star dive centre as we did not want to just tick a box, we wanted the entire ethos and philosophy to be truly embedded from policy to procedure, from idea inception to full delivery of any project no matter how small or big.  Our training and teachings to not only 'talk the talk' but to 'walk the walk'

But we are please to be announce that TODAY we have been awarded the PADI Green Star Award.

The PADI Green Star™ Dive Center Award is granted to PADI Dive Centers and Resorts that demonstrate a dedication to conservation across a wide range of business functions, including water conservation, energy use, environmentally friendly transportation practices, use of sustainable materials, conservation leadership and a donation to conservation through Project AWARE. The Green Star Award identifies dive businesses that care about the environment and are acting to protect it.

Here at Dive Rutland we are constantly looking at the way we run our business and the impact that we have on the planet and that is why we actively run a Reduce, Recycle, Reuse policy. 

We have been developing our Dive Professional training and wanted to give all of our attendees something to remember their time with us, so went through all the normal things like:-

T-Shirt / Polo Shirts - decided no due to the impact of microfibres on our environment - you have seen our blog on that subject yes?

Water Bottles​ - we have these in store for those who do not have but we actively engage everyone owning these so you might already have one and we wanted something more - something unique 

Hats - as cold water divers most of us have enough warm hats, we looked at baseball type caps but if you have ever seen me in one of those you know why that got taken off the table!

We ask all of our students who are being invited back into training, to read and be fully aware of the following procedures and processes that have been put into place in line with all of our relevant agencies and government advise and with the primary objective to keep us all safe and well.

This blog post supersedes all previously published policies and procedures and moving forward will be updated to stay in line with any changes that occur.  Can we kindly ask everyone to keep checking back in and ensuring they are up to speed with them, prior to attending for training.

If you are displaying any symptoms as defined by the NHS for Coronavirus (COVID) then we kindly ask you to be responsible and follow the latest government guidelines for isolation and testing.

Not sure what the symptoms and guidelines are then please refer to the NHS webpage at Symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

All arrivals for training are to sanitise their hands on entry to the dive centre and PRIOR to moving around the dive centre and classroom areas.
 
Face Masks are required for anyone over 11 years old.
 
You will be met by your instructor or support team member who will then guide you to your setup / training area.

During the briefing at the shop all students will be taken through the in water procedures required to meet the latest COVID diving guidelines but as a minimum everyone who is in the water on diving equipment will have a snorkel in their mouths at all times - which is good in water practise.  If you need to talk to your instructor, please make it known and they will place their snorkel or regulator in their mouth and position themselves accordingly - please give them time to do this.
 
Parents, can we please ask you to drop your children and then wait or come back and pick them up at 17:30 to transport to the pool? This is to ensure that we keep safe operating limits in the dive centre and classroom).

EVERYONE is to be swim ready (swimming costumes underneath clothing) as changing rooms are NOT available on the way in

Entry to Oakham School pool for your diving session is via the fire exit door alongside Kilburn Road (LE15 6QN) directly onto the pool side - the door will only be opened 5 minutes prior to the session.

Everyone is to sanitise their hands on entry to the pool side.

The Dive equipment will be taken to the pool side by the Dive Rutland Staff members, whilst this is happening, please prepare for the pool session and put wetsuits on

Clothes are to be left on the benches on the left hand side of the pool

In place at Oakham School swimming pool there is a one way system in operation and this is to be followed at ALL times..

No one is to sit on the bottom bench, please follow ALL markings provided

Changing rooms are available to be used at the end of the session

​No showers or hairdryers are to be used at the Sports Centre

Face masks / coverings will be required until seated by Parents or Guardians who are welcome on the pool side, however there is limited space and we ask only one parent per household.

At the end of the pool session can we please ask you to leave the pool area and wait outside

A video is available here that allows you to see how to enter the pool, and follow the one way system that is in operation.

Dive Centre diving masks and snorkels are only available for use by Discover Scuba Sessions / Seals and Master Seals, this is due to the isolation and cleaning process that has to occur, also all divers should invest in this basic equipment to ensure proper fit for the best diving experience
​ 
We have a large selection in stock, which we are happy to fit you for.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.

v2.02 April 2021