January 2015

Pez maya

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

Mexico
Objective
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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 volunteers 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 program. 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

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The Divemaster and Instructor Development Course cover topics including physiology, physics, decompression theory, equipment and the environment as well as perfecting participants
diving skills. The course has a large environmental focus with two distinctive specialties exclusive 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 position 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/

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