FAQ
Will I need a visa?
Yes, there are a couple of options. On arriving in Thailand you will be issued a 30 day tourist visa. This will run out before an internship is completed so will require visa runs – leaving Thailand into a neighbouring country and re-entering to be issued another 30 day visa.
In our opinion a better option is to apply for a one year Non-Immigrant B visa allowing you to stay in Thailand for longer. You can apply for this visa at the Thai consulate before travelling, expect to pay just over 100 USD. This will save money and time in the long run over regular visa runs.
Other than the dive internship fee what else should I budget for? How much spending money will I need?
Other than your travel expenses not much! Your main living expense will be food and drinks, which are exceptionally cheap in Thailand.
A decent meal costs between 40 - 200 baht depending on whether you want Thai or Western food. A beer cost 50 - 70 baht. As a rough guide I tend to average about 400 - 500 baht per day (about 10 USD).
If you're determined, you can live for a lot less than this, but this amount is comfortable. It’s also advisable to keep a few hundred USD in reserve.
What Do I Need to Bring with me?
Everything in Thailand is cheap, and you can get everything you need so keep it minimal. Clothes, camera, sunglasses, flip flops. Remember, at the end of the scuba diving internship you'll have a bag full of scuba diving equipment & diving manuals to take back.
I'm already a certified Diver - can I get some discount on my Gap Year Dive Internship Fee?
Yes. Contact us and we can discuss exactly what you've done then come to some arrangement.
Either we can reduce the overall cost of your dive internship OR give you a great deal if you swap courses you've already completed for alternate dive courses offered by us.
I already own some scuba diving equipment. How will this affect the overall dive internship fee?
Contact us and we can discuss exactly what you've got and how that affects things.
Either we can reduce the overall cost of your dive internship OR give you a great deal on dive courses offered by us.
I want my internship to last longer than two months - what can I do?
The courses are set up to be completed in 8 weeks and even if you’ve never dived before we can still get you through the internship to PADI Divemaster in that time.
This is easily do-able - you won't be 'flat out' but you'll have to keep moving along at a steady pace.
If you want to take your time doing the Divemaster qualification part of the internship, that isn’t a problem for us and you’ll just need to pay additional accommodation fees after the 2 months of accommodation included in the package. We do find though that most people are keen to get qualified as soon as possible so that they can start working.
The best thing to do is contact us and we can discuss your individual case.
If you're concerned about having too much to do out here [and want to take it easy] you could complete some of the theory work whilst you're still at home. We can mail some of your diving manuals to you - this allows you to maximize your time in the water here on Koh Tao Thailand.
Is the area friendly towards lone female travellers?
Very. Koh Tao has an enormous volume of travellers, so there is no problem.
In terms of people taking diving internships we tend to get a fairly even male/female mix. There are many girls living and working on the island so you won't feel left out
What is the quality of the diving equipment that we receive & is it really all mine to keep at the end of the internship?
All the equipment you’re given is brand new and from reputable equipment manufacturers e.g. Scubapro, Mares and yes, once you finish your gap year / scuba diving internship it's yours to keep.
Do I have to undertake a medical examination? How fit do I need to be for the gap year / scuba diving internship?
At the end of your courses, to be signed off as a PADI Divemaster you do need a dive medical.
But don't worry it's quick, easy and only costs only around 150 baht.
You need to have basic general fitness to enjoy the internship, but don't need to be an athlete. Obviously you can't take part if you have any serious medical conditions e.g. bronchitis, lung disease, pneumothorax, drug abuse heart disease etc. If you’re not sure, check with your doctor.
What vaccinations do I need? Is there a risk of malaria on Koh Tao?
Check with your doctor before travelling. Vaccinations will be typical for any travelling in SE Asia but there is no malaria in this area so there's no need to take malaria tablets.
What is banking like on Koh Tao - are there ATMs? What's the best way to bring money?
There are lots of ATMs and a few bank plus money exchanges on Koh Tao, so access to money isn't a problem.
Check out what charges you'll incur with your bank ATM or travellers cheques are probably the best options.
For large payments [i.e. the internship fee] it's probably most economical to make a direct transfer
What if for some reason I'm unable to complete the diving internship?
We'll work out the percentage of the internship that you've done and recalculate your bill based on that.
Everything is straightforward, plus we have experienced, competent instructors so we’re confident that you'll have no problem proceeding through the diving courses.
What are the opportunities for paid work once I qualify as a PADI Divemaster at the end of the internship?
Koh Tao is a very busy diving resort, so there are always lots of employment opportunities.
You won't get rich working as a Divemaster, but working full time should cover living expenses and allow you to have a great time.
Another option is to check out our Underwater Videography Internship Add On - this is a paid scuba diving internship - you get 500 baht for each DVD that you produce & sell so if you apply yourself you can do well from this.
Do I need to arrange travel insurance? Does DJL Diving have a policy to cover scuba diving?
DJL has a policy with a company based in Thailand [Hyperbaric Services of Thailand].
If you do injure yourself diving and can be treated on Koh Tao there is no charge. In the extremely unlikely event that you suffer a serious injury requiring recompression treatment, you'll be evacuated to Koh Samui. For this a percentage of your treatment is covered by the shop - you or your own insurance has to pay the remainder.
It's prudent to get normal travel insurance [i.e. for personal belonging, sickness etc]. Try to get one which covers normal scuba diving to 18 or 30 metres.
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