20 THE WORD
The Word. MY STORY - AMY DETORRES
The Internship really kick started my career as it gave me the additional experience I needed to secure my first dream job. As I neared graduation the team assisted with my Resume writing and gave me a lot of guidance on job searching and applications. It took me just 2 weeks to get my first job and I am actually on my way right now to work in the beautiful Perhentian Islands just off mainland Malaysia… and who knows where I will be after that. Thanks to everyone who has taken the extra time to make me the PADI Instructor I am today. Amy DeTorres, PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. Abyss Scuba Diving, Ramsgate, NSW
EXPLORE WORLD CLASS DIVING There’s a great deal to be discovered in Australia. Australia has almost 200 PADI Dive Centres and Resorts to choose from and offers some of the very finest scuba diving with some of the best facilities in the world. So why not take advantage of it this year?
After spending 4 months training with some of the most amazing and professional staff I have met in the diving industry, I couldn’t help but want to share my story. Coming all the way from the United States, I jumped off the plane and was so glad to be met by the smiling faces of the staff waiting for me at the airport. This marked day 1 of my PADI Instructor Internship and the start of the rest of my life! When I started my initial Divemaster training I was so nervous. I had never done any public speaking before and just really wanted to do well. The rest of my Divemaster training was so smooth and the program was very well organized. I had two dedicated PADI Instructor Mentors just to teach and guide our course and they ensured I got special hints and tips all the way. Each day finished with a formal debrief session, which I found one of the best ways to improve. My mentors would always be taking notes and ensure I got really solid feedback, which I love. During my DM training I was also required to get my dive count, so every day between training sessions I would head out with all the other training instructors, and local divers to dive. As I approached the end of the DM training my mentors ensured my progress was discussed with my Course Directors. These were the guys who taught me to become an Instructor. This allowed them to adjust my program to polish any areas I needed to focus on prior to going to the Instructor Course. In the month preceding the Instructor Exam I continued with my Internship and was lucky enough to team-teach with the same experienced Instructors who had taught me. These were my idols, and now we were equals. I was involved with running Open Water, Advanced, Rescue & Divemaster Courses. The continued mentoring throughout this period was without a doubt the most important part of my Instructor Internship as it made everything really come together. At the tail end of my internship I flew to the Great Barrier Reef where I experienced life as an Instructor on Heron Island. I lived there for three weeks to learn about how dive resorts run, and how the tourist industry on the reef if different from Sydney. I found it fantastic to be able to gain experience in two completely different locations but in the same program.
There is truly nothing like Australia. It is a unique destination highlighted by the diverse diving environments that make up this vast continent. From the northern tip of the world famous Great Barrier Reef, all the way around to pristine dive conditions off Western Australia, you will be spoilt for choice. Australia’s diving locations are unique within themselves as they spread across this extensive land. Without a doubt a world-class travel and dive destination, below the surface, divers have the opportunity to experience spectacular sites and marine life. Whether it’s taking in colourful corals, diving through giant kelp which creates the illusion of an underwater forest, or having a chance encounter with a whale shark, it will be unforgettable. Above the surface you can enjoy astounding natural beauty and locations with unique character and charm. Australia is one of the many countries now featured as a ‘Vacation Spotlight’ on padi.com. Here you will find detailed information on everything you need to know about diving in your own backyard. Following the Destination Overview, the Vacation Spotlight showcases Hot Dive Sites in Australia which features - among other locations - Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef - including the gateway destinations of Cairns and Port Douglas. New South Wales – with Sydney’s world class diving right on the doorstep of a vibrant city. Victoria – where you’ll see beautiful marine life including cuttlefish, octopus and sea stars in Port Phillip Bay. Western Australia - offers spectacular wrecks such as the HMAS Swan Wreck near Dunsborough, or an encounter with a mesmerising whale shark off Exmouth near Ningaloo Reef. The naturally stunning locations of South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and the ACT are also featured. The Dive Summary on padi.com’s Vacation Spotlight gives comprehensive information on Australian diving depths, the visibility of Australian waters and its currents, the water temperature to expect in various states, skill levels and a run down on the fabulous creatures you can expect to discover when diving in Australia. So why not explore Australia with all this fabulous diving right here on your doorstep? For more information on diving in Australia visit the Scuba Vacation section on padi.com or contact a PADI Dive Shop. www.padi.com