Scuba Part 1: PADI in the Romp

Disclaimer: In no way does my own experience with the PADI Organization fully represent the PADI Organization. I give my full endoursment for individuals to experience scuba diving with any diving organization/dive shop that trains, remediates, and books diving trips throughout the world by keeping up with the highest of standards. So, how did my plan change from wanting to massage Aussie lives to guiding Great Barrier scuba dives?

Pretty simple really… After 5 months of calling TAFE schools in the State of New South Wales I was unable to get anyone to understand that I needed a Prior Learning Request. Though I did meet an Aussie from West Australia via Facebook that only wanted about $1500 USD to make my PLR happen… Not sketchy at all – I passed on his offer. Now, this PLR would be the process to have officials look at my massage license so it could transfer over to Australian standards/certification. I had to also keep in mind that with my Visa subclass 462 I could only work at one employer for 6 months before I needed to find new employment. Down under is really a little more complicated than I thought. It was time to think outside the box. I found my old scuba certs whilst cleaning my apartment. Then it dawned on me, it was time to get back into scuba diving… After 7+ years of not diving. Time to get my mask, fins, snorkel, and jump right back in the deep end. But I was trained with Scuba Educators International. If I wanted to work internationally (not just in Australia), I needed to jump ship to the Professional Association of Dive Instructors – PADI.

So, I looked on the internet for a dive shop in Brisbane and found one called The Brisbane Dive Academy. OOOOOOO, sounds fancy! OOOOOOO, I got my Divemaster recertification from SEI and can take the PADI Instructor course! OOOOOOOOO, I paid heaps of money to the course director, Mick (still cheaper than paying the PADI dive shop in Indianapolis). OOOOOOOO, he never answered my questions how best to prepare. OOOOOOOO, I should have known better and kept insisting he answer – After all I was over 7 years out of the water. The dream is coming together with another example of a “just then moment”. Or so I thought… Folks, this was the best shot I had at working in the Australian hospitality industry. Which means I could extend my Visa for a year. Which means I could stay longer. Which means it could lead to working as a dive professional. Which means I could work at dive shops all over the world. Which means I don't have to continue doing massage. Oh, happy days! I will take this moment to thank younger 20 something Dustin for getting your B.A. in underwater basket weaving on stage! Truly, I got my degree in Theatrical Studies with a minor in Scuba Diving, and when I graduated in 20011 that translated into no sustainable paying job in Indiana. The more you know folks! Well get a dive buddy and time to go diving, and like Sebastian sang, “unda da sea… unda da sea… darling its betta down where its wetta… take it from me”. The underwater world is gorgeous and worth time to respect and explore. If you’ve never tried scuba, you really are missing out on something amazing. I got into scuba diving whilst at Ball State University, and it was the only therapy I had post my deployment to Iraq.

I ordered some shining new gear from Jeff Bezos (Amazon) and was ready (so I thought) to get back into the water. This time it will be saltwater vs freshwater, possibly diving with aggressive bull sharks and poisonous jellyfish (ssshhhh don’t tell my mom), in a country I’ve never been to, with an organization I’ve never trained under, and in within an industry I’ve never worked before. Full-on! What could possibly go wrong??? Spoiler Alert Folks!!!! ABOUT EVERY DAMN THING.
~~~©Dustin J. Casey 2021~~~