General Go Pro questions |
| |
• What is the accommodation like and where I will stay?
The Barefoot group has 2 resorts in Havelock and where you stay depends completely on your budget and accommodation needs. The first Resort is called Barefoot at Havelock Resort which is located at Beach No.7 and is a beautiful, secluded and romantic place with luxurious rooms. This resort is 20 minutes away from the Barefoot Scuba Dive Centre. Several categories of rooms are available here based on the facilities you would like.
The second resort is called Barefoot Scuba Dive Resort and is attached to the dive centre on Beach No.3. The accommodation here is more simple and is comfortable, and makes for more ideal base. 4 types of rooms are available to suit your budget.
Should neither of these be what you are looking for, email us with your specific requirements and we will give you suggestions and costs for a resort in the vicinity of the Dive Centre. |
| |
| |
• How much does it cost for accommodation in the Andamans?
The prices for accommodation range from Rs. 150 per night to Rs. 14,000 per night. Havelock has rooms ideal for backpackers (with shared bathrooms) as well as luxurious ones with every type in between. So, depending on your budget, the costs will also differ.
Booking through us ensures you get a fantastic price that you would not normally be offered as a direct client, especially during the high season. Post November, it becomes extremely difficult to get big discounts.
Take us up on our offer for Free backpacker- style huts (with shared bathrooms) for the duration of your IDC as part of what Barefoot Scuba offers its candidates! |
| |
| |
• What about food and beverages?
Depending on where you stay, breakfast could be included in your per night accommodation costs. Usually, simple backpacker rooms do not include breakfast but resort rooms that cost Rs. 1000+ per night will have a simple breakfast included. So do check with us at the time of your booking.
Lunch is included as part of our IDC program. If you are doing your Divemaster course with us, a free lunch is available in the price of the package on diving days.
Dinner is not included in our packages. Should you wish to include dinner, we would be happy to add it to your overall costs accordingly. There are many places to eat along Beach No. 3 and Beach No. 5, so you can choose based on your budget. Some are a lot cheaper than others. For example, market eateries tend to be lot cheaper than more formal restaurants.
Free refills of mineral water are available at Barefoot Scuba all through your IDC. Do refrain from adding to the plastic litter on the island by bringing a bottle and filling it from our 20 litre can for free. Other beverages are chargeable. |
| |
| |
| |
• I am a vegetarian, is this a problem?
As a lot of India is vegetarian, getting vegetarian food in Havelock is not problem. All restaurants are sure to have something good to offer their vegetarian clients. |
| |
| |
| |
• My English is not very good, can I get translator help?
Barefoot Scuba provides language support in many languages including English, French, Hind, Marathi, Dutch, German, Spanish, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia, and Catalan. |
| |
| |
• Can I rent equipment for my courses or is that extra?
Although we recommend that candidates on the Go Pro track already have or begin to invest in dive equipment of their own, we will be happy to include basic scuba equipment free of cost through the duration of your course if you don’t have your own. However, this is returnable in a good condition after your. |
| |
| |
• I have never dived before but would like to become an Instructor, how do I start?
We have an amazing Zero to Hero program that will help you realize your dream of becoming an Instructor! This program allows you start right with the PADI Open Water Course – or any other level from there on- and work up to your IDC IE. Read more about it! |
| |
| |
| |
• How many people will be doing the DM or Instructor Course with me?
Barefoot Scuba guarantees that there will be no more than 3 candidates per trainer for your Divemaster course or IDC. |
| |
Divemaster course related |
| |
• How do I choose the best DM package for myself?
The answer is based on what your current certificate level is and how many dives you have logged till date.
If you have more than 50 dives logged, we call you an experienced diver and you can take the package that costs Rs. 30,000 and does not include extra dives. Click here to view details.
If you have less than 50 dives logged, then we recommend you take the Go Pro internship program that includes the Divemaster course and diving that costs Rs. 52,000. Click here for more details. |
| |
| |
• What extra costs are involved with the DM course package?
The only extra costs that are involved will be the fees that is payable directly to PADI. Click here for details regarding these.
Barefoot Scuba promises that there will be no hidden fees waiting to surprise you. We will provide you with a written offer before you commit to a course with us which will include everything you require. |
| |
| |
• I am not a PADI certified diver, but am certified through a different organisation. Can I do the PADI Divemaster Course with you?
Yes. Irrespective of the level to which you have reached and the agency of certification, you can cross over and become a PADI Divemaster. However, as the number of certification agencies and courses are numerous, we request you to email us with your current certification level, agency of certification, approximate number of dives logged till date and the month and year of your last dive so we are able to specifically guide you through the next steps for your cross over. |
| |
IDC/ IE related |
| |
• What is included in your IDC package?
What is included in your IDC depends on which package you choose. We offer two for you to choose from. The Barefoot Scuba Gold package is the simpler 2-week package at Rs. 79,900.
The Barefoot Scuba Platinum 3-week package involves all that the Gold does and much more at just Rs. 94,900!
We also give you the option of creating your package! You can tailor-make your own package based on the specific courses that you are interested in and avail of the discount we offer! |
| |
| |
• What extra costs are involved with the IDC?
The extra costs that you will have to pay are the PADI fees. If you want to go ahead and do your IE, then those costs will also be additional. These are payable directly to PADI.
Barefoot Scuba promises that there will be no hidden fees waiting to surprise you. We will provide you with a written offer before you commit to an IDC with us which will include everything you require. |
| |
| |
• How experienced is your Course Director?
Our Course Director Thien graduated as a PADI Course Director in 2004 from the PADI Headquarters in California. He achieved "Platinum Course Director" status in 2006 as well as 2009 (the highest frequent trainer level - achieved by only 98 out of 1,184 Course Directors worldwide). In 2007 and 2008, he achieved “Gold Course Director” status.
The first and only Vietnamese-American Course Director, Thien has trained 500+ instructor level students and is credited with 900+ total certifications.
To know more about Thien, click here. |
| |
| |
• How accessible are your Course Director and Instructors to help me and during my IDC?
Once you make a booking with us, you will receive not just a confirmation but also a list of email addresses of our Course Director and Instructors. Email them anytime and they will be happy to answer you. |
| |
| |
• How successful are you at training PADI Instructors?
Barefoot Scuba has till date a 100 % success rate. So far, all of our IDC candidates passed their PADI IE with flying colours. We are proud as that demonstrates our commitment to Instructor level training. |
| |
| |
• How well equipped are your classrooms?
Our classrooms are very well equipped with a television, a DVD player, all required PADI material as per PADI standards and a wonderful resource library for you to refer to. Above all, we provide you with a great ambience conducive to learning. |
| |
| |
• What is the IDC Prep course and do I need it?
Our Prep course is for 2 days and is useful to refresh your dive theory knowledge. Completed entirely in the Divemasterm course, your dive theory may need brushing up before you take the IDC and IE.
During the IDC and IE, the focus is more on teaching diving and the PADI system, leaving very little time to actually spend on dive theory. The PADI system assumes that your dive theory knowledge is impeccable before you enter the IDC. Hence, for those of you who would need some help, it is a very useful; option and gets you prepared to face the theory part of the IE. Our Course Director and support team ensure you have several practise exams on all chapters and are confident of your dive theory.
This is an optional program, however, so if you already have all the necessary information at your fingertips, you can save 2 days and skip this Prep course. |
| |
| |
• Do you provide me with work placement opportunities?
Being the largest dive centre in India, Barefoot Scuba is always on the lookout for Divemasters and Instructers who show promise. Although we cannot guarantee it, if history is something to go by, several of our Divemasters have been absorbed by us and in our earlier IDC, 2 candidates also joined us and are now valuable members of our team today. If we are unable to absorb you, it goes without saying you will receive recommendation letters based on your performance and help in job placement. |
| |
| |
• How many of your PADI IDC candidates have ever failed the PADI Instructor Examination?
Zero! When you finish your PADI IDC with Barefoot Scuba, you will also be that good. This is our mission and we take it seriously. We also have an IE pass guarantee. |
| |
| |
• What happens if I fail the IE?
You won’t. Barefoot Scuba gives you an IE pass guarantee.
However, despite all efforts, in the event that you are unsuccessful in some segments, your next IE in India is on us.
We’re that sure you will pass! |
| |
