Learn to scuba dive to Divemaster level, learn Spanish & adventure in Venezuela

Vacancy: Learn to scuba dive to Divemaster level, learn Spanish & adventure in Venezuela
Company: Yomps
Category: Multi sports
Dates: 27 Apr to 22 Jun 2009; 22 Jun to 17 Aug 2009; 20 Jul to 14 Sep 2009; 28 Sep to 23 Nov 2009...
Cost: £2550 / $5125 (US) / €3295
Age limit: 18+

Course Details

Get a PADI Professional Qualification, dive in some of the best diving spots in the world, have 80 Spanish lessons, sea kayak, abseil down waterfalls, explore pristine beaches, swim in beautiful crystal clear waters and see an amazing spectrum of marine life that includes sea turtles, manta rays, morays and maybe even whales if you are lucky! If you have scuba diving qualifications already then don't worry we will change the activities to suit and reduce the cost of the trip dramatically!

From the wild and mysterious Andes to the exotic golden sands of over 1,750 miles of Caribbean coastline, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is a country filled with spectacularly beautiful scenery and a rich tapestry of dramatically different landscapes. One of only seventeen megadiverse countries in the world, Venezuela harbours a vast spectrum of flora and fauna that includes jaguars, giant anteaters and over 21,000 plant species.

Living in our base at Playa Colorada (literally ‘the beach of many colours’ in Spanish), we will get to know an area of Venezuela that demonstrates this remarkable diversity, with mountains that fall into a sea teeming with a kaleidoscope of tropical fish, soft corals and seawhips. From the pink sands of the beach we will learn to scuba dive in the Caribbean waters of this relatively undiscovered diving paradise, whilst experiencing the vibrant culture and beautiful scenery of Venezuela. Our scuba diving adventure will take us swimming amid a startling array of marine life, including sea turtles, clown fish, manta rays and maybe even whales to earn our qualification as a ‘Divemaster’. If you have some of the dive qualifications already then don't worry you can do alternative activities instead (see 'full trip itinerary' for more information)

We begin our eight weeks of adventure learning the PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Open Water and Advanced Open Water diving qualifications in the form of lectures, skills exercises, and qualifying dives that will cover a variety of topics including how to set up equipment and carry out safety procedures. Learning how to dive responsibly will see us gaining our Rescue Diver qualification, which involves learning a variety of lifesaving skills.

With these lifesaving skills under our diving belts, the final three weeks of learning commence to gain the crème de la crème of diving qualifications, the ‘Divemaster’. Days will be long and often hard work, but the resulting satisfaction of gaining a Divemaster qualification in some of the most beautiful dive spots in the world will make all the hard graft all the more worthwhile! Each day two sessions (45-50min each) of Spanish will be fitted around our diving, with learning that is designed to be interactive and spontaneous. Rather than being cooped up in classrooms, our Spanish lessons will be taken in the open air of South America to make speaking Spanish seem entirely natural, thus progressing our written and oral communication from the very first day.

During our learning adventure we will have time to play beach sports on the warm pink sands, kayak to local islands, relax in hammocks, watch gorgeous sunsets, see amazing wildlife, explore the beautiful islands of Mochima National Marine Park (with their beautiful gulfs, inlets, and sandy beaches), learn to Salsa and Merengue dance to the beat of exotic Latino!

If you have PADI Open Water already then instead
Two day kayaking expedition to neighbouring islands, experiencing the local culture. All food and activities included.
Then continue from Advanced Open Water qualification.
Cost £1864/ $3914 / €2610
Note: To ensure you have 60 dives when completing the course (PADI requirement), you should have 30 dives logged when starting this course. If you have less than 30 dives then don’t worry you have the opportunity to catch up. Extra dives will be charged at £17 / $36 / €24 per dive.

If you have PADI Advanced Open Water already then instead
Two day kayaking expedition to neighbouring islands, experiencing the local culture. All food and activities included.
Four pleasure dives.
Then continue from Rescue Diver qualification.
Cost £1800/ $3780 / €2520
Note: To ensure you have 60 dives when completing the course (PADI requirement), you should have 35 dives logged when starting this course. If you have less than 35 dives then don’t worry you have the opportunity to catch up. Extra dives will be charged at £17 / $36 / €24 per dive.

If you have PADI Rescue Diver already then instead
Two day kayaking expedition to neighbouring islands, experiencing the local culture. All food and activities included.
Eight pleasure dives.
Then continue from Divemaster qualification.
Cost £1731/ $3635 / €2423
Note: To ensure you have 60 dives when completing the course (PADI requirement), you should have 40 dives logged when starting this course. If you have less than 40 dives then don’t worry you have the opportunity to catch up. Extra dives will be charged at £17 / $36 / €24 per dive.