Why don't we show our phone number?
We are always available to talk to you about your plans, but we do not run call centers to keep the trip costs low. So email is best.
You can chat or message us on Skype, email us first. If you really want to call us you can on (+44)02032867065.
Remember most of your programme questions can be answered with the get trip notes button too.
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Gap year diving is an area of speciality for us. If you are interested in exploring the underwater world on your gap year, we have plenty of diving programmes and being a company run by experienced professional divers we are happy to assist you find the right course.
Choosing a Gap year diving programme is a great way to spend your gap year.
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There are lots of different options open to you if you wanted to get involved with becoming a gap year diver and plenty of gap year diving destinations to choose from whether that be a Koh Tao Gap Year (one of the most popular gap year diving destinations) or placements in Africa, Australia, the pacific Caribbean and more.
So how do you decide where to go and what to do? There are various consideration that your might want to think about before choosing a gap year company to assist you with a course. |
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Choosing a diving agency
Firstly you need to decide which diving agency you want to learn to learn with. So to make this clearer there are several different diving organisations out there that run courses training you have to become a diver safely. The main ones are PADI and SSI although other agencies like BSAC are also popular. These training body’s all follow similar curriculum's so do not worry too much about the course content.
To be clear theagency is not the same as the dive shop or dive school, as some are able to train people in several different agencies certifications. By far the most popular and well know agency is called PADI.
Next you need to decide where you want to go to do your dive training. It is a big world out there with thousands of unique and cool gap year diving destinations to choose from, some places have their advantages over others, so factors such as costs and personal interests will play a factor.
If you are just looking to learn to dive on your gap year and do a basic open water course, you may just choose to do this where ever is convenient along the way, but just allow yourself enough time (4 days) to do the course and make sure you are not flying within 24 hours of diving, so check your itinerary carefully.
If you wanted to spend a lot longer in one place mastering you diving skill, then you should consider doing the Divemaster course. The Divemaster course is the most popular gap year diver course for good reason. No other gap year diving programme allows you to spend so much time underwater, all included in the price.
Some places are cheaper than others with Thailand being one of the cheapest places to do your Divemaster, specifically the (Koh Tao Divemaster),however this does not necessarily make it the best although it is still extremely good.
Due to the popularity of diving in Thailand, the marine life does suffer as a consequence, so it is likely that you would see more marine life if you did your Divemaster in the Philippines, but this costs a touch more. You can also do your Divemaster in Australia, however this is again far more expensive that diving on an Asia gap year.
You can also complete your Divemaster in Africa; this is a great option if you are into shark diving, but bewared you can easily come up against tiger sharks and hammerheads. Whilst this is not dangerous if you know what to expect, it can make you panic if you are not prepared to see them! A softer way of seeing great white sharks is to go shark cage diving in South Africa
Xtreme Gap Year has a range of Gap year diver programmes and the in house expertise to be able to explain the intricacies of diving on your gap year before you set out. So if you are considering a gap year involving diving, give them a call.
There are several different options if you want to spend your gap year diving. There are several things you need to consider as well. Depending on how much time and to what level do you want to spend your gap year diving.
If you are looking to learn to dive on your gap year, then you can look at doing an Padi open water course. this qualifies you to 18 metres, however we strongly recommend doing your advanced open water as well, as this further improves your diving ability and also qualifies you to decend down to 30 metres. This gives you far more flexibility and freedom when diving on your gap year.
The next level of diving certification is the Rescue diver course. If you want to take your gap year diving further, consider a Divemaster programme. We run several Gap Year Divemaster programmes including a Divemaster Thailand Programme.
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Whale Shark Diving Mozambique
Scuba diving in Inhambane is amongst the best in the world, with reefs close to every beach, including the world famous Manta Reef and Gallaria. Regular sightings of Giant Manta Rays, Whale Sharks, Turtles and other teeming marine life make this one of the best gap year diving destinations in the world. This is an intensive diving trip in the best place in the world to dive with Whalesharks.
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Freediving Course Thailand
Master advanced Freediving techniques that will enable you to dive down 20 metres on a single breath of air on the second day! Our Freediving school, set on a cool tropical island in Thailand, teaches you correct techniques, the physiology and science behind being able to do advance freediving. Either complete an eye opening beginner or Advanced course, or come stay a while with a full blown freediving master or even instructor programme.
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Koh Tao Divemaster Thailand
Koh Tao Divemaster course plus internship: Live the life on a tropical island in the Gulf of Thailand. The Koh Tao Divemaster course means living on an incredible tropical island, diving every day for 12 weeks, accommodation and equipment included. You will discover one of the most amazing lifestyles and gain a professional level qualification enabling you to work in the scuba diving industry all over the world.
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Australia Divemaster
Become a Divemaster in Byron Bay! Living the life as a Divemaster in Australia in one of the coolest towns in Australia, Byron Bay! Diving everyday at Julian rocks, one of the best dive sites in Australia. You will be living in the thick of the action as you discover why Byron Bay is one of the most fun towns in Australia.
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Zero to Hero Dive Instructor start your dive career here
Become a Dive instructor! No prior experience needed, you can become a dive instructor, taching others to dive, and mean while work as a Divemaster to top up your funds. This 6 months programme is a life changer. Interested? Read more...
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Learn to dive in Koh Tao
Learn to dive in Koh Tao on your gap year! Getting your PADI qualifications in Thailand is one of the must do activities when you go backpacking in Asia or as part of a round the world trip. Koh Tao is famous for diving, low prices and great experiences, and maybe even meet the Whale shark, the biggest and most amazing fish in the sea! Come join us and have a great time on Koh Tao.
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Paid Underwater Film Maker Internship
Become an underwater camera man (or woman) on a paid underwater videography internship Koh Tao. Earn as you learn to film underwater on an incredible 12 week internship on a tropical island in Thailand. Diving every day doing what you love! Work with a young dynamic team and earn your beer money shooting movies in paradise.
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Ultimate Australia
Do the Australia East Coast the Xtreme way on your Australia gap year. This is one action packed backpacker trip taking in the very best of Australia. Surfing, skydiving, and diving as you head up the coast in search of good times and incredible adventures...
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Kruger To Coast Sports
Africa adventure does not come better than this! Safari in the worlds greatest game park the Kruger, then swim with the worlds biggest fish the mighty Whaleshark! Five days and unforgettable adventures in one of the continent’s best wildlife locations – South Africa’s Kruger National Park then a week in the best place in the world to see whale sharks, diving and exploring the coral reefs in the warm blue waters of the Indian ocean. Then you will also discover Swaziland, with its tribal culture on a proper cultural exchange. Get ready for an Africa adventure!
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Whale Shark Conservation Mozambique
The Whale Shark Marine Conservation Project in Mozambique is the ultimate marine conservation project. Swimming with Whale Sharks (Mozambique is one of the best places in the world to see them) you will be involved in data collection, reef monitoring, and humpbacked whale research. Volunteers will also be involved in turtle nest data collection, as well as getting the chance to live an breathe one of Africa's best gap year diving and backpacking destinations.
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Divemaster internship Honduras
During the Divemaster course in Honduras you will be living on the Caribbean island Roatan. A tropical paradise with a very chilled culture, white sandy beaches and the best diving in the Caribbean with over 50 meter visibility. Experience the freedom and happiness of the Caribbean and enjoy the island life and the amazing diving of Roatan!
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Fiji Diving, Marine Conservation and Culture
Buried deep in the pacific, surrounded by warm azure waters, fringed with vibrant coral reefs and infused with the emerald green of the tropics, Fiji is paradise on earth. Blessed with sunshine, white sandy beaches and grass hut resorts you will find your own personal heaven. The Fiji dive conservation and culture programme, gives you the unique opportunity to live here, and immerse yourself in the local customs and culture. All the while you will be carrying out important marine conservation work, and learning to dive in some of the worlds best waters.
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Mozambique Adventure
Indulge your senses in one of Africa´s most spectacular countries, Mozambique. Here you can dive and snorkel with mantas and Whalesharks, surf some of the best breaks the Indian Ocean has to offer, you can do big game fishing and explore a nearby tropical islands by sea kayak with plenty of chill time on some of the worlds best beaches. This is the Ultimate Mozambique Adventure.
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Shark Divemaster Philippines
Malapascua in the Philippines is the only place in the world where you can see the pelagic Thresher (Ocean dwelling Thresher Shark) on a regular basis. Pretty cool in itself, but then throw in Manta Rays, Hammerhead Sharks and really good macro diving and you have some great reasons to take your Divemaster in the Philippines. The other reason is that you will be living on a tropical island with warm waters, white sandy beaches and lovely people!
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Divemaster Gili Trawangan, Indonesia
Located just a 2 hour boat ride from Bali, you find 3 tiny islands. The most popular island is Gili Trawangan, and this is where you train to become Divemaster. A white sandy island with palm trees and clear clear blue sea full beautiful Marine life. The prefect location for doing your Divemaster as the diving on the Gili's is absolutely amazing and next to diving there is a nice social scene going on. You will love doing your Divemaster training here, and you will not get lost as you walk around the island in under 2 hours! Fantastic!
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Learn to Dive and Speciality Courses, Indonesia
If you want to learn to dive in a truly special place or you want to do advanced or speciality dive courses this destination would be great! A tropical island if 3 by 2 km just 2 hours by boat from Bali in Indonesia. Courses run all year, so whenever suits you,our professional staff will be waiting for you, and so will the turtles, the rays, the clown fish, the white sandy beaches ...
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Gili Freediving Programme, Indonesia
Very popular and not as extreme as you think. Free diving is diving without scuba gear. So no tank to breath underwater. This way you become one with the fish, you will enjoy marine life to the max. Also it is a big change to challenge yourself. Whether you're interested in competitive Apnea, spearf ishing, or just improving your snorkelling and enjoyment underwater, before you know it you go down to 20 meters!
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Marine Adventure and Guide Training Course Mozambique
Train as a professional Marine and Adventure Guide in wild and exotic Northern Mozambique. Spend six months training on the Mozambique coastline with an optional six months working as a marine guide at a lodge on Africa’s East coast.
Whether you want to enrich your life by living close to nature and learning more about the natural world or whether you want to start a new life as a marine or adventure guide, this course has it all.
You will come out as a highly competent, passionate and ethical guide operating from a broad knowledge and experience base with your training carried out in some of the most mind-blowing locations possible while you partake in a series of adventures of a lifetime.
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Mozambique Divemaster programme
Train to become a professional diver and dive with Whalesharks Mozambique is a terrific of the beaten track destination to train to become a Divemaster. You can start at any level and we promise you warm waters, beautiful beaches, fun and of course the diving here is superb. Did you know Mozambique has the highest population of juvenile Whalesharks?
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Shark Adventure in Shark Park South Africa
This 5 day Shark Adventure in South Africa is not for the faint harted and will be the thrill of a life time, even for the biggest thrill seeker! A true exciting adventure that will only suit the extremest of the Xtreme Gappers. We take you and our special shark crue 40 km of the South African coast to meet lots of very big marine life! Be ready for game fish and apex predators. No Cage dives... Be thrilled by your first meeting with White Sharks, Duskies, Soupfin Sharks, Mako’s, Raggies, Endemic CatSharks, Marlin and many more!!! Unique tour! Are you ready to join?
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Dive Instructor Course Malapascua
Taking your IDC or Dive Instructor Course is a life changing step. Gone are the days of commuting, offices and general dis-satisfaction of everyday life in a modern world. Enter a life of living in the worlds most amazing beach resorts, a genuinely rewarding job and qualifications you can use to earm a living anywhere in the world. Hello complete freedom.
