In its habitat, streak and thorny, the lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a real lord of coral reefs. This fish fears no one as its venomous spines protect it from predators. Despite its scientific name, it does not fly. This adjective comes from its long fins that look like wings.

This fish is quite dangerous. Pterois volitans, also called Lionfish, is a very venomous fish of the family of Scorpaenidae.

Its average size is from 30 to 35cm, this is a fish who can live alone or in small groups.
Its colour varies depending on its habitat. For example, they are darker, almost black in estuaries.
It has venomous dorsal, pelvic and anal spines. The sting is very painful even if non lethal. The venom is destroyed by heat.

It can be found in warm seas at depth from 2 to 50m, it has been observed from the shore. This is not a migratory fish. This fish has fleshy tentacles above the eyes and below the mouth. It catches its prey by aspiration. It has a rather night and twilight activity.
This fish is an oviparous animal. The female can produce up to 40000 eggs by laying. The death rate is quite high. A few days later, the larvae hatch, they measure just a few millimeters.
After 3 weeks, they become alevins.

We can find Pterois Volitans in the Pacific ocean, in the eastern Indian ocean and recently in the Bahamas and Caribbean. This fish is looked for aquariums and food.

Just imagine... You are in the deep blue, pushed by a slight current, you meet a turtle, quietly feeding on reef sponges. A multicoloured fish miriad seems to follow you along your way. A little farther, just near the coral pinnacle you so well know, you discover a moray eel, on the threshold of its shelter.

A great smile shines on your face, this is a real great dive… Instinctively, you turn back to share your discovery with the divers that follow you on this dive...

That is true, since you have begun this new Divemaster job, life is much sweeter…

Divemaster is not just another further scuba diving course, this is mainly the first professional dive level with all that implies of knowledge and skills. This is also, for the ones who would have a professional project, the way to find a job anywhere in the world.

While the Rescue course provides all the knowledge and skills you need to become a good diver increasing safety for yourself but also the others, the Divemaster is much more focused on the supervision of certified divers as well as student divers.

Beyond good diving skills and important theoretical knowledge, a good Divemaster also must understand in a quite more general way the scuba diving world in order to become a true underwater professional.

This course is divided in 4 parts of equal importance:

1. The theory part : obviously good general knowledge basis regarding the scuba diving activity is extremely important as it allows to impassioned divers as well as future professionals to be experts of the underwater environment.
2. The practice part : theoretical knowledge is something but you also need to practice. Pool training sessions to make exercises demonstrations and courses organizations.
3. The internship : the best way to become a professional is to participate to the « real life » of a dive centre, and to be in contact with real customers (certified divers and students).
4. The strength skills : yes…. There are a few swim tests that you will need to pass before to become a Divemaster.

Depending on your actual level and training, on the theoretical aspect as well as on the practice one, you will need between one week to one month to become a Divemaster.

CMAS 4* to Divemaster crossover:

If you already are CMAS 3* or 4*, why should you participate to the Divemaster course ?
Despite the widely spread preconceived idea, the Divemaster course is not easier than the CMAS 4* level, neither inferior regarding theory and skills. In fact, the course is just absolutely different!!
That is why to participate to a true Divemaster session instead of being satisfied just with an equivalence that provides the « double card » is a quite important point to consider while you are choosing the course you need.
Indeed, during your Divemaster course, you approach matters, exercises and standards that are quite specific to PADI, like other exercises can be specific to other diving organizations.
This is greatly important if you consider then to work in a PADI centre or if you wish to sit for the PADI Instructor Development Course ( known as IDC).
To participate to this course, you must be a Rescue Diver (or equivalent) and to have a specific number of dives.
So, do not hesitate anymore, should you wish to begin a new career or even should you just want to masterize as an expert your favourite activity, the Divemaster course has just been made for you.
If you are interested in our courses, do not hesitate to get in touch with us in order to let us schedule a personalized package.

Once again, a great faultless session for the whole Phocea’s team and her course director, Camille Laquerrière. Indeed, our 9 candidates to the instructorship did a great job during the last Instructor Examination in Playa del Carmen.

Congrats to all of them !!

Last IDC session of the year, from November the 20th to December the 2nd, book from now on and gain many advantages on our « end of year » trainings.

2011 IDCs:

• From January the 22nd to Feb. the 3rd
• From March the 19th to March the 31st
• From April the 16th to April the 28th
• From May the 14th to May the 26th
• From June the 11th to June the 23rd
• From July the 9th to July the 21st
• From Sept. the 10th to Sept. the 22nd
• From November the 19th to Dec. the 1st

A few days ago, I was chatting with an experienced underground divers group, coming back from a wonderful dive with narrow passages in a cenote close to Playa del Carmen, for which, that is true, carry a little bit the equipment was necessary. One of these divers was explaining me that as he kept having problems with his back, he was thinking about giving up diving soon… So, we begun to talk about the double tank flaws (including especially its weight) and the undeniable merits of the “English way” to dive, also called side-mount.