Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about the Career Development Program
Click on the questions below to jump straight to the answers.
1. What is the end goal of the Career Development program?
2. What does the Career Development Program entail?
3. What is the time commitment?
4. What are the prerequisites for joining the Career Development program?
5. Where is Just Africa Scuba located?
6. Why choose Just Africa Scuba?
7. Once I complete the Instructor course, what job opportunities become available to me?
8. Where do you dive besides Gordon's Bay?
9. Do I need to own scuba gear when becoming an Instructor, why?
10. I already own scuba gear, what other dive accessories do I need?
11. What to expect from a day in the life of a Career Development Student?
12. What can I do with a Dive Master certification?
13. What can a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor teach?
1. What is the end goal of the Career Development program?
Developing your scuba diving career to take you from a beginner diver to a PADI Dive Professional. Along with the scuba diving courses you will be getting hands-on experience in the dive business, practical life and work skills, as well as emotional life skills courses. The end goal of this program is to assist you in becoming a well-rounded PADI instructor by expanding your skill set and competencies. Improving your prospects of work and employment worldwide.
2. What does the Career Development Program entail?
All the scuba dive courses, first aid and rescue skills, gear maintenance, retail and customer service, how to manage a dive centre, boat handling, compressor operator, marketing, and sales. All of this is integrated with our special Life Skills & Work Skills Courses, promoting personal development and learning practical life skills. Taking you from zero to hero.
3. What is the time commitment?
Full-time Program- The program can be completed within 4 months (up to Dive Master) and 6 to 10 months (up to Instructor). Students are expected to attend all the courses, classes, and events held by Just Africa Scuba for 5 days of the week with 2 days off.
Accelerated Program - There is also the option to do an accelerated program if you have time constraints. This option can be very intense and may not be the best choice for many candidates.
Part-time Program - You also have the option to enrol in the Part-time Career Development program to complete your courses in your own time. This is great for people who have a job and can only commit part-time, but this also means that it will take you longer to complete the program and become a dive professional.
4. What are the prerequisites for joining the Career Development program?
The prerequisites for joining the Career Development program at Just Africa Scuba are:
- Full set of Scuba Equipment (can be obtained at our fully stocked retail shop)
- Medical Check-up (completed by a physician in the last 24 months)
- Minimum age of 18 years old.
5. Where is Just Africa Scuba located?
Our PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center is located in Gordon's Bay, a lovely coastal town 40km from Cape Town CBD. We mainly explore the beautiful marine life of False Bay. Situated at the luxurious four-star Krystal Beach Hotel next to the harbour.
6. Why choose Just Africa Scuba?
Being a 5* PADI Instructor Development Centre, we focus on training confident and conservation-conscious divers and dive instructors. Creating a welcoming and family-friendly atmosphere is of utmost importance to us. This is achieved through personal attention, incorporating life skills in our courses, and our persuasive love and respect for the ocean. You have the opportunity to do extra courses and get experience in different fields of the business, expanding your skill set. We are passionate about training, holistic development, and creating future opportunities for our students.
7. Once you complete the Instructor course, what job opportunities become available to you?
PADI Pros have the most opportunities for employment around the world. With 1 million certifications issued each year by 6,500 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts around the world, three out of four dive professional jobs are PADI.
PADI offers all their dive professionals work opportunities via a Job Board where PADI Dive Centers all over the world put up Job Postings.
8. Where do you dive besides Gordon's Bay?
We dive the whole of False Bay, starting from Rooi Els up to Gordon’s Bay, over to Simon’s Town, Glencairn, and we also occasionally dive the cold Atlantic Side at Hout Bay, exploring the wrecks, reefs, and kelp forests.
We also do several dive tours in the year to expose students to diving in different places and conditions.
9. Do I need to own scuba gear when becoming an Instructor? Why?
Yes, it is one of the prerequisites for joining a Career Development Program. It is far more cost-efficient to purchase your own set instead of paying the daily rental fee for the duration of the program.
As a PADI Dive Master or Instructor, you will need your own set of equipment to secure a job.
10. I already own scuba gear, what other dive accessories do I need?
You’ll need a Compass, Dive Torch, backup Dive Torch, Writing slate, DSMB, Reel, Save a Dive Kit, and a Dive Box (to transport your gear). All items are available for purchase at our Dive Shop.
11. What to expect from a day in the life of a Career Development Student?
A typical day consists of arriving at 8 am for a dive briefing, be it for a course or building on your needed 100 logged dives. If we dive Gordon’s Bay… You’ll kit up your gear, jump in your wetsuit and hop on the boat to go and enjoy the Cape Town waters. If we dive Rooi Els, Simon’s Town, or Hout Bay, you’ll pack your gear, jump in the combi, and make your way to the dive site. After your dives, head back to the Dive Center, and then you’ll be washing your gear and hanging it up to dry. After a debrief, the day ends at 16:30.
On non-diving days, students are busy with class-led theory sessions or have time for self-study to complete all PADI’s e-learning material. Depending on the program, set Life Skills and Work Skills Courses are presented in a fun, interactive, and practical way.
There are also ongoing events that the students participate in, for example: beach clean-ups, conservation talks, or volunteering at the aquarium.
12. What can I do with a Dive Master certification?
Dive Master is your first professional-level certification to get a job in the diving industry. You can assist PADI instructors with their courses. Lead certified divers on fun dives, and work in Dive Shops, Liveaboards, or Resorts. Help load and wash gear and assist with other tasks that Dive Centres require.
Courses and Experiences you can present:
- Refreshers/ReActivate Courses
- Snorkelling Excursions
- Discover Scuba Diving (if you are a DSD leader)
Courses you can present if you do the Speciality Instructor Course:
- Coral Reef Conservation Specialty
- PADI AWARE Specialty
- Emergency Oxygen Provider Specialty
- Equipment Specialist
- Digital Underwater Photography Specialty
13. What can a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor teach?
- Seal Team and Bubblemaker Programs
- ReActivate Course
- Discover Scuba Diving Experiences
- Scuba Diver Course
- Open Water Diver Course
- Advanced Diver Course
- Emergency First Response (Primary & Secondary Care)
- Rescue Diver Course
- Dive Master Course
- Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty
- PADI AWARE Specialty
- Coral Reef Conservation Specialty
Whatsapp us 
