Korean Job Discussion Forums

[LCFrigon]

Everyone!

Just wanted to let everyone know about my dive experience with Deep Blue Quest. It all started on a cold dreary day when my trip to the Philippines was canceled due to the choice to send the wife back to university and once again my dreams of becoming a diver was dashed on the rocks.

Determined to get certified no matter what, I sent an email to multiple dive schools in Korea, and was immediately contacted by Deep Blue Quest about courses and dates. Some of the schools never contacted me, some were late, and some only taught Koreans, but Deep Blue Quest was right on the ball.

Did my pool training in Suwon and met Russell. He was not as I expected, but better. Very professional in the pool and while discussing safety and procedures, but once the work was done, he was eager to play and have a great time. He also maintains his equipment in top condition unlike some of the places I checked out and was turned off since my life would be in their hands.

Next week end was the open water dives in Sokcho. I brought a friend to do the discover scuba, and had an amazing time. Hotel rooms were good, food was great, and the water, while not abundantly filled with life, was great to learn in.

I will be continuing my diving education with Deep Blue Quest and encourage more and more to do the same. They offer an amazing experience.

Also, since I am located in Daejeon, I drive to the dive sites, so I also always welcome company on the drive and I leave later since I don't finish work till after 9.

So if you want to ride with me or for me to introduce you to Russell as a reference, you can give me an email at: [email protected] or drop Russell my name if this email helps you decide to train with DBQ. Trust me you won't be disappointed.

www.deepbluequest.com

Also join the forum there if you want to further discuss equipment and anything else. Also a post there to share pics.

Cheers, and hope to see you in the water!
Lorne

[LCFrigon]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to respond to a few emails I have received regarding Deep Blue Quest's course prices.

A few emails asked me why they are more expensive than schools in Philippines and Thailand, and others mentioned other clubs here in Korea undercutting the course prices.

I have only very recently gotten involved with Deep Blue Quest, and honestly my first reaction was that I thought they were a little expensive as well. That was until I did my homework and actually got to price everything out.

Here is what Russell quotes:
"The certification course will cost 650.000 Korean Won or $715.00
USD. For this price you will receive the following:

Confined Water Training / Knowledge Development
1. All study material and manuals
2. Use of equipment during training
3. Use of pool during training (4 scuba tanks)
4. Lunch on both Saturday and Sunday

Certification Tour (Ocean)
1. Transportation (if you can meet the schedule times)
2. Two nights in your own private motel room (Friday and Saturday)
3. Breakfast, lunch and a BBQ on Saturday
4. Breakfast and lunch on Sunday
5. Use of diving equipment during tour
6. Four certification dives
7. Certification card (upon successful completion of course)"

At first glance this may seem like a lot of money, but when you break it down it isn't.

This includes food, hotels, and equipment, and tanks of air (which he has to buy off of Korean clubs. This also includes the use of equipment that is constantly maintained and fixed when students cause damage.

Places in the Philippines and Thailand can offer courses for around 300-450 depending on where you go, but these prices do not cover your hotel, they do not "usually" have as safe as gear, and most of the time need less equipment because of Tropical diving. These prices also do not include the cost of food.

I have a friend in Philippines right now doing his Openwater, (cause he is there) and it will cost him 300 for the course alone, then another 210 for a hotel room plus another 50 or so for food. He is also doing less dives on fewer tanks. So it all equals out.

Don't get me wrong. Diving in the tropics is awesome, but I am glad that I will get to just go dive there on the reefs and wrecks without needing to spend more of my vacation time reading manuals and doing training.

As to the other clubs in Korea doing the training for less. I do not know the other clubs so I can't comment on them. All I do know is that Russell includes everything he says and doesn't scrimp. His BBQs are great. I also know that his training is top notch and he will make your diving safe and enjoyable.

Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Lorne

[fiveeagles]

My thread on summer schools gets deleted, but this obvious sales pitch is allowed to float?

[nomad-ish]

^ that's because people are actually interested in scuba diving, they're not interested in helping you recruit students to your school

just let it go already

[LCFrigon]

Actually float is not really relevant in SCUBA it is more about actually going UNDER the water.

This post is about something TEACHERS can do while LIVING in Korea. It is pretty much the same as a hagwon blacklist or favorite places to eat.

This is my favorite club to dive with. So is it a sales pitch? Just as much as when ANYONE endorses a product or activity that they enjoy.

If Dave feels this is an inappropriate post, then by all means he is free to remove it since this is HIS message board.

Just like I will say that anyone that is interested in scuba diving can join the message board at www.scubainkorea.com

But yes, I am trying to get more people interested in Scuba in korea and doing beach clean ups and to get involved with project AWARE.

Like it or leave it, no skin off my nose.
I also am not the one to delete your post..never read it..never cared, but if it had to do with living in Korea then maybe you have a right to get a little angry. If it had to do with trolling for students for your Vancouver school then a post in a different area may have been better since this is about living in korea.

Like I said, don't know, don't care.
Cheers,
Lorne

[dasmith2]

I have read a lot about Deep Blue Quest, especially in books on Korea and they are the most highly recommended company to go with. Most particularly because they can provide their customers with PADI certification, which is an internationally recognized license. So, if you really really want to dive in the tropics, you can rent gear no problem!

I went on a guided off-shore dive while in Mexico, the guide was actually a guy from Winnipeg so it was a bonus to be guided by a fellow canuck. Anyway, it was oen of the best experiences I have ever had and I am actually planning on contacting Deep Blue Quest as soon as I have the money saved to get certified (and the time).

To the OP, great suggestion! I fully support your recommendation.

[diver]

First, I know the OP (he's been diving with me) and I know the owner of Deep Blue Quest. They are NOT the same person. The OP is what he says...a very satisfied customer that is trying to share useful info for people living in Korea looking for something fun to do.

I have also been diving with Deep Blue Quest. I can tell you, as a fairly highly certified professional diver, that the OP is spot on. If you want to do courses in English or join fun, well-run, professional dive trips, go with Deep Blue Quest (on the mainland...for Jeju I recommend Big Blue 33).

What the OP is doing is NO different from sharing info on where to buy deoderant, planning and promoting a Dave's get-together at such and such a bar or telling people where to bank.

I used to advertise my dive club events here and took LOTS of flack. I am not sure what it is about foreigners who find something they like to do, and God-forbid they do it succcessfully (or even worse, profitably) that burns the asses of so many people on this site.

To the OP...Good on you. I have been trying (with others) to build a decent dive community here for years. People like you are going to help make that happen.

[LCFrigon]

Thanks Diver and Dassmith for your replies, but lets keep this about diving. I should not have replied to his post either and just ignored it. I could care less if people who are not interested in diving rip on me for my posts. Those people are always there. Doesn't change the fact that Deep Blue Quest is a great dive club.

I also would love to hear feedback from people who dove other clubs but this maybe is not the place to do it so we can always resume this thread on www.scubainkorea.com if the moderators feel this is an inappropiate post. I am not trying to step on toes at Dave's. I have personally used his site for both hireing teachers and finding jobs so cheers to him.

Scubainkorea also has more info on dive sites and different discover scuba experiences like the one you can do in Busan aqaurium with sharks. Did it, lived it, loved it, fully recommend it!

Once again, thanks for your replies.

Oh, and no I am not the owner of Deep Blue. I am getting involved with them hopefully in the near future, but when that happens I will change my posts to state that. As for now, I am a satisfied customer wanting to find more dive buddies:) I can prove this also if you come diving with Deep Blue, since I try to get out for as many tours as I can and it is amazing since the owner and I will BOTH be there......it's like magic lol

Cheers,
Lorne

[Temporary]

Where is this place??

[xingyiman]

I will check this place out. I need to do my advanced open water, efr and rescue diver certs before I apply to commercial diving school next year.

[Harpeau]

Very cool post. I've got my PADI open water and will continue on soon with another one probably with Diver, I would imagine, but will keep you guys in mind as well.

BTW, I think the topic is appropriate and very helpful. Many Internationals have been asking about English language Dive schools. It's really awesome what you're all doing!

[gajackson1]

C & I are both rescue divers; I'll do my Divemaster's @ the Empire/ScubaTech in Brunei next month.

It is a GREAT hobby, and opens up so many cool vacation options, as well.

There are a fair number of divers in Korea, and some inexpensive programs, as well (I remember the Changwon community sports center offered basic & advanced).

As for diving in Korea, I honestly can't say much - we've always preferred combining diving with some tropical destination out of Korea - cheap/good food & drinks, beautiful beaches, cute local guide gals.

But that is just our preference.

For gear, you can get good deals here -

http://www.divers-supply.com/

and there are LOTS of great myspace/facebook/MSN, etc. groups based around diving.

Regards,

Glen

[LCFrigon]

I find www.scubatoys.com an awsome place for gear. They have been nothing but honest with me and have actually steered me towards the cheaper models to buy instead of the more expensive that were really no different. Not a lot of LDS will do that.

That being said, diving in Korea has so far for been alright. End of June DeepBlue is going wreck diving so I am excited for that. Heard good things.

I also agree that tropics are hard to beat for diving, but as I said previously, would rather take my time doing the training here and just do fun dives in the tropics.

Anyways...glad there are some divers here in Korea and hope to see you out... heading to Sokcho now to dive...

Cheers,
Lorne

[diver]

[LCFrigon]

Just another tidbit about gear....While I bought most of my gear from scubaToys, I have had to buy some stuff over here, and my friend ended up buying his whole setup. Russell can get some great deals. He set my friend up from head to toe from absolutely nothing to full setup ready for the water for 1.3mil won. Good gear also. Mostly Beuchat.

Anyways, Off to the ocean again this weekend, Hope the typhoon is over,
Cheers,
Lorne