My name is Justin Mayers and I am a PADI Master Instructor and IMCA Dive Medic Technician and am currently based on the beautiful island of Koh Tao, in the Gulf of Thailand, at Crystal Dive Resort.

I started diving in 1995 in South Africa, whilst travelling with friends and we all took the PADI Open Water together. During the next 5 years, I took a number of dive trips to locations including Australia, Menorca and France. I left the UK in early 2001, having become disillusioned with working in the City of London, and I sought my fortunes elsewhere. I arrived on Koh Tao in February 2001 and fairly quickly realised that this was where I wanted to be – and I am still here!!! I completed the Divemaster program at Crystal Dive Resort, Koh Tao’s premier PADI CDC (Career Development Center) and subsequently was employed as a Divemaster at Crystal. I took the IDC in September 2001 and have been teaching Scuba Diving on Koh Tao ever since.

I began teaching at Seashell Resort on Sairee Beach and after 1 1/2 years as an Instructor, I managed the resort for a further 1 1/2 years whilst continuing to teach diving. I left Seashell in Early 2006 and came back into the Crystal fold.

My Current role at Crystal is PADI Instructor, IDC Staff, Eco co-ordinator, EFR Instructor Trainer and all round good egg !!!!

Since I have been teaching, I have been fortunate enough to enjoy diving at some of the premier locations in South East Asia. These have included: the Similans on the West coast of Thailand; Cebu, Negros and Boracay in the Philippines; and the Perhentian Islands on the west coast of Malaysia.

I have had the pleasure to teach a hugely diverse group of people. Nationalities that I have taught include 1. English; 2. Irish; 3. Scottish; 4. Welsh; 5. French; 6. Spanish; 7. Portuguese; 8. Greek; 9. Italian; 10. Swiss (French & German); 11. Dutch; 12. Belgian; 13. Swedish; 14. Danish; 15. Icelandic; 16. Norwegian; 17. Finnish; 18. Israelis; 19. Turkish; 20. German; 21. Austrian; 22. Russian; 23. Slovakian; 24. Czech; 25. Croatia; 26. Chinese; 27. Mongolian; 28. Japanese; 29. Thai; 30. Malaysian; 31. Singaporean; 32. Pilipino; 33. Australians; 34. New Zealanders; 35. Canadian; 36. American; 37. Brazilian; 38. South African and 39. Kenyan

I thoroughly enjoy teaching all aspects of SCUBA diving within the PADI system and am proud to be spearheading Crystals’ Eco drive on Koh Tao.

My Professional Credentials
PADI Master Instructor
EFR Instructor Trainer
HSE / IMCA Dive Medic Technician

PADI Go Pro Courses

Divemaster – 6 weeks - Orientation Starts Daily
This is the first professional level in recreational diving and is effectively undertaken over a 6 week period. Within this time you will have an opportunity to fun dive for free at any of Koh Tao’s premier dive sites.
The course itself covers Dive Theory topics in these areas: Diving Physics, Physiology, Equipment, RDP and dive planning. There is a self study element to the DM course but this is supplemented by presentations on each of these topics. You will also learn more about assisting with students and leading certified ‘fun’ divers.

There is a Water Skills and Stamina module which will incorporate an assessment of your skills in a number of areas. These will include Rescue skills, stamina and a number of Confined water evaluations on the 20 basic Scuba skills.

Your required training exercises that will need to be completed include a mapping project, an equipment exchange and a Divemaster conducted program (Scuba Review, Discover Local Diving, Discover Scuba Diving (in confined water) or Discover Snorkelling).

The last section of the course is when you will simulate the role of a certified assistant, accompanying Crystal Dive Instructors with their actual students, on all courses within the PADI system including Open Water, Advanced and Rescue.

The Instructional Staff at Crystal dive are on hand throughout your course, to aid and assist you with any questions and queries. You will have a specific Mentor assigned to guide you through the entire course.

PADI Instructor Development Course

Preparation
Ideally, at least 1 week before the start date of the IDC, you will arrive on Koh Tao at Crystal Dive Career Development Center, under the auspices of PADI Platinum Course Director, Matthew Bolton, and be greeted off the ferry by one of our friendly Thai staff. We will pre-book the best accommodation to suit your taste and budget. Once you have settled in we will have an informal orientation to Koh Tao and we will discuss your personal preparation.
This will involve, if necessary, a full revision of dive theory, guided by knowledge presentations by myself. We will also schedule a number of swimming pool sessions in Crystal’s swimming pool, for a ‘skill circuit’ refresher.
This approach will also give you an opportunity to enjoy a few complementary ‘fun dives’ at some of Koh Tao’s premier dive sites including Chumphon Pinnacles, Southwest Pinnacles, Shark Island and White Rock.

Assistant Instructor
Week one of the IDC is the Assistant Instructor (AI) Course. Within this you will learn how to develop and deliver Knowledge Development, Confined Water and Open Water presentations. These will be conducted in either Crystal Dive’s dedicated IDC classroom, the on-site swimming pool or at one of the local dive sites. You will also participate in a number of presentations, both from myself and other members of Crystal Dive’s IDC Staff, on topics including the Open Water Diver Course, Teaching Project AWARE and Discover Scuba Diving.

Emergency First Response Instructor Course
The EFRI course is usually conducted over one day in between week one and two of the IDC program. The main pre-requisite is that you must be at least 18 years of age and ideally have a sanctioned CPR and first aid course within the last two years. This course is available to both divers and non-divers and similarly, can be utilised in either diving resort situations or office workspace situations.
The Emergency First Response Instructor Course provides qualified individuals with the additional training necessary to teach the EFR Primary Care (CPR), Secondary Care (First Aid) and Care for Children Courses. This course builds on the instructor candidates’ skills as primary and secondary care providers and focuses on building their instructional abilities. Through independent study, classroom sessions and practice teaching assignments, instructor candidates learn to conduct the Emergency First Response programs.
The course consists of presentations on the EFR philosophy and standards, learning and instruction methods and Care for Children. There is a review of the 10 “ABCD’S” or Primary Care skills (including the optional oxygen use orientation and Automated External Defibrillator Use) and 4 Secondary care skills with a view to you having demonstration quality knowledge in each skill.

Open Water Scuba Instructor
Week two is the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) Course. This covers topics such as Dive Industry Overview, General Standards & Procedures, the Open Water Diver Course, further PADI Courses, Legal Responsibility & Risk Management and an introduction to Tec Rec.
Throughout the two week program we will give you an opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of Dive Theory and General Standards with a number of mock examinations for your completion and our subsequent review, to ensure that you are up to the exacting standards of the PADI Instructor Examiners. This culminates in an in-house ‘mock’ Instructor Examination to prepare you for the real thing.

PADI Instructor Examination
The Instructor Examination (IE) is over 2 ? days and PADI examiners will asses you on Theory and Standards in addition to scoring your presentations on Confined Water, Open Water and Knowledge Development.
Upon successful completion of the program and the IE, there is a party / free buffet at Dirty Nellys pub in Mae Haad where we all celebrate in true Koh Tao style.

Exclusions
All PADI Examination and Application Fees

MSDT Internship1 - 2 weeks depending on Season
Once you have gained your 5 Instructor level PADI Specialities you are required to have taught at least 25 diver certifications (at any level) and then you can apply for the Master SCUBA Diver Trainer rating with PADI. What better way to learn more on course structure and logistical organisation for taeching PADI courses than to work alongside very experienced PADI Instructors and see how they do it. We have in excess of 20 experienced Instructors at Crystal from a diverse geographical background that are only too willing to pass on their knowledge.

Eco Diving Courses

Koh Tao, Thailand is at the forefront of scuba diving in South East Asia with thousands of people visiting this island paradise every year to take advantage of the world famous dive sites. As a result the dive sites of Koh Tao have provided a wonderful amphitheatre for the training of millions of divers, but for how much longer?
Just Eco Diving specialises in preparing and instructing divers in the intricacies of the underwater environment. By providing educational expertise in marine ecology & ecosystems Just Eco Diving promotes employment opportunities for professional aspirants through extensive Gap Year programs and our Eco Internship positions.
In this age where the environment is changing so rapidly, dive professionals with Ecological expertise will be in increasing demand worldwide. So join us for a life changing experience. Surf these pages and we’re sure you’ll find something to suite your desires here.

Reefcheck
Founded in 1996 by marine ecologist Dr. Gregor Hodgson, the Reef Check Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to conservation of two ecosystems: tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs. With headquarters in Los Angeles and volunteer teams in more than 80 countries, Reef Check works to create partnerships among community volunteers, government agencies, businesses, universities and other non-profits.

Reef Check goals are to: educate the public about the value of reef ecosystems and the current crisis affecting marine life; to create a global network of volunteer teams trained in Reef Check's scientific methods who regularly monitor and report on reef health; to facilitate collaboration that produces ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions; and to stimulate local community action to protect remaining pristine reefs and rehabilitate damaged reefs worldwide.

In 1997, Reef Check conducted the first-ever global survey of coral reef health that provided scientific confirmation that our coral reefs were in crisis due to over-fishing, illegal fishing, and pollution. The results, published in a scientific journal in 1999, shocked many marine biologists who had not realized the extent of human impacts on reefs. In August 2002, Reef Check released its first five-year report, The Global Coral Reef Crisis – Trends and Solutions, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. Based on data collected by thousands of Reef Check volunteer divers in over 80 countries and territories, the report was the first scientific documentation of the dramatic worldwide decline in coral reef health over a five year period. The report concluded that there was virtually no reef in the world that remained untouched by human impacts, such as over fishing, pollution and climate change.
Since then, Reef Check's fast-growing network has expanded throughout all tropical seas, and has played a major role in efforts to preserve and sustain reef ecosystems.

On Koh Tao, we offer two Reef Check courses – Discover Reef Check and Reef Check ‘Eco Diver’

Discover Reef Check is a day long program giving you the fundamentals and philosophy of conducting a survey and data collection and the importance of hard corals as building blocks for the reef eco-system; and the ‘Eco Diver’ certification is more in-depth and includes a number of actual surveys. On the surveys themselves we record data in four main areas. These are fish, invertebrates, substrate and human impacts and are based on Key Indicator species for the Indo Pacific region.

We have a Permanent Transect line set up on Mae Haad Reef and we have set up random transects at other local sites including Twins, Mango Bay and Japanese Gardens.

This course guarantees that you will look at fish species, corals and coral predators in a new light.

*PADI Materials Included: PADI AWARE: Our World Our Water Specialty Manual
*Reef Check materials include: 'Bodyglove" Folder containing Reefcheck Crew pack including student manual (CD Rom version)
*Access to a wide range of instuctional & informational DVD's/Films
*Access to our library of books & referance material

PADI Project AWARE
Project Aware is a classroom based course designed to raise awareness of the plight of the worlds’ aquatic water systems and very nicely combines with the Reef Check Eco Diver Course. We discuss the 'hot' topics for Koh Tao and specifically Asia Pacific Hot AWARE Issues.

PADI Materials Included:
*PADI AWARE: Our World Our Water Specialty Manual
*Brochure - Ten Ways Divers Can Protect the Underwater Environment
*Brochure - Go Eco
*Brochure - Protect the Living Reef
*Coralwatch Coral Health Chart

PADI Project AWARE Coral Reef
This focuses on the plight of the worlds coral reef systems with particular emphasis on the specific factors relevant to Koh Tao, and possible solutions. We also include an overview of Coralwatch and some actual dives to collect data on the Coral Reef Environment around Koh Tao.

PADI Materials Included:
*PADI AWARE: Our World Our Water Specialty Manual
*Brochure - Ten Ways Divers Can Protect the Underwater Environment
*Brochure - Go Eco
*Brochure - Protect the Living Reef
*Coralwatch Coral Health Chart

Coralwatch
Worldwide aquatic ecosystems are in constant decline and without detailed information into their current health nothing can be done to preserve them. PADI’s CoralWatch program is a very simple coral reef monitoring system which can be undertaken by anyone our for a dive. Learn about the local environment whilst making a valuable contribution to science.

Program is free in conjunction with fun dives at Crystal Dive Resort.

PADI Fish ID Speciality
On a dive around Koh Tao you can see hundreds of fish. This two dive specialty course is designed to enable you to identify a wide variety of fish throughout different diving environments. We provide you with the tools to develop an intimate knowledge and awareness of the aquatic animals with which we share the underwater world. This course combines ideally with Underwater Photography and Project Aware specialties.

PADI Naturalist Speciality
This Specialty course is designed to create a substantial understanding of the aquatic ecosystem. We also endeavor to develop an awareness of the intricate balance of life within reef systems, to evoke a sense of responsibility and to expand your knowledge of aquatic life.

Eco Package / Internship opportunities
The ‘Eco package’ we offer includes Reef Check Eco diver, PADI Project AWARE, PADI Naturalist, PADI Fish and Peak Performance buoyancy Specialities in addition to Green Fins courses. Internship opportunities are available for Eco minded individuals who want to make a difference.

PADI SCUBA Courses

Discover Scuba Diving – 1 day - Starts Daily
An experience program to give you a taste of the underwater world.

Open Water – 4 days - Starts Daily
The entry level PADI diver course that involves academic sessions, swimming pool sessions and 4 Open Water training dives at our local dive sites. This certification allows you to dive independently (with a buddy of course) to a maximum depth of 18 meters deep worldwide.

Advanced Open Water – 1 – 2 days - Starts Daily
The next level within in PADI involves 5 dives over 2 days. You are required to undertake a deep dive to a maximum depth of 30m deep and a Navigation dive. Your 3 remaining dives can be chosen by yourself, with our guidance, from a list of 27 different types of dives. These may include Buoyancy, Night, Digital Underwater Photography, Naturalist, Fish ID, Wreck, NITROX and Videography.

Emergency First Response – 1 day - Starts Daily
This is a basic First Aid and CPR Course which is a pre-requisite to the PADI Rescue diver course.

Rescue Diver – 4 days - Starts Daily
This is arguably the best course available within the PADI system. The focus is on recognising diving related problems and helping others in need. The course consists of academic sessions focussing on the psychology of rescue, being prepared for a dive emergency, emergency oxygen systems, accident management and responding to diver emergencies. We have both confined water and open water sessions to practice various techniques, which culminate in 4 Open Water Scenarios to bring all you have learnt together.

Specialities – Various - Starts Daily
These are perfect if you want to develop your diving skills in a particular area. Courses vary from 1 day to 3 days duration. We can offer courses in Deep, Enriched Air NITROX, Underwater Navigation, Underwater Naturalist, Search & Recovery, Equipment, Night, Photography, Buoyancy and Project AWARE. Further details and time scales will be provided on application.

Master Scuba Diver – Various - Starts Daily
Once you have completed 5 PADI Specialities and have at least 50 logged dives, you may apply for the Master Scuba Diver rating, which is the highest non-professional rating in PADI.

Koh Tao

Getting There
By Air and by Boat There are no airports on Koh Tao, but planes fly to neighbouring Koh Samui providing a relatively comfortable, though indirect, access to the island. Bangkok Airways exclusively serves Koh Samui from Bangkok with up to 17 flights per day, and has daily flights direct to and from Singapore. Flight times are approximately 1 hr and 2 hrs 20 mins respectively.

Transfer to connecting boat services is via air-conditioned minibus. Two high speed ferries operate twice daily (weather permitting) with the last one departing Koh Samui at 1pm. Both boats stop at Koh Phangan to pick up and drop off passengers. The overall trip takes about 2 hours. Contact Seatran Discovery or Lomprayah High Speed Catamaran

By Train and by Boat My personal, non-flying method is a sleeper train from Hua Lumphong Railway station in Bangkok. They depart between 7pm and 10pm and arrive in Chumphon Town between 4 am and 7 am. I would strongly recommend the 1st or 2nd class sleeper option, with the lower bunks being more suitable for taller people.

Diving on Koh Tao

The diving on Koh Tao is generally very good for 11 months of the year. Typically, November has rough seas and high winds and whilst we do dive at this time the conditions are not necessarily ideal. Here is some information on some of the Koh Tao Dive Sites.
The marine life that you see in the waters around Koh Tao include an abundance of the following: Blue Ringed and six banded Angel Fish; Wiebers' and Eight lined Butterfly fish; Banner Fish; Robust Fusiliers; Parrot Fish; Snapper; several species of Grouper; Titan and Yellow Margin Trigger Fish; numerous species of Damsel Fish; Pink Anemone fish and Panda Clown Fish; White Eyed Morays; Rabbit Fish; several varieties of Puffer Fish; Blue spotted Stingrays and the list goes on...

Beaches on Koh Tao
There are a number of stunning beaches and bays on Koh Tao. The west coast boasts Sairee Beach, which is a beautiful, white sandy beach with shallow, azure blue sea with great snorkelling and an array of bars and restaurants to suit everyone. Koh Nang Yuan is accessible from Sairee Beach via a 15 minute ‘long tail’ boat trip and is a great location for relaxation. The south coast has Rocky Bay, where you can snorkel with black tip reef sharks (only babies!!) and play a game of Volley ball on the permanent court there and relax afterwards with a beer at a small, but pleasant bar. Freedom beach is much more remote and caters for the sun worshipers. The North of the Island offers Mango bay, which has a small beach but awesome coral gardens, perfect for snorkelers. Daily trips run to Mango Bay from Sairee Beach.

Things to do on Koh Tao
Surprisingly, there are more things to do on Koh Tao than just dive, although diving is the number one pastime.
Boat trips around the island offer snorkelling with lunch included.
There is a number of stunning resort spas on the island where you will receive a full ‘pamper’ session at a reasonable price. Jamakiri is based in the very south of the island and Thripwimarn is based in the north. There are also a number of smaller stand alone spa’s that offer excellent Thai or Oil massages with manicure and facial options. Most notable is Orchid Spa on Sairee Beach.
If you fancy learning to sail or chartering a hobie cat then MV Sports in Mae Haad have a number of vessels for you to choose from.
If, after all that, you have excess energy to burn off then Good Time Adventures provide a wealth of non-Scuba diving activities including rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, abseiling and pub crawls!!

Crustal Dive Resort

Maehaad beach, Koh Tao, Surathani 84280 Thailand.
Contact Us : info@justkohtao.com