Dive Instructor Hamilton Island, Australia - Chris Ciosk

Hey, my name's Chris Ciosk. I finished my IDC at Buddha View in spring of 2010.


Since my IDC, I've spent some time picking up some freelance work as in instructor on Koh Tao for a little while before taking a job on Hamilton Island in Australia and working out on the Great Barrier Reef as a full time dive instructor for a season. I've recently completed my credentials to sign off as an MSDT, and am really hoping to make it back to Koh Tao again one day soon.


I had a really great time doing my IDC at Buddha View. Mark and Darius knew what they were doing inside out, and Mark probably knows more about the Koh Tao dive industry than anyone else on the island. Also loved how everytime I had to chat with Mark about the course, it always ended up bein in the Buddha Bar over a bottle of Chang. It was definitely not a dry IDC, we all had a great time and learned a lot. Buddha View was  a great place ot make a lot of contacts too, and get a lot of great advice from a ton of very experienced instructors. It's a really close little community, and a really great time.

My advice for someone looking to get into the dive industry is to get into the water every chance you get during your DMT or IDC prep, assist on as many courses as you can, and get out for some divemaster work. I think I did about six OW assists during my DMT, lead 50 dives or so before my IDC, and after that I was really ready to get started as an instructor after finishing my IDC. You can't overestimate a lot of experience. And make sure to get out for a drink now and then. Probably over half of the work that I got on Koh Tao was from students that I brought in myself, or referrals from other dive instructors that I hung out with. Plus it's just a waste of Koh Tao if you don't end up crawling home from Lotus Bar at least every once in a while. Most of all just have fun though, and people will be happy to work with you.