Life changing decisions. Important, I'm not mucking about!

Mancunianfightingcat

Bear in mind that you enjoy snorkelling and biking as it's a break from the norm, if I suddenly found myself biking every day and working with bikes for a living, I'm sure I'd find other hobbies to do in my spare time..

Try option 2 for a month without giving up anything in the UK, see how you feel then.

Jimbob_no5

option 2 dude, with a dive master thing you can go work anywhere thats a diving destination in the world

jrduquemin

Option 2 from me also. Sorry to hear about the split. And I hope I don't sound insensitive, but sometimes these things for a reason. Good luck with your decision....

edhornby

GT Destroyer

happy to talk diving if you want, PM me

have you heard of the forum YorkshireDivers ? it's a huge resource with a lot of helpful people on there if you want to know about going pro without a PADI sales pitch

best of luck matey

jacktheoc

Could take a few weeks holiday in Egypt and see what things are like over there, see if its right for you etc then have a re-think and go for whats best.?

GT Destroyer

jrduquemin wrote:

Option 2 from me also. Sorry to hear about the split. And I hope I don't sound insensitive, but sometimes these things for a reason. Good luck with your decision....

You are right - Sometimes these things do happen for a reason.

No further change on things as yet - I had a chat with one of my good friends who pointed out that as long as I can afford it, the diving option presents me with no risk. I take a career break from work for 6 months, that secures my job for when I get back. If I don't enjoy it or its not what I imagined, I just come back after 6 months, back to work and still have enough money in the bank to get on with life back here. But as a qualified dive master.

A month over there as a test would be good, but in terms of work its 6 months set.

I know the basics of the place well already having had 2 holidays there. I'm familiar with transport, shops, bars, chemists, hospital etc etc....

Off to check out the forum mentioned by Ed.

ramemtbers

option 2 all the way.

stumpyjon

GT, wondered what was up, you hinted at things not being great recently, didn't realise it was that bad. Sorry.

Anyway, as with the others it sounds like option 2 is what you need as well as want. A clean 6 month break to get things back in perspective sounds good. You will quickly fit in as a instructor, as you no doubt know there are loads of expats working in the dive centres.

I've been to Hurghada and dived there as well (El Gouna), we had a pretty cracking holiday. The only words of caution I'd give though are:

Hurghada (IMHO) is a sh1t tip, we stayed in El Gouna which is a gated holiday resort which is purpose built, bit sanitised but we didn't go there for the culture (that'll be another much more expensive holiday in the future).

Divings pretty good from my limited experience, loads of wrecks as well as reefs etc.

Don't bother with the bike, there are mountains but it's effectively desert so there weren't any trails (probably all pretty rideable but you really don't want to crash or be on your own out there).

It is very different out there, not European at all but it's not that far to get home either which is good. Go for it though, you probably won't get the chance again.

M6TTF

Best of luck with whatever you decide mate. On another note your missus is back on the Market so post her spec and contact details for us hehe

GT Destroyer

stumpyjon wrote:

GT, wondered what was up, you hinted at things not being great recently, didn't realise it was that bad. Sorry.

Anyway, as with the others it sounds like option 2 is what you need as well as want. A clean 6 month break to get things back in perspective sounds good. You will quickly fit in as a instructor, as you no doubt know there are loads of expats working in the dive centres.

I've been to Hurghada and dived there as well (El Gouna), we had a pretty cracking holiday. The only words of caution I'd give though are:

Hurghada (IMHO) is a sh1t tip, we stayed in El Gouna which is a gated holiday resort which is purpose built, bit sanitised but we didn't go there for the culture (that'll be another much more expensive holiday in the future).

Divings pretty good from my limited experience, loads of wrecks as well as reefs etc.

Don't bother with the bike, there are mountains but it's effectively desert so there weren't any trails (probably all pretty rideable but you really don't want to crash or be on your own out there).

It is very different out there, not European at all but it's not that far to get home either which is good. Go for it though, you probably won't get the chance again.

God its a small world Jon. We've been to Hurghada twice and El Gouna once!
I actually enjoyed Hurghada, its probably where I'd stay. I enjoyed the hustle and the different cultures and types of people, it is a bit of a mess though I know!
El Gouna was awesome but clinical like you say. Its almost like being bubble wrapped!

Did you go to the Ministry of Sound club? I reckon not, but that was great. On the beach, literally, there were hammocks and seats in the sea, but also in the club!

I'd take the bike for getting around on I think. I'd have no excuse not to ride it as it never rains!!

Oh and MT66F calm down lad! I'm surprised its taken 3 pages of replies for that kind of tom foolery!

M6TTF

haha - no one else had put it so I felt it was my duty - i'm sure my wife will have something to say about it if she reads it mind

clanton

My other half and I nearly did the dive guide thing five years ago, had it all planned, had our DM quals already and an instructor course lined up, then my best friend decided to get married, we delayed the move and it never happened..... I regret it still!
So option 2 gets my vote. BUT the life of a dive guide isn't all fun, you probably know this but there are long hours, lots of wingeing clients, lots of heavy cylinders to fill....
As a DM only you will be quite limited in where you can work too. So MY advice for what its worth is get qualified as an instructor as fast as you can - you will have more options and earn more. Try to get onto the liveaboards and look for the reputable operators.
Also, if you speak German or Italian you will be more marketable.

boogercj

Gotta be option 2. IMO, A change of scenery, job and environment will give you a new sense of perspective.

A good friend of mine has just come back from doing the same thing for 6 months in Vietnam and reckons it's the best thing she's ever done. She's now saving up to do another 6 months!

GT Destroyer

clanton wrote:

My other half and I nearly did the dive guide thing five years ago, had it all planned, had our DM quals already and an instructor course lined up, then my best friend decided to get married, we delayed the move and it never happened..... I regret it still!
So option 2 gets my vote. BUT the life of a dive guide isn't all fun, you probably know this but there are long hours, lots of wingeing clients, lots of heavy cylinders to fill....
As a DM only you will be quite limited in where you can work too. So MY advice for what its worth is get qualified as an instructor as fast as you can - you will have more options and earn more. Try to get onto the liveaboards and look for the reputable operators.
Also, if you speak German or Italian you will be more marketable.

The options and the earnings are why I wanted to do instructor as soon as I can. Speak French good-ish, but I can learn more of it and also learn another language when the time comes.

Thanks clanton.

GT Destroyer

So..............from 17/7/2009 to today, this might be a long post but its worth it. (apologies for dragging up an old thread)

After the split she moved out and I stayed in the house. In December 2009 I unfortunately lost my Dad, this coupled with the divorce stopped me right in my tracks for essentially the whole of 2010, I did buy the car in the end, an Impreza P1, and loved owning it and don't regret having bought it (past tense???)

In 2011 I decided to take the career break, 6 months, and went to Tenerife, I had a contact out there and got set up with a flat etc....At the end of the 6 months I managed to pass my instructors course so am now a qualified PADI instructor!!! I met a girl out there who I spent pretty much the whole 6 months with, but as friends only. We became more than friends right at the end of the 6 months, which was awesome.
So the girl - She is from Malawi, and was in Tenerife doing diving etc etc....We became real close and she asked me to go to Malawi with her, she has a job running a backpackers lodge, with a dive centre attached to it. I obviously said yes!
So as I type, I have until the 29th Feb at work, then am leaving, and my flights are booked for 8th March to fly out to live in Malawi - She has left 2 days ago (sob) to meet the lodge owners etc....
So thats it - Its taken a bit longer than I thought, from July 2009 until now, but its done, planned and its finally happening - I still can't actually believe I am off to live in Africa with an amazing girlfriend, doing an amazing job.
A few sayings I keep on thinking to myself are, "I've lived my dream today, I've lived it yesterday, and I'll be living yours tomorrow, so don't you look at me that way" and "Just do it" and "Life with no agenda = Pacified soul"

You might have enjoyed reading that, you might not, but there it is. Can you tell I am

cooldad

Who the fark are you?

Sounds most excellent though.
Just avoid Somalia.

nicklouse

so kit was option 3.

Better get that Location changed and get the Yorkshire tea packed.

GT Destroyer

cooldad wrote:

Who the fark are you?

Sounds most excellent though.
Just avoid Somalia.

haha! I was on here a lot 2008/2009, and made some great friends, the rest is history! but I will be around here till I go at least, as I need help, and its biking help!!

Zambia/Tanzania/Kenya/Mozambique/S Africa/Zanzibar these are on the list - But who knows where we'll end up, hopefully it'll all work out in Malawi.

Yeah nick option 3!! I didn't list that at first did I!!!!! and when the day comes I get to change my location, OMG I will be smiling!! Tea, I am on the redbush rooibos tea from Africa, I have crossed to the other side of the tea-world!!!!

VWsurfbum

fantastic, nice to see its all working out!
when your all set up, you can do a mates rates link back to us here in blighty!

Rigga

Awesome, amazing what life throws at you. You never know whats around the corner!

Good luck with it all!

nicklouse

GT Destroyer wrote:

Yeah nick option 3!! I didn't list that at first did I!!!!! and when the day comes I get to change my location, OMG I will be smiling!! Tea, I am on the redbush rooibos tea from Africa, I have crossed to the other side of the tea-world!!!!

Just making the change was the first step and then....... Just think if You had done 1 only.

projectsome

Option 2, just convince said ex to come along and buy her some lead diving boots

nicklouse

projectsome wrote:

Option 2, just convince said ex to come along and buy her some lead diving boots

is that with limes and string?

welshkev

option 2 simple, i lived abroad for 3 years. you'll make new friends, friends that are more in to the same stuff as you.

if it all goes pete tong, what does it cost you? the price of a flight home and you go from there.

do it, even if you decide after a month it was the wrong decision, at least you can say you tried it and have no regrets later in life!

nicklouse

welshkev wrote:

option 2 simple, i lived abroad for 3 years. you'll make new friends, friends that are more in to the same stuff as you.

if it all goes pete tong, what does it cost you? the price of a flight home and you go from there.

do it, even if you decide after a month it was the wrong decision, at least you can say you tried it and have no regrets later in life!

well done for not reading the post.

welshkev

nicklouse wrote:

welshkev wrote:

option 2 simple, i lived abroad for 3 years. you'll make new friends, friends that are more in to the same stuff as you.

if it all goes pete tong, what does it cost you? the price of a flight home and you go from there.

do it, even if you decide after a month it was the wrong decision, at least you can say you tried it and have no regrets later in life!

well done for not reading the post.

i got to page 2 and got bored, did i miss something important? :oops:

EDIT: oh yeah, kind of a big thing

mak3m

does the world wide web reach malawi and do they have bicycles

only time a woman would keep me off tinternet was if i got caught headbackwarding her in a ditch in flagrante

glhf

DIESELDOG

cooldad wrote:

Who the fark are you?

Sounds most excellent though.
Just avoid Somalia.

I'm so glad I actually bothered my arse to read the whole thread as I was about to skip and post the exact same thing.

How stupid would I have looked?

Love n hugs

DD

edit to say, except the bit about Somalia, they make lovely pastry things filled with meat n onions n stuff...

Gazlar

DIESELDOG wrote:

cooldad wrote:

Just avoid Somalia.

edit to say, except the bit about Somalia, they make lovely pastry things filled with meat n onions n stuff...

So do Greggs though, you don't need to go to Somalia anymore to get a steak bake

angry_bird

1) Malawi is amazing.
2) They have some bikes, and some amazing places to ride.
3) I plan to go back out there when I've graduated because it's that amazing, and take a bike with me.
4) I love lists.