Gay Friendly Top Notch Padi Divemaster Course?

[ScubaDubaDan]

Hey there! I am writing to inquire as to a gay friendly PADI Divemaster certification program in Thailand- preferrably Koh Tao or somewhere on Andaman side????

I am working towards my Instructor certification in the long run. Divemaster is next on the list.

I recently had a negative experience in Florida (1st time ever while diving). I was stuck in a class with about 7 other guys who made gay jokes, bragged about how much they could drink and still dive, made demeaning comments about women....ugh! I just pretended I was straight and christian. The christian part to explain why I wasn't joining in the "comraderie" or and the straight part so I did't rouse any suspicion- as it was clear these guys did not like gay people. Can you imagine how sucky this was? The good thing is that I "pass" as straight- whatever that means...

Anyway- after having experienced this- i realized I should really be more careful before I sign up for classes etc and at last try to avoid similar situations. I don't need to be in an all gay environment and dont even mind being the only gay guy just so long as I feel safe and confortable and welcome.

I am also hoping to find a rigorous and professional program- as I want to get the most of the class and feel that safety is of the utmost importance.

I am planning to spend 3 months in Thailand in about 6 months time. I would like to dive as much as possible and devote this time to completeing my divemaster and instructor course...

Any advice- ideas- sharing of your experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Hope all are well and happy diving to those who do!

[The_Moog]

The good thing is that I "pass" as straight

On my PADI certificate it just said that I passed.

I didn't know they had, you know....different types of pass criteria like that. Perhaps its because its a Florida diving school.

[britmaveric]

No offense why would you advertise you are gay or not? You are there to learn and gain certification.

[BambinA]

Hey there! I am writing to inquire as to  a gay friendly PADI Divemaster certification program in Thailand- preferrably Koh Tao or somewhere on Andaman side????

i live here for thousand ages ago.. never heard it has gay course PADI here (or i missed) .. but methinks u can join with any course of PADI here .. no one beat you or make a joke with your sexuality ..

enjoy your life ..

Bambi

Edited September 29, 2005 by BambinA

[ScubaDubaDan]

No offense why would you advertise you are gay or not? You are there to learn and gain certification.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My point isnt to advertise that I am gay or not- I think I was clear in my orignal posting that I had a really rough experience at a gay UNfriendly dive stablishment- apparently they exist- and it got me thinking that I dont want a repeat of that experience (gee I wonder why) and all I want is a place where it doesnt matter that I am gay..like I said I just want to feel welcome.

I certainly dont want to make a 3 month committment to a course (divemaster.instructor) if I have to listen to gay jokes- and feel that I better keep my sexuality a secret.

Why on a gay web board am I getting flack for this? Geesh.

My point about passing as straight meant that for whatever reason- people dont ussually assume I am gay though I dont hide it so LUCKILY when I was divign with the frat boy dive club from ###### and they were talking about "fags" no one suspected that I was and I let them think I was straight.

So go ahead and flame me if it makes you happy.

All I wanted was to hear from folks who may have some advice about where I might be confortable in Thailand- where my sexuality wouldnt be any problem or an issue one way or another.

Mayber this doesnt matter in Thailand- and ebverywhere is fine with regard to gays- if thats the case then say so- but I have never been to Thailand yet and am looking for friendly advice- and dont know what to expect.

After having dived in many places without a problem- i was pretty schocked to expereince what I did in Florida- this is not to say that there arent many places in Florida that woudln't care if I were gay or purple ort whatever. All I knos is that I want to do all I can to avoid similar circumstances- especially so far from home and for 3 whole months.

A little empathy and or constructive advice would be nice....I can't even believe I am having to explain myself....did it really sound like I wanted to advertise my sexuality! All I want is to know that I dont have to dive with intolerant and homophobic people...whether the issue comes up or not doesnt matter to me so long as if it did I would be accepted.

So "thanks" for your sarcasm and most "constructive" response to my request for advice.

[Guest endure]

No offense why would you advertise you are gay or not? You are there to learn and gain certification.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A little empathy and or constructive advice would be nice....I can't even believe I am having to explain myself....did it really sound like I wanted to advertise my sexuality! All I want is to know that I dont have to dive with intolerant and homophobic people...whether the issue comes up or not doesnt matter to me so long as if it did I would be accepted.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You won't have any problem being gay as far as the Thais are concerned. Thailand is a pretty neat place for gay folks. There's no such guarantee as far as your fellow trainees are concerned because they'll be westerners and you know what &lt;deleted&gt; some of them can be

[britmaveric]

ScubaDan - well I've taken a faire few dive courses and to be honest we never talked about who we were shagging. We talked about diving and actual dive experiences. I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but for the most case I'd have to say the dive shops in Patters are gay friendly, straight friendly whatever.

[Steve2UK]

You won't have any problem being gay as far as the Thais are concerned. Thailand is a pretty neat place for gay folks. There's no such guarantee as far as your fellow trainees are concerned because they'll be westerners and you know what &lt;deleted&gt; some of them can be 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's not just the other trainees - the advanced instructors may well not be Thai. I've never had problems in Thailand, but I did get it in the Philippines - from a Philippino hanger-on at the dive resort where I was staying with a Philippino friend. It's not pleasant.

ScubaDubaDan - you have to remember that not everyone who reads/posts in this sub-forum is gay (it's part of a general all-purpose Thailand-oriented board). Come to that, there all sorts of gays posting here too........

Anyhow, you might want to take a look at Rainbow-Scuba at the link below; I suspect they may not be able to line up directly and exactly what you're after, but they could be useful to contact for recommendations.

http://www.rainbow-scuba.com/default.html

[Guest endure]

You won't have any problem being gay as far as the Thais are concerned. Thailand is a pretty neat place for gay folks. There's no such guarantee as far as your fellow trainees are concerned because they'll be westerners and you know what &lt;deleted&gt; some of them can be 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's not just the other trainees - the advanced instructors may well not be Thai. I've never had problems in Thailand, but I did get it in the Philippines - from a Philippino hanger-on at the dive resort where I was staying with a Philippino friend. It's not pleasant.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The problem with Filipinos is that they've had the dubious advantage of the old time religion. Rome has a lot to answer for

[ProThaiExpat]

ScubaDubaDan: I am very sorry for the negative posts you received regarding your first post in this forum. Some of us have posted without paying attention into which forum we were in. As to the negativity and anti-gay tone you experienced, to quote Peter Laurie in "Casablanca", "Round up the usual suspects".

Before signing up for a long course, it might be good idea to ask to see the class list of students. Most international travellers are sophisticated enough to not pay attention to sexuality unless it is threatening them.

Your Florida experience was prbably just bad luck and certainly not typical. The men involved sound very immature and of little international experience.

I understand completely your desire to seek out a gay or gay friendly dive experience. However, you will encounter a basic lack of understanding from some straights or anti-gay straights in Thaivisa on the issue of the importance of gay friendly commercial establishments for gays seeking that. There have been some heated debates in the past in Thaivisa from the "usual suspects" questioning the need for gay or gay friendly businesses.

Since you haven't been to Thailand before, you have not had the opportunity to experience the non-judgemental, at least to tourists, nature of the Thai vacation experience. To point out an example, Thai culture permits a straight man with children to earn his living as a sex worker for men with no shame as to what role he plays in bed.

As a Buddhist country, there is not present the Christian-Judean anti-gay attitudes one experiences in the bible belt of the U.S. and among groups of men with an insecure grasp on their sexual identity.

I think there is little danger of your Florida experience to be repeated in Thailand unless you sign up for a class in which there is a group of men traveling together who are of the same stripe.

There are gay travel agencies that would be more than happy to direct you to a friendly course. Also, you might pick your destination, go there and then inquire around at gay establishments as to an appropriate school. You might also try a google search using key words like "thailand diving school gay".

Good luck and worry not, I can almost guarantee your Florida experience won't happen in Thailand, unless you join a tour group class consisting of the same nationality and type of men you encountered in Florida.

[ChrisP]

No offense why would you advertise you are gay or not? You are there to learn and gain certification.

Sigh.

BritMaveric - you've been around here for SO long, I know you know better than to make a post like that. Do I REALLY honestly have to explain the str8/gay opposite parallels that I COULD make (for ScubaDan's negative Scuba Class experience) to you..???

Please.

ChrisP

Moderator.

[britmaveric]

No offense why would you advertise you are gay or not? You are there to learn and gain certification.

Sigh.

BritMaveric - you've been around here for SO long, I know you know better than to make a post like that. Do I REALLY honestly have to explain the str8/gay opposite parallels that I COULD make (for ScubaDan's negative Scuba Class experience) to you..???

Please.

ChrisP

Moderator.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Chris - yes there are bigots out there, so yes I understand a comfy factor involved with being in a gay friendly environment. However that being the case I don't understand how anyone would have a problem unless they stated their sexual orientation. The last time I checked this wasnt a requirement when you go for your dive certifications. I believe most people in Thailand are gay friendly - I'm sure you will run into some that aren't, but they are definitely in the minority.

[WhiteShiva]

To point out an example, Thai culture permits a straight man with children to earn his living as a sex worker for men with no shame as to what role he plays in bed.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

PTE,

I think you are going a little too far here. I think most Thais would have have a problem with a father (or mother, for that sake) of young children working as a prostitute (Actually prostitutes in general are looked down upon by most Thais). Not saying that it doesn't happen, but it is not something that would be acceptable to most Thai people.

Dan,

Although not being gay myself, I would say you have nothing to worry about. Thai people are usually very tolerant, so as long as you are friendly and respectful, you should do just fine. Do a little read up on Thai do & don'ts, because as a first-timer to this country you are far more likely to (unintentionally) cause offence because of cultural mishaps rather than because of your sexuality.

I am sure you will have a good time here - good luck!

WS

[ChrisP]

Britmaveric

Ok, I'll try and explain it to you in a different way.

Let's imagine you are white/caucasian, but your wife and daughter are black. You go and take a Diving Course, and you hear rascist jokes denigrating black people every day - expressing their hatred, just because other members of your course have a bigoted sense of humor and think it's funny to do that..

What do you say..? Do you want to join in the jokes..?

How do you feel..? Don't tell me you now feel comfortable in their company..? Don't tell me it wouldn't affect you.

ScubaDubaDan says it well...

All I want is to know that I dont have to dive with intolerant and homophobic people...whether the issue comes up or not doesnt matter to me so long as if it did I would be accepted.

ChrisP

[The_Moog]

Apparently the worst people to train with are Filipinos.

My instructor told me that after doing that whole 2 hr session with them about buoyancy, he then said.

"So, then what keeps you floating on the surface?"

"Errrm, my feenz, sir?"

[britmaveric]

Chris - I understand what you are saying, no one would find that an acceptable situation to be in.

Any rate I've been on a many a dive and all everyone is talking about is diving. I know that could be a tad boring for most people, but thats the reality of the situation.

Anyways to OP - you wont have a problem in my view, so get out there and go diving and enjoy yourself.

[ProThaiExpat]

WhiteShiva: Perhaps I should have qualified my remarks to "prostitute" culture, however, there are so many straight Thai men working as "go-go" boys in gay tourist destinations, that gays often have to ask the sex worker if he is straight or gay, if the tourist has a preference.

Rarely in the West, do you see gay sex workers who are straight.

I am not a Thai sociologist, so I cannot agree or disagree with your opinion regarding what Thai culture allows or disallows, I only speak from personal experience and impressions formed when first I came to Thailand. Can any of us do anything more?

[WhiteShiva]

WhiteShiva:  Perhaps I should have qualified my remarks to "prostitute" culture, however, there are so many straight Thai men working as "go-go" boys in gay tourist destinations, that gays often have to ask the sex worker if he is straight or gay, if the tourist has a preference.

Rarely in the West, do you see gay sex workers who are straight.

I am not a Thai sociologist, so I cannot agree or disagree with your opinion regarding what Thai culture allows or disallows, I only speak from personal experience and impressions formed when first I came to Thailand. Can any of us do anything more?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I guess not Anyway, we are getting off-topic here, so let's just leave it at that.

[The_Moog]

I want to see a photo of Brit Maveric in her rubber suit !

[Steve2UK]

Apparently the worst people to train with are Filipinos.

My instructor told me that after doing that whole 2 hr session with them about buoyancy, he then said.

"So, then what keeps you floating on the surface?"

"Errrm, my feenz, sir?"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[britmaveric]

I want to see a photo of Brit Maveric in his rubber suit !

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Too warm where I dive so no wet suit necessary!

Edited September 30, 2005 by britmaveric

[BambinA]

I want to see a photo of Brit Maveric in his rubber suit !

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Too warm where I dive so no wet suit necessary!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

what u say i implied ,it like no suit