What's it like to be a PADI Divemaster? We asked Ding Jiayan, a PADI Divemaster at Five Star IDC Big Blue in Shanghai, China.
**PADI: **What is your current job?
Ding Jiayan: I’m a cashier in a bank.
**PADI: **Describe a typical day in your working life
**Ding Jiayan: **I get up about 7:30 in the morning, then drive for 20km to cross the city. I am sitting in front of my desk and start work at 9:00, have lunch at 12:00. Then again, sitting at my desk and work till 17:30. Drive another 20km to get back home. Go to bed about 23:30.
**PADI: **When did you start diving?
**Ding Jiayan: **About two years ago.
**PADI: **When and where did you become a PADI Divemaster?
**Ding Jiayan: **January 2012 in Shanghai.
**PADI: **How did you feel when you became a PADI Divemaster?
**Ding Jiayan: **I was so excited because it means I have the chance to leave my boring work and start a new life.
**PADI: **What highlights do you recall from your DM course?
**Ding Jiayan: **After two months study, I have more knowledge of the equipment and dive environment. And I am able to take groups for fun dives. It makes me really excited because I have the chance to show people the wonderful underwater world and share my experience with them. Of course, I also have met so many divers and professionals during my course and now many of them are my good friends.
**PADI: **Where have you worked as PADI Pro?
Ding Jiayan: At Big Blue in Shanghai, China.
**PADI: **What is one of your favorite memories in your diving career?
**Ding Jiayan: **To have 60 logged dives. I got to travel to many different destinations for diving to gain more experience. Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Maldives — they are all fantastic and I’ll never forget the wonderful time that I spent there.
**PADI: **What words of advice would you give to new dive professionals?
I**Ding Jiayan: **f you have started, don’t stop — keep diving and learning. It changes your lifestyle.
