Another day, another dive… another day of pinching myself to see if this is all some crazy dream!
Arriving in Koh Tao 6 months ago I couldn’t have dreamed that by now I’d be a fully fledged PADI instructor embarking on my MSDT internship. This is me living the dream with my first open water student!
Working with the DMTs on their workshops has been a blast. Andrea Warren, once my Divemaster Trainer, has shown me the ropes and I now feel confident taking the team out on my own. A great bunch of people who love diving just as much as I do! Here’s some of the gang after their snorkeling and skin diving workshop. Led by me!
When I contacted Dive-Careers about coming to do the Divemaster course I thought it sounded too good to be true… I can dive as much as I want? I can assist instructors if and when I feel like it? I can come to any lectures or workshops when it suits me? What?… there had to be a catch… nope, it was for real and I ended up extending my trip because I was having so much fun and my diving was getting better and better.
PADI Divemaster Skills workshop in the Buddha View pool, Koh Tao Thailand
My days are usually filled with workshops or lectures on diving theory. This allows me to have constant variety in my schedule, and the flexibility to try new things. Since I’m constantly working with divers of such a diverse background, I can easily adapt and change things to meet their needs. For example, if I know they have completed the workshop before, or have more experience under their belt, I can add new skills to challenge them. I always enjoy coming up with new ways to make my workshops as beneficial as possible for my candidates.
PADI Divemaster Skin Diving Workshop Koh Tao Thailand
Allowing myself to keep learning as well, definitely gives me an advantage in my own teachings. I was very excited to complete my Tech40 & Side mount course. Even though I’m teaching within a recreational scope, I can incorporate these skills in my workshops to make my candidates more knowledgeable and well-rounded. In Tech40, a large amount of time was given to dive planning. We calculated our own personal surface air consumption rate, then used a more conservative SAC rate, to figure out exactly how much gas we would need for each stage of our dive. Every single ascent and stop was planned in advance, and we were taught to follow it diligently. It was great to apply this concept to the Deep Dive Scenario workshop.
I had the candidates collect data on their dive to calculate their own SAC rate, then use it to plan the second dive. Supervising the workshop in side mount configuration, allowed me to also act as an emergency drop tank, where my candidates could simulate emergency decompression, breathing out of my long hose. ( A great tip a I learned from my Tech Instructor Julien Fortin). The point is that the more we learn, the more we can pass down as teachers. Even if it doesn’t directly apply to you and what your are doing at that time, it will allow you to have a better understanding and respect for your trade.
PADI Divemaster certification Buddha View, Koh Tao Thailand
I hope to keep my candidates excited about diving, and allow them to continue to grow as I do. It's an amazing feeling, to see how much someone can accomplish in such a short time. I remember how it felt to lead my first dive, and the pride that came with being a leader. I can see that feeling evolve in my own students, and I am glad to be a part of it.
Everyday I get to wake up and go to a job I love, in an office that constantly amazes me. Thanks for the great advice dad!
PADI Divemaster celebration at Buddha View Koh Tao, Thailand
