3rd July 2011 - The last few days...

Hectic... Thats the best description for the last few days.

UK wise, I have been working on several titles at the same time, including a new one for BSAC (British Diving Club)... which is cool..

Here, Jenny was conducting a 1 person Open Water Course with a Japanese student. Jen thought that the student was very attentive and Jen was very impressed with her diving.

Me, apart from the UK work, I was teaching a 6 person Rescue Course with another instructor named Tina. This is a challenging 3 day course that teaches them all the skills required if they ever were unfortunate enough to be involved in a diver rescue.

To say it is challenging for the students is true, but for us instructors... it is even more challenging. On the last day, in 1 afternoon, Tina (whose was good cop) and I (who was bad cop) registered 7 dives each, with no safety stops, as we had to perform 6 student rescues from the ocean floor and then 4 Divemaster trainees rescue assessments.

The rescue assessment involves the students or the divemasters recovering a diver from the bottom, and bringing them up inflating their BCD. This is a very dangerous procedure if not done correctly. In training the day before, one of the students did not do what he was briefed and I had to intervene to stop a very serious situation. It took a lot of effort to stop a completely out of control diver shooting to the surface, and I lost my temper with the student while underwater. Anyway, on this final day, every student and divemaster completed a satisfactory recovery from the bottom.

After the recovery from the bottom, they then have to do rescue breaths while dragging the unresponsive diver back to the boat, removing all scuba equipment, and then get them up the back of the boat... After lots of shouting from me, and encouragement from Tina, they all made it.

4 of the Rescue Divers are heading onto Divemaster training, and I believe this course has brought them together as a team, which will serve them well in their DMT course.

Well done to all, and boy... I am tired!


P.S.  A cat that pops in occasionally, was pregnant, but has had its kittens somewhere... now if I can just follow her one day......