libertus

Yaaaaaay! Diving again, at last!

We arrived in Dahab late Wednesday night after a 6am start from Sheffield, an uneventful journey to the airport at Sharm el Sheikh and an interesting minibus transfer to our hotel, Bedouin Divers Lodge.

We’ve had four dives so far and one day off due to traveller’s tummy. Dives are planned for this afternoon so I’m taking this chance to get on the internet. I'’ll be writing about the diving on my DiveBuzz pages. My 2007 dives in Dahab on theDiveBuzz.com.

Update 3rd May 2007 We’re back! Look at my feet!
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Now here’s something every diver should have - the Diving Almanac & Yearbook by Jeffrey J. Gallant, published by Porbeagle Press.

I have the 2007 edition and it’s brill! Chock-full of useful information about diving, and refreshingly for an American publication, covers an impressive proportion of the entire planet. Europe, for instance!

Excellent value at £11 for 550 pages. I’ll post an extensive review soon.

I logged my first dive for the third time today. I’ve paid £3.95 for one month in which time I can log as many dives, write as many stories and make as many changes as I please.

It’s not an embarrassment to brush up on your diving skills if you’ve been out of the water for a while. It is an embarrassment when your once well-honed demonstration skills devolve to n00b.

A video hides a lot of swearing…

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After a few weeks chilling out in Scotland I gleefully made the long drive to Norfolk to meet up with Liberta. Liberta being duly met, we buggered off to Leicestershire to dive Stoney Cove. Even though it was bitterly cold and quite murky, diving there was still substantially more fun than a day at the office. Not sure how often I’d be inclined to go back but we can both now say we have dived in the UK.

We’re currently back in Sheffield for a few days to visit friends.

Final for now, at least.

And so ends (perhaps) my short but sweet career in the diving industry. My wetsuit is dry and my gear is packed.

My last divemastering job was assisting Markus during the in-water parts of the Open Water course for the two fit, young Swedish guys. They both certified but at different levels as one of them declined to make two of the three required dives. I learned two major things from the experience; that all students and divers must be treated as individuals and that a divemaster has a vital role to play in student diver training irrespective of the student-to-instructor ratio.

Funnily enough, both major things are actually in the divemaster manual. It’s good to know that the course wasn’t full of shit - quite the contrary. I have done in the real world many of the tasks that the course introduces as a divemaster’s responsibility. I’ve lugged tanks and gear. I’ve entertained, informed and generally looked after many diving guests and student divers from diverse nations. I’ve offered and have been a counselling service for student divers who, for whatever reason, came to me rather than the instructor for help. I’ve been a role-model diver, the best I can be. And damn, do I need more practice! Maybe I could be a good divemaster now (I have the T-shirt) but I can’t imagine myself stopping until I am an excellent divemaster and someone in demand because of their reputation. And probably then I still won’t be satisfied!

What is clear to me is that I love diving. It is something that I want to do as often as I can and that I enjoy sharing with others. In warm water, at least.

Who’s up for a dive, then?

So what is it exactly that makes a divemaster?

Is it the long, arduous training course with lots of theory, examinations, physical exertion and the occasional brutal (but oh so richly deserved) beating from the instructors?

No.

Is it the completed application form mailed off to the appropriate training agency together with the necessary fees?

No.

Is it something more spiritual - an attitude or persona that makes its home within those individuals who prove themselves to be worthy of the role?

No.

Or is it the nice black T-shirt with DIVE MASTER written on it?

Could be!

Guys… I’ve made it - I have that T-shirt! All that remains now is for the man from PADI to say yes!

And almost as if to celebrate my metamorphosis, an 11th hour open water course with two students. Smart, fit, young men from Sweden. We finished the first three theory modules today which leaves a quite relaxed day of theory tomorrow. Then they climb the mountain. After that, if they can handle it, we take them into the water.

We had a few (not quite celebratory) beers after work. The hotel bar was full-to-brimming with divemasters, diving instructors and a course director. I was congratulated quite a lot.

Then I went back to Markus and Sascha’s home for dinner - a yummy lasagne.

Quite a good day. I suppose I’ll have to think seriously about going back to the UK now

Two non-diving days so I got a chance to catch up on necessary paperwork. I’ve been declared medically fit to dive

So all that is left is to complete the Emergency Assistance Plan and my dive site maps for the marine park. Oh, and pay my PADI membership fees. Perhaps I might even celebrate when all that’s done. Or go diving. Or both.

More DMing today for a single fun diver - Martin. We made a couple of fun dives. He saw his first turtle underwater. Finished the day early but tired. Showered. Slept.

Crunch time today! I’m on my own, functioning as a divemaster. Many guests too; 4 leisure divers with me, 2 DSDs with Jeffrey, 1 AOW student with James and 1 OW student with Averil. My show. Also, the lady who runs the restaurant at Ang’s Hotel was on a day off so came with us to Mamutik.

Without going into detail, the day went well. My leisure divers had their dives, all came back safely and seemed happy with the experience. Of course there are aspects of my performance that can be improved but overall I’m happy too. I have become divemaster

I made my 150^th dive.