Ever since I did my open water course, which was 12 years ago, I dreamed of making my divemaster someday. When planning to take a “time out“ from my life at home, I was clearly aware that I would like to combine a world trip with the divemaster and even instructor course.
This would fulfill both my dreams as well as create the possibility to work as an instructor afterwards and to try something completely different – and thereby turning a previously “private holiday passion“ into a (maybe temporary) profession of being a divemaster.
And here I am! It should be Two Fish Divers, since I have already dived with them several times in Bunaken and Lembeh and had gained a good, above all professional impression (which has already been confirmed).
My start here a week ago was pretty spontaneous a few days earlier than planned. No talk of arriving in peace, getting to know everything, unpacking diving equipment or getting introductions. Instead, I had to finish the first three theory chapters in a couple of hours to help my instructor with “Discover Scuba Diving” the next morning at 8.00 with two children and their father.
After the usual introduction for the students and a short pool session, we immediately went to the USAT Liberty wreck. My first time there and at the same time my 500th dive. I did not notice anything about both! I have not been so nervous and highly concentrated underwater for a long time.
Diving and buoyancy control for yourself is one thing, but to dive and to control the buoyancy of someone else is a completely different world. To be honest: For the first time I truly wished that the dive would be finished soon 😉 It is exhausting and responsibly, but at the same time very exciting!
Cool as well as funny, instructive and also a bit shameful was day 2: I went in the pool with my instructor for hours to practice a complete “skill circuit”. As I said: my OWD is 12 years ago … Openly speaking: apart from blowing out the mask, I’ve never done most of the skills ever again. And now please in demonstration quality? Well … I better practice that a few more times in the next weeks.
The third day starts immediately with an open water course. It couldn’t have been better! Only one young girl, the whole course in German language for better understanding and on top of a “born diver“, who has mastered all the requirements absolutely great. This way I got to know a very good exemplary process.
What I like about my instructor here: He challenges me, but he does not overload me. I was allowed to do things and skills, that I already know and wanted to do. But nothing yet, that I didn’t dare or was insecure with. He gives clear, understandable feedback and is always fair enough to say, if you could do something differently than he does and wants me to in this situation.
And what‘s next? The first AOWD course just started. Same student, but different instructor. Let’s see…
To summarize: There are long days from 7 am until about 5/7 in the evening plus sometimes studying. Carrying tanks, assembling equipment etc. replaces the gym. While you as a guest have breaks, “on the other side” we immediately have to prepare the next step.
A lot of input for the brain. I feel like a sponge, who wants to absorb everything, but also have to process it first. The atmosphere in the dive center and with the “colleagues” is absolutely great, that certainly makes it a lot easier.
Christina Rhode
Let’s register your Divemaster course here and we would happy to welcoming you!
