Wine tasting

Had a fantastic night last night after a friend of Linda and Paul's came over to teach us all how to taste wine.

Anthony runs wine tasting classes and regional wine tours in the Languedoc region but was kind enough to run our own little mini class in the front room.  First of all he compared different basic wine varieties and what to look for to distinguish them.  We had loads of fun going through the whites and reds and then spitting out.  We did manage to drink a bit though at the end when the tasting had finished.

Starting with Sauvignon we looked at the colour, followed by the intensity of the first smell.  After this we took a good sniff and trie to tell what type of smells were present.  Next came the tasting and spitting out.  Once we had been given a few pointers it was really fascinating trying to see what made up each different wine variety.  Anthony also gave us some history behind each producers wine and the land and different production methods used.

So not only can I teach you a bit of Scuba but can pass on some insider wine knowledge as well!

Back in France

Well I made it back to Linda and Paul's house in the south of France last night after a cool drive from Bilbao.

I took part in a Grand Prix as well!  Well not exactly.  Pau was holding a classic car grand prix along the streets and I was able to drive along the course 'ala' Monaco.  Did a quick little cheer as I crossed the finish line, think I got beaten though by the bashed up Peugeot.

Went through a nice couple of towns on the coast - St Jean de Luz and Biarritz were pretty bohemian looking.

As I traveled on from Pau I headed towards Loudres.  Ihave now renamed this "Disney for Old Folk"!  It just had queues of old people in wheelchairs waiting to be healed.  Looked very sad to be honest and a bit of a waste of time.

Didnt really get to see much of the Pyrenees as the cloud cover was really low.  Infact I only really saw the tops when I get near Linda and Pauls in Belgarde-de-Razes.

Amanda comes out and joins me on Sunday so we can have a little holiday out here before coming back to the UK finally next weekend!

Toledo pictures

Coast to Coast

Well yesterday it was goodbye Torremolinos and hello Bilbao.  I surprised myself by reaching the other end of Spain.

Another breathtaking drive up past the Sierra Nevada just to the side of Granada took me to the central plains of Spain. It seemed the bodegas I passed were never ending.  There are certainly a lot of wine producers in Spain and it is a shame I didnt take the opportunity to taste them all but doesnt really go down to well with the Police when driving.

After about 4-5 hours I arrived in Toledo for a pit stop and a bit of an explore.  What a beautiful city.  So old but in such good condition.  I have to apologise but I did have a not so traditional McDonalds and I made a prat of myself in the process.  Feeling all confident about ordering in Spainish I went up to the counter and ordered a 'hambegeusa con leche'.  Yes thats right everyone a 'hamburger with milk'.  I have been ordering a 'cafe con leche' so often I forgot to change the all important milk to cheese!  Just got a funny look and had to just say 'cheeseburger please'. I did take some photos of Toledo and I will try to add them in the next few days.

After my superb linguistic performance I was off again through Madrid and carrying on further North.  I could see the start of the mountains (is this the start of the Pyrenees?)  As I reached the summit I was engulfed in thick fog and the temperature dropped 10 degs!  It has been a high of 32c as I had traveled through Spain and now the temperature was at about 11c.  As soon as I started coming down the other side the scenery dramatically changed.   Gone was the rocky and desert looking lands to be replaced by intense greenery.  The is basque country and it really is very different.  Even the language on the roadsigns is completely different.

I got into Bilbao about 10ish and thanks to Amanda had the address for the local Ibis at the ready and managed to find it first time!

A good nights sleep and it is now onwards towards the Pyrenees and France.

The last night

Just sitting here in the internet cafe having a relaxing Magners pondering over the last 3 months.  What an adventure!  I am so proud of myself and what I have achieved, shame it has to end as I have really enjoyed my time and the diving has been superb.

It will be amazing to get back with Amanda though and we can now plan the next step.

I am all packed, the car is ready just have until tomorrow when the landlady comes round to give back the deposit and I hand over the keys.  Miraflores has been a lovely base, peaceful and quiet.  It has been really relaxing to sit back at the end of a hard day and watch the sunset over Gibraltar with a lovely wine.  Wine at only 55c a carton as well, thanks Mr Lidl.

Sad to say goodbye to Simon and the trainees.  Simon has been inspirational and a great teacher.  Natasha also has been very supportive and always around should you need assistance.  I know the trainees have been thankful of her hard efforts to get them settled.  You cant go far wrong in using www.simplydiving.com to learn to Scuba.  Also said goodbye to Alex, best of luck with the Scottish Championship - should be in the bag for your boys, I will look out for the result!

I am going to keep in touch with everyone if I can, maybe shoot back with Amanda for a quick dive or 2!

Another quick last request - have a look at the simply diving website and make comments on their blog - they have just started it and I think you will all enjoy.  The is a fantastic contribution as well from a new Open Water Scuba Instructor - cant think how he learnt to type such a nice expose of his Examination.  I think I may have even read it somewhere else - he is very popular!

I will endeavour to update you all on  my journey home - up through the spine of Spain this time - new things to see.

Goodnight from Spain

Almost there...

Another dive day down and it was my last in the temperate waters of the Med.  Today I played a panicked diver with the divemaster trainees on their Rescue diver course.

It was very tiring playing a panicked diver time and time again but quite enjoyable trying to drown them as they learnt ways to try and save me and keeping themselves safe!  They did well and will make great DM's. 

Back into the shop tomorrow but only to hand back the phone and keys and say my final goodbyes before I start my journey back on Thursday.

It will be so good seeing Amanda as we plan the rest of our lives together, whats next - who knows!

Nice roast

Enjoying a nice lazy sunday afternoon here in Spain.  Just devoured a lovely roast chicken dinner and had my five a day veg as well.  

Well the packing has begun and I am slowly getting all my stuff together for the journey home.  I have also been cleaning up the flat today as I am moving out on Thursday.  It has been a great base for all my adventures here in southern Spain but my time is coming to an end.

The weather here at the moment is beautiful, nice breeze to take the edge off as I relax with a couple of Magners!

4 more divers to take down tomorrow and then I am teaching on Tuesday so I still have a bit to do before I go.

Will be really great to join up with Amanda again and I am looking forward to seeing Linda and Paul as well in Belgarde-du-Razes.  My journey north is going to take me through the centre of Spain and I am weighing up my options as to where I go and what I am going to see.  I think Pamplona might get a visit - have a quick little run with a few bulls! Not!  Anyone got any tips or suggestions?

IE - In Pictures

From L-R, Kev Turner (course director), Scuba Dave, Mickey Thomas (padi exmainer), Antonio, Simon Bell (IDC staff instructor)

Instructor Examination - In Pictures

In the Pool for the Confined Water Presentations..

Up and running

Good evening all,

Well today marked the first certifications that I logged with PADI.  7 Discover Scuba Divers that we took to Marina Del Este.  Great day and it was a success for all.  It was hard work taking 7 new scuba divers down for a taste of the underwater world and a fantastic team effort meant all went well.  We even managed to see a cuttle fish at 4 metres, what a graceful creature.

The sun was shining and all had a good day, no one can ask for more.  Tomorrow I am going to sit in on Rescue Diver classroom work, this will give me great experience as I grow in the PADI world. I also have access now to the PADI Pro website which opens up all the opportunities available to me and Amanda as we look to explore the wide world.

Only a week now till my time is up here in Spain and I start the drive north to meet Amanda in France.  Really looking forward to a relaxing week with Amanda and friends as we chill and catch up on all that has happened to all of us.

I want to take a moment to thank all of you for following my saga and I am thinking of carrying it on as I chart our lives into the underwater world.

Catch up soon !

Time here coming to an end soon

Hi everyone, how is it going for all of you?

Well only 2 weeks left of my scuba saga, hasnt time gone quickly!  Now that I am an instructor I have enjoyed my diving even more.  A great trip to Gibraltar and back to my favourite - Tarifa.  I was leading a really nice couple from Chester and they left with very kinds words for my guiding.  Managed to find loads of Nudibranchs,  Octopi and many other examples of aquatic life in the Med and Atlantic.

Aaron is back off home tomorrow so things will quieten down as I prepare for another journey.  I am going to leave near the end of the month and plan to drive through the centre of Spain to reach Limoux and meet up with my wife for a lovely break in the South of France.

Reality is beckoning but I plan to stretch it out for as long as I can!

Mr Smooth

The boy is back in town.  Mr Smooth has arrived and a good day was had by all for his first day out in the sun.

We both trotted round Puerto Banus and picked boats, really need a euro millions win!

Also had a look round a restaurant called El Fogon in La Cala which we have decided will have to visited.  All you can eat meat for 19.00 Euros.  Might even dress up and be posh, don't hold your breath though as options are limited and flip flops are so dam comfortable!

Back down the dive shop tomorrow to welcome in the new interns.  A couple of hours and then back for a siesta - wonder if the siesta can be brought back to the UK?

On Friday it looks like a dive trip to Gibraltar to find a new wreck and could be using the DPV's to find it!  (diving with a propulsion vehicle - little rockets through the water just like 007 himself)

Also have had to send a big apology to a great friend as I forgot his birthday.  Just got so caught up with exams, no excuse.  Happy Birthday again Mr Brooks!

Sun is shinning and the football is about to start, ta ta for now

Simply Diving

To all budding scuba divers out there, if I don't have the opportunity to teach you to fall in love with the underwater world you could not get much better than Simply Diving in Costa Del Sol.  Simon has been fantastic and it is a really well run dive operation...(i wasnt paid to say this either!)  A big thank you to Simon for passing on his experience and knowledge as well as fulfilling the PADI requirements of being a great mentor, coach and all round good mate.

I also want to thank Kev Turner the Course Director, it was a brilliant and fun IDC.  Best of luck with the next IDC back in Lanzarote. If you go out to that part of the world check out CID - Canary Island Divers.  I want to have a go on a rebreather!

OWSI!

I am well chuffed, I have done it.  After 2-3 months are slog and graft I can now call myself an Open Water Scuba Instructor.  For all of you who have waited for this post and supported me a big thanks is now due.  THANKS

The IDC was really good and run by a great Course Director Kev Turner.  He came over from Canary Island Divers CID to run it and his laid back teaching style really worked for me.  Ably supported by Simon who is now an IDC Staff Instructor not only was it made fun but I got a hell of a lot out of it.  

The Instructor Examination took place in Marbella/Estepona area at the Happy Divers CDC centre.  We started straight into the Open Water skills but I did not make a great start by forgetting to pack my regs!  Yes I did feel like a prize plonker.  Thankfully Happy Divers were able to run over a spare to save the day.  Having been left behind on the beach I then had to sprint swim out to the buoy to catch up.  Not particularly hard but I had to carry an extra 8kgs as one of the skills I had to get my pretend students to master was rig and lift a weight no more than 11kg negatively buoyant!  The other skill that I was assigned was fin pivot (LPI - using low pressure inflator).  You have to brief the skill out of the water then whilst under water get the students to show the skill.  You also have to assign an assistant to look after any students not doing the skills.  Mickey Thomas the PADI examiner was also down there with you assigning problems that I had to spot and rectify safely.  For the fin pivot I scored a 5.0 and the Lift Bag I got a 4.0 (all scored out of 5.0).  The only thing that lowered the second score was that the rope was a bit too long and I didnt spot to shorten it.  You also had to debrief it the PADI way and this was included in the scoring.

After this we had a simulated rescue exercise we had to pass.  Did ok and enough to get through.  By now though it was almost 9.30pm as we had started late Friday evening.  Did not get to bed until after midnight and we all had to be back in Marbella for 9am the next morning for round 2!  Marbella is about a 45-60 minute drive from Torremolinos.

Next morning was the exams!  In the following order we had 1hr 30 minutes to complete a total of 60 questions - 12 Dive Physics / 12 Diving Physiology / 12 Dive Skills and the Environment / 12 Decompression Theory and Recreational Dive Planner  & finally 12 Dive Equipment.  A quick 20 minute break and we were back in the exam room again for another 90 minutes, this time for 50 questions on PADi General Standards and Procedures.  I scored as follows - 88%, 100%, 100%, 100%, 96% and then 96%.  Another part done successfully!  

Next up was the pool skills, this was the area I was worried about and the pressure was on.  The 5 skills we had to do to demonstration quality were - Scuba Equipment Remove and Replace on Surface / Mask Removal Replace Underwater / Hover / Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent and Regulator Recovery and Replace.  It started well but had a blip on the Hover, it is not one of my stronger skills but after a screw up I composed myself and ran through it again.  Done, whats next I hear you ask!  

Following this we stayed in the pool as we had Confined Water Teaching presentation.  I had been given a skill from the rescue diver course - Approach a diver in a panicked state and quick reverse.  After the briefing we had students with problems again that we had to spot and keep safe before acknowledging they had mastered the skill.  I got a 4.6 on this so pleased and was told I passed the skills as well.

By this point I could see the finish line as I only has the classroom teaching presentation to go.  For this I had to prescriptively teach the eRDPml.  This is a calculator that works out your No Decompression Limits for Multi-Level dives as well as everything a table RDP does (Recreational Dive Planner - original table used to calculate max dive times).  When you teach the PADI way you are supposed to start with a contact story that can be linked with the subject you are teaching.  I used flight planning as it linked well to diving at different levels.  I made up the figures as I new I could blag it - no one would know about flight planning would they?  Well much to my surprise one of the fellow Instructor Candidates used to be a Captain for SAS for 24 years.  He had a quiet word out of ear shot of the examiner asking what I was on about.  I replied "it was all made up, didnt think I would have an experienced Captain listening and taking notes!"  He said that he found it funny and we had quite a laugh about it as we knew I had gotten away with it as no-one else in the room had any technical aviation knowledge.  I scored a 4.5 on this presentation and had completed the last stage successfully.

I, as you can imagine, was well chuffed.  We had a small presentation of certificates and it was back in the van for the trip home.  Only this time I was an Open Water Scuba Instructor!

Had a nice couple of drinks and tapas to celebrate.  Not all over though as tomorrow and Tuesday I am being taught to become a Specialty Instructor in 5 Specialties - Deep, Nitrox, U/W Photography, Oxygen Provider and Wreck.  Then when I have taught 25 certifications I can apply to become a Master Scuba Diver Trainer - MSDT.

So then who wants to learn first?