Dave the DM

Hey hey everyone I finally can now call myself a Divemaster!  Completed the last of the required skills today and now I am beginning the IDC (Instructor Development Course) with a great Course Director Kev who is ably assisted by Simon who has also gained a new qualification and is now known as an IDC Staff Instructor.  ooh err misses.

This is where the hard work starts!  Loads of revision and study now needs to happen to help me get through.  I am going to apologise now but if I leave a post a bit infrequently over the next couple of weeks it is not through me losing interest.  Please be patient but I am going to be a bit stressy.  I promise I will get you all up to speed properly at the end....now where is that beer!

Lots of Studying

Another great weather day here in sunny Costa Del Sol, I just wish I could be out there to enjoy it.  Yesterday and today I am having to keep my head down well and truely stuck in the books.

First up is the Emergency First Response Primary, Secondary and Care for Children.  I believe that this training is to start on Wednesday and if I pass I will then be qualified to teach it.  It is quite handy as it not only deals with diving injuries but also everyday injuries as well so it has many applications outside of my sport.  This could be a major plus and could be an earner for me as I can train almost anyone interested in First Aid.  

Then I have to start my IDC, the pre-study is pretty tough and the IDC is no stroll in the park also.  This will probably be one of the hardest things I have had to try to achieve with so many hours put in and many more to complete.  I just hope that I can make everyone proud and accomplish this.  I will be so pleased if I am able to get a result and it wont be through lack of trying.

Oh well, back to the books I guess.

So near but yet so far...

I thought I would be able to tell you all that I was now a qualified divemaster today but alas I can not.  I am still short on a few things and have a couple more days grace to get it all together.

Still to complete is the dive equipment exchange exercise.  This involves sharing one regulator for breathing whilst you swap all your equipment with your buddy.  Mask, BCD, Weights etc.  It is straight foward if taken in nice easy steps - But I, like you hate having to do tasks underwater without the ability to breathe.  I also have to complete the dive mapping exercise.  I have dived the site and just have to draw up the map with all the contours and depths etc.

A new instructor has arrived to help in the shop and she is proving a real help as it is another viewpoint and trainer I can learn from.  

The PADI Course Director arrives today to teach Simon his IDC Staff Instructor qualification.  It will be the same CD that teaches Antonio and me the IDC course which starts on Thursday.  Already trying to crack on through the Pre-Study section of my Instructor Candidate workbook.  Lots of reading and questions.  At the end of the IDC I will then have a 2 day Instructor examination which will be conducted by someone flying in from PADI Europe in Switzerland.  In this exam we will be joined by some candidates from another dive shop from Marbella called Happy Divers.  I really want to do myself and Simply Diving proud by passing but I know that it will not be easy by any means.  I must be able to perform tasks and activities to demonstration standard.

The weather over the past week has been a bit changeable and I have seen the first rain showers since being here.  It has brightened up though and next week is supposed to be really good.

Really miss Amanda after our great week together last week.  I know she will be feeling the pressure of the last term and my hat really goes off to her for all the work and effort she has put in.  Not long before I join her again but this time in South of France for the May break.

Will keep you updated as to how I go in the Divemaster program and how the IDC shapes up.

Take care