EFR Instructor course for February 2009 completed

EFR Instructor course for February 2009 completed

After the IDC I usually plan the EFR Instructor course as the first course to be completed and today we tackled said EFRI course.

Gav, Preben and Krit gathered at 9 am at the local recompression chamber in Bang Rak and we completed the course at leisurely pace and after the course I gave a short tour of the actual recompression chamber.

More Instructor specialty training to follow these coming days.

Camille

Another Divemaster skill circuit

Another Divemaster skill circuit

It's that time of the month again and the Divemasters were lining up for their skill circuit.

We have a new group and from left to right it's Morten from Norway, Bruno from Belgium and Goran from Croatia.

Bruno is working out with his new equipment, he got himself sorted with a brand new set of Mares equipment.

Part of the skill circuit is to assemble and disassemble scuba equipment, they all three had to perform this, like Bruno in the picture above.

Aaron, who you may remember from last month skill circuit has been signed off in the meantime as a PADI Divemaster and is awaiting his PADI member # before he returns home to Australia. Hopefully to come back later this year and complete his IDC.

Camille

A liquid image?

A liquid image?

Recently I stumbled over this amazing piece of dive equipment. Yes, you're seeing right, an underwater camera build into your mask invented by the good folks of Liquid Image.


The max specified depth is just 5 meters but around now a scuba series should be introduced with a max depth of 35 meters, see picture below.

Although they don't look very streamlined, they're an amazing feat in my opinion and let's hope that this is just the tip of the iceberg of underwater gadgets and tools to come.

Camille

The February 2009 IE is completed

The February 2009 IE is completed

Two nerve wrecking days for the 5 candidates came finally to an end today with the completion of the Open Water segment of this PADI IE, the last of four segments.

Yesterday the IE kicked off with an Orientation session by PADI Examiner Rob Scammell, immediately followed by the 5 theory exams and a General Standards exam.

After this was completed, they tackled their Knowledge Development assignment or also known as their classroom presentation. The picture above shows the classroom in full swing during the first day.

This morning they continued with fresh energy for the Confined Water presentation and a skill circuit consisting of 5 skills, here they're all demonstrating the removal and replacement of the weight system at the surface.

For the Open Water presentation this morning on Chaweng Beach, they needed to set up a work station which involves the sand screw that Gav his holding here. It seems that he's very pleased that for once he's allowed to screw around.

The official picture of this very international IDC / IE, showing from left to right standing; Camille, the PADI Course Director, Krit from Thailand and Rob the PADI Examinor.

Sitting and hanging in the front row are from left to right; Gav from the UK, Baerbel from Austria, Preben from Denmark and Imad from Lebanon.

Well done guys, see you tonight at the party.

Camille

The February 2009 IDC is completed

The February 2009 IDC is completed

Well, at least almost! Tomorrow morning (early) we'll complete the last segment of the OWSI course, the Open Water dive. This is a change of the schedule since one of the students, Baerbel, has an ear infection and we are trying to give her an additional day out of the water, so her ear gets some more rest.
Tomorrow afternoon the PADI IE will kick off as well!

Baerbel and Gav during the preparation of the Open Water of the AI Course, last week.

This OWSI course had more Confined Water presentations and here is Imad giving a demonstration using his 'Certified Assistant' Preben on how the CESA or Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent is conducted, during his briefing

During the Confined and Open Water dives of an IDC PADI has now included continual education courses in the curriculum for the students, which makes the whole IDC more realistic and interesting and here we see Preben demonstrating how to 'exit an unconscious diver out of the water' from the Rescue Diver course.

There was also more Knowledge Development work to be completed by the candidates and we can see Baerbel with an umbrella during one of her presentations, a really inspired and unusual 'non diving' training aid.

It was a hard work for all of us but now they're ready to spill their guts when the PADI IE kicks off tomorrow afternoon.

Camille

PADI Specialty of the month February 2009; Boat diver

PADI Specialty of the month February 2009; Boat diver

Here on Koh Samui and almost all of of Thailand, we are in the luxury position to complete almost all of our dives from boats. Admittedly, I love diving on Chaweng reef but boat diving has it's charms. During my recent trips to Pattaya and the Similan Islands, I dived from boats and as already mentioned, the majority of dives around or from Samui are done with and from boats.

The MV Waverunner, the boat I mainly use on Samui and Koh Tao, as pictured above, is a custom build dive boat and has a large capacity of divers it can hold.

There's a wide variety of boats, ranging from small dingy's to luxury live aboards.

This Specialty course can benefit almost every diver because different boats in different parts of the world do things differently. This Specialty course familiarizes you with the various ways you stow gear, enter and exit the water, use surface lines and more, depending upon the type boat and the location.

The specialty is more than just explaining the difference between starboard and port (we just left port!!!) and where the head is.

Come and join us on our daily boat trips from Samui and get a 10% discount this month if you participate in the Boat dive specialty of the month.

Camille

The February AI Course of the IDC is completed

The February AI Course of the IDC is completed

With a lovely and sunny day on Chaweng beach, conducting an Open Water dive and an 800 meter swim, that's how we completed the AI Course part of this current February IDC. Tomorrow we kick off the OWSI Program.

From left to right, Gav, Krit, Imad and Baerbel after their 800 meter swim, Preben is still on his way, taking a different route and swimming almost twice as much as the others! Well done Preben!

Preben during on of his Knowledge Development presentations as part of this AI Course.

Almost every day we practiced Rescue Exercise # 7 from the Rescue diver course, in preparation for the PADI IE, during which this exercise is scheduled for the Open Water part. Here is Imad trying to rescue Preben.

Baerbel during her skill circuit, demonstrating the Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent or CESA with Imad in the background, getting ready for his take off!

Gav and Preben demonstrating buddy breathing as part of their skill circuit.

Last but not least, Krit and Imad demonstrating the Alternate Air Source exercise during their skill circuit. Over three days we practised and finally evaluated their skill circuit, consisting of 20 skills.

As always, we have lovely and relaxing lunches at the newly refurbished beach restaurant at World Resort where my IDC's are conducted.

So far things are going fine due to some hard work being put in by all of us. Stay tuned for more updates!

Camille

Prep IDC for February 2009 has kicked off today

Prep IDC for February 2009 has kicked off today

After a few firsts this year, like my dive trip to the Similan islands and the First Instructor level course I taught this year, last week with James' DSAT Gas Blender course, it is now time for the first IDC of this year, the 50th in total that I teach as a PADI Course Director.

It's a nice turn out with 5 very international candidates, from left to right it's Krit from Thailand, Bearbel from Austria in front and behind her Gav from the UK, Imad from Lebanon and Preben from Denmark, ready to kick off this IDC with the prep course.

Today we took care of the red tape, all required paperwork was completed, a Physics exam was administered, the orientation presentation was held and after lunch we went to the pool for a skill circuit and some rescue exercise # 7 practice.

Tomorrow more exams are waiting for them and more work in the pool and Tuesday the AI course will kick off. Keep your eyes posted here for more updates, soon to come!

Camille