PADI IDC on Koh Lanta for March/April 2011 has kicked off

PADI IDC on Koh Lanta for March/April 2011 has kicked off

Blue Planet Divers on Koh Lanta is organizing a back to back IDC programs and this program sees three candidates, Marisa and Daniel from South Africa and Karolina from Sweden. The international vibe is definitely being kept alive!

Today we started with sorting out the paperwork and liability releases and such but there were also the favorites, theory exams! From left to right, Marisa, Daniel and Karolina.

The afternoon was spent in the pool for a confined water skill circuit and some practicing of Rescue diver course exercise #7.

Keep your eyes posted on this blog for more updates on this current Koh Lanta IDC.

If you are interested in participating in one of my IDC's, please check my website and there are IDC's starting 11th April in Khao Lak, 25th April the first IDC on Gili Air in Indonesia with Oceans 5 and 12th May on Koh Samui!

Camille

Instructor Specialties on Chaweng Beach

Instructor Specialties on Chaweng Beach

Over the last two days, I conducted a few Instructor Specialties on Chaweng Beach with Simon who completed his IDC this last January on Koh Samui.

Octopus during a Search & Recovery dive

We conducted the night-, underwater navigation- and Search & Recovery Instructor specialties on Chaweng beach and today we added the Emergency Oxygen Provider and Nitrox Instructor courses.

Simon deploying a lift bag

We were lucky and during both our diving days we had reasonable conditions on Chaweng Beach which made the dives enjoyable.

During the Search & Recovery specialty we did a bit o a clean up as well and it's sad to see what we all found found, the pollution on the beach just doesn't seem to stop; 8 masks (one in mint condition, thanks!) two fins, loads of empty bottles and cans, buckets in various sizes, plastic, shoes, sunglasses etc. Without problems we filled three bags and had to stop putting more into them because the bags were full!

During the night dive we spotted this cute shrimp, with a crab looking on in the background.

During the classroom bit of the courses, Emergency Oxygen and Nitrox at the local hyperbaric chamber in Bang Rak.

If you're interested in Instructor Specialty training, a MSDT prep course or MSDT internship, please contact me.

Camille

Camille receives PADI Platinum Course Director rating for 2011

Camille receives PADI Platinum Course Director rating for 2011

For a fifth consecutive year, since PADI Asia Pacific introduced this rating, Camille received the prestigious PADI Platinum Course Director rating for 2011, a rating that allows me to become one of only 57 Course Directors worldwide to earn this level of recognition!

Above is a picture of the 2009 wall certificate, hopefully the new one will drop in my mail box soon!

Come and join me in one of my IDC's, have a look at my current IDC schedule to look for an IDC that fits your schedule.

Camille

Camille's new cooperation with Oceans 5 on Gili Air in Indonesia

Camille's new cooperation with Oceans 5 on Gili Air in Indonesia

As of yesterday Oceans 5 dive resort on Gili Air in Indonesia received the PADI 5* IDC Center rating from PADI and I'm going to work with them as their PADI Course Director.

Join us for the first ever PADI IDC on Gili Air, starting 25th April 2011!

Their shop is located directly opposite the pier on Gili Air and is about the first thing you will see upon entering the island!

Sander and Simone, a Dutch couple and the owners of Oceans 5 build a purpose build pool for diving, long and deep, just the way divers like it!

There are plenty of classrooms and the setting will be great to work at!

PADI IDC's will be conducted on a regular base and you're more than welcome to join us. You can actually be part of the first ever IDC on Gili Air starting this 25th April, just get in touch to sign up.

Camille

Camille is about to conduct an IDC in South Korea

Camille is about to conduct an IDC in South Korea

Today the approval for an Alternate Location IDC in Osan, South Korea was approved by PADI, the programme is being conducted for candidates who do not have Korean as a first language.

Camille will work in conjunction with IDCS Instructor Allen Rivera, who just staffed the IDC that Camille conducted on Malapascua in the Philippines and Allen runs a dive center in South Korea by the name of Aquatic Frontier.

The IDC dates are during late July and exact dates will be announced soon, followed by a PADI IE on location, these dates will also be announced soon.

Allen in action during the recent Malapascua IDC.

Allen during his Gas Blender course on Malapascua, eating Nitrox tanks raw for breakfast!

I'm looking forward to this new experience and if you're interested in attending this IDC, please get in touch with me or Allen.

Camille

PADI IE on Koh Lanta for March 2011 successfully completed

PADI IE on Koh Lanta for March 2011 successfully completed

Luke, Paul and Cody are the new PADI Instructors on the block! Congratulations guys, it's well deserved!

From left to right; Luke, myself, Rob the PADI Examiner, Paul and Cody

After two days of hard work and nerves as steel, around noon today it was official, they passed the PADI IE on Koh Lanta and are now officially PADI Instructors.

If you want to become a PADI Instructor, new IDC's conducted by me are starting the 27th March on Koh Lanta again, 11th April in Kao Lak and the very first IDC ever on Gili Air in Indonesia starting 25th April and there's also an IDC on starting 5th May on Koh Samui.

Camille

EFR Instructor course Koh Lanta March 2011

EFR Instructor course Koh Lanta March 2011

After having completed the IDC two days ago on Koh Lanta, yesterday was the time to complete the EFR Instructor course.

Left to right, Luke, Camille, Paul and Codie

A morning of theory and an afternoon of 'hands on' with Little Annie did the job!

Now it's waiting for Friday to come and the PADI IE to kick off!

If you're interested in an participating in one of my IDC's, come and see for the 27th March IDC on Koh Lanta, 11th April in Kao Lak and the very first IDC ever on Gili Air in Indonesia starting 25th April. If all that still isn't enough, there's also an IDC on starting 5th May on Koh Samui.

Camille

PADI IDC on Koh Lanta March 2011 is in the bag!

PADI IDC on Koh Lanta March 2011 is in the bag!

Yesterday we finished the current IDC on Koh Lanta in a storm with hard rain and thunder during our Open Water dive off Klong Dao or Phra Ae beach. It hammered down whilst the candidates were doing their 800 meter snorkel.

Nonetheless, all is done and over now and this IDC is officially in the bag.

Luke having fun with his Surface Marker Buoy

We had plenty of more classroom presentations by the candidates and a few curriculum presentations by me to top it off.

Cody in confined water

There was also plenty of time to be spend in the water and we used a brand new, massive pool, 10 by 15 meters for the first time during this IDC, which was a beauty to be in.

Paul during Rescue exercise # 7 in Open Water

Yesterday we finished it all off with an Open Water dive and it's time to look forward now to the EFR Instructor course, the free Nitrox Instructor course which is included in all of my IDC's and the PADI IE to be conducted on Koh Lanta this coming Friday and Saturday 11th and 12th March.

If you're interested in participating in one of my IDC's, the next IDC will start on Koh Lanta again on 27th March, followed by Kao Lak on 11th April and the first ever IDC on Gili Air in Indonesia on 25th April and if you still didn't have enough, a home game on Koh Samui starting 5th May.

Camille

PADI IDC March 2011 on Koh Lanta is half way!

PADI IDC March 2011 on Koh Lanta is half way!

Today we're enjoying a day off during the busy IDC schedule on this current IDC on Koh Lanta having completed the Assistant Instructor part.

Cody with his non diving training aid!

Besides listening to plenty of curriculum presentations by me, the candidates have also presented their own Knowledge Development or classroom presentations.

Paul in Open Water with a lift bag

Besides confined water presentations there has also been an open water dive off Phra Ae beach. Visibility is nice right now and they all managed to get good scores.

Anybody a sheet bend?

During my IDC's I also include plenty of workshops and one of them is about knot tying, which appears in the Search & Recovery specialty.

Cody attempting a CESA, controlled by Luke

Cody, Paul and Luke during the rescue scenario in Open Water

Tomorrow we will continue with the OWSI program, to be followed by the EFR Instructor course and the PADI IE will be held on Koh Lanta on 11th and 12th March.

My next IDC will be held on Koh Lanta again, starting 27th March followed by an IDC starting 11th April in Kao Lak, let me know if you're interested.

Camille

PADI Platinum Course Director, Camille Lemmens Runs for Ocean Protection

PADI Platinum Course Director, Camille Lemmens

Runs for Ocean Protection

On 12th June 2011, PADI Platinum Course Director, Camille Lemmens will swap his scuba diving fins for running shoes as he participates in the Laguna Phuket International Marathon to raise funds for marine conservation.

Taking part in the half marathon Camille will join over 5,000 walkers and runners of all ages. But rather than just being a regular participant, Camille wants to do something positive for our oceans.

“As a PADI Platinum Course Director I’m privileged to spend many of my working hours underwater seeing the amazing diversity that Mother Nature offers. I also have a responsibility to ensure the continual and prolonged healthy underwater world,” said Lemmens.

“I’ve taken part in many marathons but this year I wanted to do something a little different. So I’m raising funds for Project AWARE, whose goal is to encourage and inspire divers to be part of the solution for ocean protection.”

Thailand’s PADI Regional Manager Tony Andrews, immediately joined efforts with Camille and together they’re planning to each run a half marathon.

Commenting on the marathon, PADI Regional Manager, Tony Andrews said, “I’m so excited that Camille has chosen to support PADI’s environmental partner, Project AWARE Foundation. I encourage other PADI Members in the area to get involved and join Camille. And to show my support I will also take part and help raise funds for the charity.”

Anyone can support Camille and Tony’s efforts by:

• Joining the team and running or walking in either one of the distances available, the full marathon at 42,195 km, the half marathon at 21 km, a 10.5 km run, a 2km kids run or a 5 km walk.

• Sponsoring Camille and Tony with a minimum donation of AU$60 – 2.100THB ($3 for each kilometre they plan to run). Go to www.projectaware.org/phuketmarathon to make your donation online.

Donations over AU$100 will be listed on the Project AWARE website.

If you’re interested in taking part in the Sponsored Run for AWARE then get in touch with Camille camille@idcthailand.net or PADI Regional Manager, Tony Andrews at tony.andrews@padi.com.au to find out more. Until 31st March Camille and Tony can offer reduced registration rates to all that want to participate in any of the mentioned distances. The participant rates are listed here.