First ever Western PADI IE in Deoksan, South Korea has been completed

First ever Western PADI IE in Deoksan, South Korea has been completed

After the first ever Western PADI IDC in South Korea was completed, it had to be followed by the first ever Western PADI IE in South Korea.

The PADI IE Group picture, from left to right; Jay, Michael, Clyde, Luis, Camille (PADI Course Director), Allen (MI) and Boo Kyung Kim (PADI Examiner and regional manager for South Korea). Sitting in front are Bokhee and Hai-Wen

The PADI IE went smoothly and all of the six candidates were successful, although Bok Hee struggled with the Standards Exam and has to give this another go.

The Marine Tourism & Leisure Sports Centre / 해양관광레저스포츠센터 in Deoksan, where the IE took place, which is part of the Kangwon National University.

The announcement of the IE at the Marine Tourism & Leisure Sports Centre / 해양관광레저스포츠센터 in Deoksan.

Preparation for open water, it was a very wet and coldish day with lots of fog!

Boo Kyung Kim the PADI Examiner and regional manager for South Korea, myself and Jimmy Kim, a Korean PADI Course Director who helped out during the rescue training part in Open Water

It was a great adventure for me and I enjoyed being here in South Korea a lot. Many thanks go out to Allen Rivera, who runs Aquatic Frontier in South Korea, without whom this would not have been possible. The IDC was fun and travelling through the Korean country side to the IE location was very interesting. I'm looking forward to continue opening the Western market in South Korea and new IDC dates are being planned towards January/February 2012. If you're interested, let me know!

Camille

PADI IDC for July 2011 in Osan, ROK is in the can

PADI IDC for July 2011 in Osan, ROK is in the can

Well that is, tomorrow it's actually going to be completed. This afternoon we will go on a road trip to the South Korean East coast, so we can conduct two Open Water dives tomorrow, which will officially complete the current first Western IDC in South Korea.

Many thanks go out to Allen Rivera, who runs Aquatic Frontier in South Korea, without whom this IDC would not have been possible.

That's us on Osan A.B. in the classroom

Saturday the PADI IE will kick off, and by Sunday afternoon all these six current PADI Divemasters should have turned into PADI Instructors! Stay tuned for updates come Sunday evening local Korean time.

Hai-Wen during her knowledge presentation

It's going to be an interesting trip, since parts of the country are flooded and there has been some serious storm problems and floods around Seoul and the West coast. I also may have only limited or no access to internet until we get back to Osan, Sunday afternoon or early evening.

Bokhee selling a mesh bag during her Project AWARE presentation

So far it has been a fun IDC with some interesting twists and turns. The T-shirts we had made for this occasion turned out to be below the quality we expected, so they have to wait a bit. Now I've been to Korea and don't even have a T-shirt to show for!

Clyde with his weight belt during a knowledge development presentation

Jay in confined water, removing and replacing his weight belt

Luis with a Project AWARE slide

Michael during confined water

Hai-Wen had her birthday during this IDC, which was celebrated with this nice chocolate cake

The van that is going to take us to the coast and back

It's going to be interesting tomorrow, hopefully the water will not be too cold for the Open water dives (I'm prepared with a 5mm and a 5mm shorty, gloves, a hood, gosh, it's been a while since I've been diving in cold water and we even may have planned another IDC here during February, when it's really cold!

Anyway, stay tuned, updates will be here latest come Sunday!

If you're interested in participating in one of my IDC's, the next PADI IDC is starting 7th August on Koh Samui followed by an IDC on Koh Phangan in September, both in Thailand. More programs for the remainder of the year will be conducted on Gili Air in Indonesia and Dauin in the Philippines among others, please look here for my schedule.

Camille

Osan's first Western PADI IDC in South Korea for July 2011 is half way

Osan's first Western PADI IDC in South Korea for July 2011 is half way

Yes indeed, the half way mark for the First ever Western PADI IDC in South Korea is half way!

Osan is rocking and the candidates are making a good meal out of it!

Jay during a Knowledge Development presentation about a Project AWARE topic

We're already several skill circuits, knowledge development- and confined water presentations into this program! We're knee deep in it so to speak.

Ginat Stride by Mike with Luis and Bokhee looking on

Today we also completed the 800 meter swim and tomorrow it's exam time again, this time for real!

Hai-Wen during her BCD removal and replacement skill

Working at the air base is a breeze, spending time in a very spacious classroom and a massive pool for confined water is very enjoyable and enhances the learning experience at the convenience levels.

Bokhee and Luis during an Alternate Air Source skill

It's just a mix of a few days more classroom and confined water before we move out to the ocean for a days worthwhile of Open Water training, to be followed by PADI's IE!

Clyde and Mike showing off an air depletion skill

It's a good program and it's fun and we're having some good laughs and on top of that the candidates are all on a steep learning curve!

Stay tuned for more updates and if you're interested in participating in one of my IDC's, the next PADI IDC is starting 7th August on Koh Samui followed by an IDC on Koh Phangan in September, both in Thailand. More programs for the remainder of the year will be conducted on Gili Air in Indonesia and Dauin in the Philippines among others, please look here for my schedule.

Camille

PADI IDC for July 2011 in Osan, South Korea is under way!

PADI IDC for July 2011 in Osan, South Korea is under way!

Yesterday the Osan IDC for July 2011 in South Korea kicked off. 6 candidates are going to battle it out during 10 days to become the newest PADI instructors on the block. Clyde, Hai-Wen, Jay, Mike, Luis and Bookhee have their work carved out for them for the next 2 weeks, including the PADI IE, to be held on 30th and 31st July.

The conference room at the US Air Force base

This is also my 80th IDC that I conduct as a PADI Course Director and it's great to be in a new environment, opening new doors for PADI in Korea.

Rescue exercise # 7, unconscious diver at the surface

This IDC is held at the Osan US Air Force base which resembles a small town in the USA. Each day the candidates need to be checked in and out of base, providing they're not working on base. You can pay with US Dollars and the food court and restaurants are all original American eateries or restaurants, like Taco Bell, Charley's, Popeye's, Starbucks, Burger King and MacDonalds, etc.

Luis rescuing Clyde

Both the classroom and pool facilities are big and nice and well maintained and the Open Water training dives will be on the coast, just before the PADI IE kicks off.

Jay during his exercise, rescuing Bokhee

Hai-Wen making the most of Mike's rescue

Stay tuned for more updates on this current IDC in South Korea. If you're interested in participating in an IDC with Camille, in either Thailand, Indonesia or the Philippines, please contact me or have a look at my IDC schedule.

Camille

PADI IE on Koh Samui for July 2011 is in the bag

PADI IE on Koh Samui for July 2011 is in the bag

Once more two nerve wrecking days for my IDC candidates during the PADI IE (does it ever change with those nerves?) but this afternoon it was all over and what a relief it was!

The official picture for the yearbooks, from left to right; Rob Scammell (PADI Examiner), Leslie, Frank, Stephen, Lorne, Stacey and myself

During the confined water presentation

Rob's general briefing for the Open Water segment

It's been a fun IDC with some hard work in there! In 4 more days I start a new adventure aka IDC in Osan, South Korea, so stay tuned for more updates on that! This to be followed by another IDC on Koh Samui, starting 7th August which in turn is followed by an early September program on Koh Phangan, directly followed by an additionally scheduled IDC on Gili Air in Indonesia, starting 15th September. . A busy schedule ahead so don't miss out! All of these IDC's have confirmed candidates, so hope to see you there! There may be even an IDC scheduled in The Philippines later this year!

Camille

Specialty Instructor training around Koh Samui, July 2011

Specialty Instructor training around Koh Samui, July 2011

After completing the recent July 2011 IDC on Koh Samui, I completed some Specialty Instructor training with Stacey.

Stacey completing her timed skill at depth at Sail Rock during a deep dive

We spent a lot of time on Chaweng Beach but also had lovely day at Sail Rock with around 20 to 25 meters visibility.

Getting used on how to work a compass before going underwater for Underwater Navigation

Part of one of the biggest schools of Barracuda I've ever seen at Sail Rock

Stacey and me at Sail Rock checking out a big school of fusiliers

Using the lift bag correctly during the Search & Recovery dive

A very cute octopus on Chaweng Beach peeping out of it's house

We also had a go at the Digital Underwater Photography, Nitrox, Night and Oxygen Provider Instructor courses.

Today they all start the PADI IE, which should be completed by tomorrow, so check in and see how they did.

Camille

Camille's new cooperation with PADI CDC center Sea Explorers in Dauin, Philippines

Camille's new cooperation with PADI CDC center Sea Explorers in Dauin, Philippines

As of right now Camille starts to conduct PADI IDC's with PADI CDC Center Sea Explorers in Dauin, which is in the Philippines.

The purpose build IDC pool at Sea Explorers IDC center in Dauin

Since 1989, Sea Explorers have been located in the Philippines and have grown into one of the biggest tour and dive operators in the Visayas, an area around Cebu, in the Philippines.

The purpose build IDC classroom in Dauin

Although they run dive centers at 5 locations and run dive trips between all these locations, the dedicated IDC location is at Dauin, near Dumaguete in the province of Negros Oriental, just south of Cebu.

We're looking at a first IDC late 2011, around October/November with a few more IDC's scheduled during 2012. Stay tuned for more updates.

Camille

PADI Oxygen Provider Instructors on Koh Samui

PADI Oxygen Provider Instructors on Koh Samui

Today we're about to finish the last bits and pieces of this current July IDC on Koh Samui and we completed the Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor Course at the classroom of the local hyperbaric chamber, followed by a tour of said hyperbaric chamber.

From left to right; Lorne, Frank, Leslie, Stacey, myself and Stephen

Leslie having a go at Lorne with the wrench

Inscription on the hyperbaric chamber

Stay tuned to see how they do during their PADI IE this coming Friday and Saturday.

Camille

Koh Samui's EFR Instructor's course for July 2011 is in the bag

Koh Samui's EFR Instructor's course for July 2011 is in the bag

After we completed the IDC for July 2011 yesterday, it was today the run for 4 out of the 5 candidates to complete the EFR Instructor course, since Lorne completed his EFRI course already last year.

From left to right, Leslie, Frank, Stephen, Stacey and myself

We had fun in the local hyperbaric chamber's classroom in Bang Rak, where we also conducted this month's IDC.

AED machine at Lombok airport's domestics departure hall in Indonesia

We also practiced with an AED which for Leslie and Frank was a first.

Now we head into a couple of days kicking back and Specialty Instructor training with Stacey, so stay tuned to this channel for more updates.

Camille

PADI IDC July 2011 on Koh Samui has been completed

PADI IDC July 2011 on Koh Samui has been completed

Today we completed almost all of this month PADI IDC on Koh Samui, with just one more presentation to go tomorrow. Everybody's happy about that an looking forward to the PADI IE on Koh Samui, on 15th and 16th July.

Leslie during one of her Knowledge Development presentations

Lots of hard work and long days have been left behind us and it seems that on the last day everything came together for some of the candidates. Well done!

Lorne during another Knowledge Presentation

The whole IDC bag of tricks was thrown at the candidates, including their Knowledge Presentations, Confined and Open Water presentations, plenty of workshops throughout the whole IDC and presentations by myself.

Stacey and Stephen during an Alternate Air Source skill on their skill circuit

Frank and Stacey during the skill circuit with the air depletion skill

Everybody in action during Rescue exercise # 7, a standard!

It's another 5 days before the PADI IE begins, so plenty of time to re mediate but also to relax in due time. I'll be off with Stacey completing some Specialty Instructor training, so stay tuned for more updates! Tomorrow the EFR Instructor course is also on the menu!

If you're interested in participating in one of my PADI IDC's, the next one is scheduled to start in Osan, South Korea, starting 20th July, to be followed once more by another IDC on Koh Samui, starting 7th August which in turn is followed by an early September program on Koh Phangan, directly followed by an additionally scheduled IDC on Gili Air in Indonesia, starting 15th September. . A busy schedule ahead so don't miss out! All of these IDC's have confirmed candidates, so hope to see you there!

Camille

Additional PADI IDC scheduled on Gili Air in Indonesia, starting 13th September 2011

Additional PADI IDC scheduled on Gili Air in Indonesia, starting 13th September 2011

After two very successful PADI IDC's that were conducted at Oceans 5 on Gili Air in Indonesia, Platinum PADI Course Director Camille Lemmens and PADI 5* Instructor Development Dive Resort Oceans 5 have decided to add an IDC starting 13th September 2011.

Come and join us on Gili Air, a very relaxed island near Lombok and Bali where no cars and motorbikes are allowed and the diving is superb!

Oceans 5 swimming pool with their bungalows in the background

Don't be shy if you have any questions and contact me.

Looking forward seeing you on Gili Air in September!

Camille

PADI IDC on Koh Samui for July 2011 kicked off

PADI IDC on Koh Samui for July 2011 kicked off

The second of a row of four 'back to back' IDC's has kicked off and this time it's after the successful IDC on Gili Air in Indonesia with Oceans 5, a 'home' game on Koh Samui. There are 5 IDC candidates taking the challenge; Steve, Stacey, Lorne, Leslie and Frank.

All five of them during the first set of theory exams

It's the first time that I teach an IDC at the classroom of the local hyperbaric chamber, since the group is too big for the classroom I usually conduct the local Samui IDC's at.

Stacey was already run off her bike, but she's fine and 'taking it like a real man' as she states, so good luck to her and also to Frank, who did his last DM work 6 years ago, go get them Frank!

Keep your eyes tuned in for more updates on this IDC!

If you're interested in participating in one of my PADI IDC's, the next one is scheduled to start in Osan, South Korea, starting 20th July, to be followed once more by another IDC on Koh Samui, starting 7th August which in urn is followed by an early September program on Koh Phangan, directly followed by an additionally scheduled IDC on Gili Air in Indonesia, starting 15th September. . A busy schedule ahead so don't miss out! All of these IDC's have confirmed candidates, so hope to see you there!

Camille