Bob Teaches PADI Open Water Final Day.....Almost!

Days 3, 4 and 5 of the Open Water course.

Day 3 and dives 1 and 2 went well, all skills performed like an expert. Unfortunately a touch of food poisoning left days 4 and 5 a little empty on the diving front.

I am hoping that tomorrow will yield a fresh start for dives 3 and 4. We shall see.

The IDC candidates are relaxing awaiting teaching status and some MSDT training. Deep, Nitrox, Digital Underwater Photography and Night dive to come soon!

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Bob Teaches PADI Open Water

Day after yesterday and day 2 Open Water course.

Thankfully all of the MIAs from yesterday did indeed surface, some of them regretting life itself, never mind the beer.

Open Water confined went great today, in the pool. An unusual talent for skills and a certain level of competitiveness go a very long way! Looking forward to dives 1 and 2 tomorrow!

WANT TO BECOME A DIVE INSTRUCTOR? LEARN WITH BOB AT PLANET SCUBA - CLICK HERE

Instructor Exam Party Koh Tao

Post IE Party

Some (read all) heads were sore this morning. At least those that saw this morning.

Copious quantities of beer were consumed and the sensible Course Directors went home early. There are still some faces not accounted for, though I am sure they will surface before long.

Today I start an Open Water course for a good friend of mine. More news on that (and the MIA (missing in action) from yesterday, tomorrow!

WANT TO BECOME A DIVE INSTRUCTOR? LEARN WITH BOB AT PLANET SCUBA - CLICK HERE

Planet Scuba July 2011 I.E.

100% Success was the order of the day. The final day of the PADI Instructor Examination was today and all of the candidates performed admirably.
Great scores for all and big smiles too.

The closing ceremony was held at Darawan restaurant, who provided free fruit shakes.

MSDT training starts in a few days, I have a feeling that a few beers may be consumed this evening!

WANT TO BECOME A DIVE INSTRUCTOR? LEARN WITH BOB AT PLANET SCUBA - CLICK HERE

Planet Scuba July Instructor Examination Days 1 and 2

Yesterday was a huge success. You would have found out yesterday if it were any different!

All candidates passed the exams with flying colours.

Today was day 2 of the I.E. and the knowledge development went as expected this morning, all scoring very highly. However, with the open water presentation looming, they were all still nervous.

This afternoon was a tense time on the boat with all 31 candidates from Koh Tao and Koh Pha Ngan pacing the decks and miming their skills. Once again all of the candidates did everything the way that they had been trained and, for that reason, scored very highly. Once the feedback had been given there were smiles all round and everybody seemed to have had a huge weight lifted from their shoulders.

Only the swimming pool tomorrow morning, let us hope that they DEMONSTRATE!

More tomorrow!

Planet Scuba June/July 2011 IDC Mock Examination

Today was the second and last day of the Mock I.E.

Many of the candidates did not need to participate as they had shown great aptitude during the IDC. Those that did participate today did very well and are now relaxing for the evening.

Gordon is looking forward to the IE

The real Instructor Exam begins tomorrow at 1pm with the orientation by the PADI Examiners and the theory and standards exams. The candidates will know everything that is expected of them throughout the entire I.E. by tomorrow afternoon and will be using their time effectively to get their presentations for classroom, pool and open water prepared.

High scores are expected! I will let you know tomorrow!

WANT TO BECOME A DIVE INSTRUCTOR? LEARN WITH BOB AT PLANET SCUBA - CLICK HERE

Planet Scuba June/July 2011 IDC final day

At long last, the end of the IDC!

The final day consisted of a final Open Water presentation this morning in which some great progress was made.

More exams this afternoon and the mock I.E. starts tomorrow with examination conditions and some water work and classroom presentations. The impending real I.E. starts on Tuesday with the PADI staff Young Hi and Rob Scammell, should be fun.

WANT TO BECOME A DIVE INSTRUCTOR? LEARN WITH BOB AT PLANET SCUBA - CLICK HERE

Planet Scuba June/July IDC Day 10

The penultimate day of the IDC started with Risk Management 1 and 2. They all laughed at the dive accident video in the presentation until it was reinforced that the video was based on a REAL incident. Mirth turned to disbelief.

A long session on knots and lift bags for all. Lunch at Safety Stop and out for Open Water Presentations 3&4. The lift bag skills were almost exemplary. The knots were another story, one candidate managed to end up with his rope inside his mask and another attempted to hang himself with it (unsuccessfully).

Finishing the day off with rescue, unresponsive diver at the surface in 1 metre waves was interesting and good practice for all.

Final Open Water presentations in the morning and we shall see what development has occurred!

WANT TO BECOME A DIVE INSTRUCTOR? LEARN WITH BOB AT PLANET SCUBA - CLICK HERE

Planet Scuba IDC days 9 and 10

Day 9 was morning classroom presentations by me, followed by Confined Water presentations 2 and 3. Some exceptional presentations and some that needed some small repairs. A good learning experience for all of the candidates.

Day 10 started with the candidates presenting academics in the classroom, a major improvement for most. The structure appears to be sinking in! Marketing Diving followed, by yours truly, naturally expounded the benefits of becoming a Master Scuba Diver Trainer, SOLD! Then back to Confined Water to present numbers 4 and 5, again a vast improvement, we seem to be getting it.

Open Water tomorrow for the second time, 2 skills, one briefing and some slightly more disciplined candidates than last time ( I hope!).

More news tomorrow, the end is in sight!


WANT TO BECOME A DIVE INSTRUCTOR? LEARN WITH BOB AT PLANET SCUBA - CLICK HERE

Planet Scuba June/July 2011 IDC Days 5 to 8

A collective blog today, summarising a few days in one blog.

Day 5 went well, the first open water session revealed that some of the candidates still believe that they are cool Divemasters, who can cruise around like the little mermaid, and not "Open Water" students, hanging on their instructors every word or signal. Some remediation was necessary.

Day 6 was EFR Instructor day! Squash and blow went well and everybody came out of the day alive (with some bandages and splints). Great results on the EFRI exam.

Day 7 was a well deserved day off. Nothing went wrong with that day.

Day 8 (today) was a full day. Business of Diving to start the day with Justin followed by the Open Water Course presentation from myself and the Adventures in Diving presentation. Purposes Values and Goals all understood and standards were a breeze!

Lunch at Cafe Del Sol was followed by the candidates second Knowledge Development presentation, some interesting developments in teaching style were witnessed. The day ended with the Rescue Diver curriculum presentation by me, to a standing ovation!

Second confined session tomorrow! Here's hoping! 


WANT TO BECOME A DIVE INSTRUCTOR? LEARN WITH BOB AT PLANET SCUBA - CLICK HERE

Planet Scuba June/July IDC Day 4

Day 4 already! A successful day all round. Preparing Confined Water Presentations this morning and all of the candidates seem to get the idea that a briefing is BRIEF.

Off to the pool in the afternoon and it has mostly come together. Some hiccups with debriefings and one with performance requirements (and not meeting them), but no problem, this is the place to make mistakes and learn from them. Better here than the IE!

Rock on day 5 and the Open Water presentations!

WANT TO BECOME A DIVE INSTRUCTOR? LEARN WITH BOB AT PLANET SCUBA - CLICK HERE

Planet Scuba June/July 2011 IDC Day 2

Physiology this morning seemed to sink in adequately, followed by General Standards and Procedures part 1 and 2. The candidates seem to have grasped GSP quite well and have been given a standards exam for homework. I am expecting high scores tomorrow morning.

The afternoon was spent in the swimming pool where a full skill circuit was completed successfully by all. A quick review of upcoming Rescue skills, admirably demonstrated by myself and Justin. Straight fives for me!

Knowledge Development tomorrow, we hope for brief presentations and confident sales. I will let you know tomorrow!

Planet Scuba June/July IDC Day 1, 28/6/2011

Would you believe it? We started another IDC today, so soon after the successful end of the last!

Day 1 went very well, the Orientation and some much needed theory reviews. The candidates are getting to know each other and seem to be getting on well already.

In the introductions (part of the orientation), we found a huge variety of past occupations; armed forces, teachers, students and office workers all seeking the same goal. To live the dream and escape the humdrum of their home countries. To travel the world and see the wonders therein.

That is what we do! Change your lifestyle!

Planet Scuba IDC Preparation for the June/July IDC

A relaxed prep day covering control and delivery today. Descents and CESA workshop went very well. I managed to descend as the "student" to 6 metres and kneel on the floor. At this point I found it necessary to switch from my snorkel to my regulator as I was in need of a breath. The "instructor" showed that he needs some assistance in the positive reinforcement category, his reaction being a little less polite than what was expected.

Then off for a fun dive at Green Rock only to find a rather large, and not particularly shy turtle!

The blog is late because the telephone lines went dead. The entire island had to resort to an arcane form of communication called conversation.


WANT TO BECOME A DIVE INSTRUCTOR? LEARN WITH BOB AT PLANET SCUBA - CLICK HERE

Planet Scuba June 2011 PADI Instructor Specialities

This morning we went to the new Koh Tao wreck, the HTMS Sattakrut, to conduct part of the Speciality Instructor training. She lies on her starboard side with the port guwhale at about 22m. Looking for hazards and mapping the wreck. We found the guns, one on the bow and one the stern. Cannot see the bridge at the moment as the silt has not cleared.

A few rarities like a baby bannerfish and a pipefish of some description (will have to look it up).

It looks like it will develop into a stunning dive site when the marine life and coral start to inhabit it. At this time penetration is looking unlikely but you never know, if the visibility clears we will have a better idea.


Some IDC preparation tomorrow as the next one starts on the 28th June!

WANT TO BECOME A DIVE INSTRUCTOR? LEARN WITH BOB AT PLANET SCUBA - CLICK HERE

Instructor Examination Final Day for Planet Scuba June IDC 2011

As expected! All of the candidates sailed through the June 2011 Instructor Exam. A couple of very long water sessions for the examiners George and Jim. A good job by all and handshakes were the order of the day. I am very impressed with the professionalism, patience and hard work put in by all! Thanks for the effort guys.

Examiner George commented that a couple of the candidates were "perfectionists", which is nice (in my opinion).

100% satisfaction and happiness and perhaps a civilised beer or two this evening. MSDT starting soon so back to work again. Then on to the July IDC starting on the 28th of June.

Planet Scuba Instructor Exam June 2011

Instructor Examination Day 2 Complete! Everybody has done very well and passed the second day of the PADI IE.

The morning was spent presenting Knowledge Development in the classroom and this afternoon was spent in Aow Leuk (Deep bay in English), conducting Open Water skills. The usual nerves and "Oh my God, I think I missed something!" but all turned out fantastically! All good passes.

A long day for all, we started at 7:30 this morning and finished around 7:00 this evening. Thanks to George and Jim for their excellent work as the PADI Instructor Examiners.

Only tomorrow morning remains! The Confined Water section of the IE, one skill, no beer until everything is finished! We are confident that all of the candidates are more than able to get this done!