Take the time to...

[Gatistrufi]

One bit of advice that really came good to me was : Take your time , get experience, sure enough there are many offers to go from an OWD up to DM, it seems an easier choice.

But when you take the time in between your courses, you can really appreciate what you are learning, and have time to practice and master your skills, and to try diving in different environments. Its better to take a while to get where you want to, but in the end it may be the shorter way as you will have the experience you need when it comes to it.

I remember craming in my rescue dive and divemaster into a month last summer, also having my final school exams and the fact of moving country all putting borders on the amount of time i had. This year has been really different, instead of jumping straight in i started calmy,renewed my license and insurance, and after 10 dives and practicing skiils I(under water nav etc) i feel really different compared to last year.

Its a golden rule, forget pressure, do everything in your time, and get the confidence that you need, its really worth it, its changes everything... Not constantly checking the clients every 3 mins on air and freaking out at a new dive site, this year i cant wait to get on the boat and to take someone down and show them why i love it

 

[www.scubamazing.com]

Good attitude on stress handling Gatistrufi.

It looks like you'll be safely enjoying this sport for years to come!

 

[Gatistrufi]

Thanx, i really hope to enjoy this for many years to come, jsut starting to get that chilled feeling on guiding a dive but still enjoying it myself.... Looking forward to tomorrow , dive with a client and my partner, both experienced divers, so gliding down of the 7m platform to some 30m... its , well just amazing, i love it that i can finally enjoy it while guiding

 

[Gatistrufi]

Yesterday was a great day, where for once i dont regretting getting up really early to prepare for a boat dive, had al ready and my 2 clients, all really looking forward to a dive, and to have it all ready didnt tke much, id prepared the bads partly the nite before.. from the other end it was,well in a way kinda amusing, we use anothe center for the boat dives this year, so 3 of us waiting, pick up bit late, ended up in wrong center, missed the dive boat.. Just makes me realise, instead of wanting to finish a day early, its better to prepare for tomorrow, less hassle afterwards ... So there are always a few minutes free to prepare somthing for the next day, like me now, off to prepare my Discover dive brienfings... guess the more time and effort, it generally goes better, and its great to be prepared, as our 1st boat dive yeaterday ened up being a pick up one, we werent told as we got taken to the dive site in another boat and just told to do the dive nad surface by the other boat... first time i used a SMB, but had practiced on it before, and made sure the string was untangled... Never go on a dive without a slate now, as most times we have clients who are from other federtaions, so there can be confusions on certain subject... The more experience, good or bad you know how to prepare yourself for another situation, its great to be learing...

 

[cleung]

Those are wise words. Too many people rush into the next courses, especially those who just got certified thinking that they have to jump into AOW right away. Experience is a good teacher as well and one needs time to master the skills learned in each course out there in the water.

 

[Gatistrufi]

Its just comes to knowing when you are ready. which is great, you just do the course when you feel ready, i think by the end of this summer i would like to do my instructor course, i really enjoy the teaching, and dont mind the sessions in the confined water.. Time and experience will tell...

 

[SparticleBrane]

You have very colorful text...

 

[Gatistrufi]

lol, thnx. Wish could have all my gear in colours too

 

[Gatistrufi]

What have people paid to do their instructor, like idc and all?

 

[Gatistrufi]

Any centers to be recomended in South Africa that are well known?