Studying hard, preparing yourself for class, doing exams, being all nervous how you are doing and struggling with certain skills – these are all things we are dealing with on new dive courses.
As a working scuba instructor we don’t have a lot of time to do classes, but earlier this week I got to join in on Advance Nitrox and Decompression Procedures classes.
The course took place over four days. One day classroom with a lot of new detailed theory plus playing with our new equipment on land. One very long day in shallow water – the first time with three tanks and practicing all the new skills we were expected to master within a few days. One day with two simulated dives with task loading and problem solving and the final day, two actual decompression dives to 45 meters!
We learned a lot of new skills and we did spend hours practicing buoyancy, out of air, valve drills, gas switch etc. so that we can handle the worst case ‘what if’ scenario during the dive. In the classroom we learned all about how to make a proper decompression plan for the desired dive and how to optimise the amount of oxygen in your gas for the longest possible bottom time. And of course, what can happen if it all goes wrong.
It’s very easy as an instructor going into a course and being overconfident. However you quickly end up feeling like a brand new diver struggling with skills. For sure I haven’t forgotten the feeling of disappointment when things are not as easy as you want them to be! Over these few days we did a lot of repetition of skills that will help solve problems thats might occur during a dive. We got task loaded and stressed but we ended up being able to handle all these problems in the best possible way!
Now after the course I gained so much knowledge and skills, that I can use to make me a better recreational diver and instructor. It was good fun but I’m not gonna lie, it was very tough. But here we are – now certified tech divers!!