PADI Divemaster Day 5
Here we go again…
Back at Wittering for a pool session to be shown the skills circuit - where we have to perform the twenty basic skills well enough to demonstrate to a student how they should be done. The trick is to break them down into the tinyest of steps and do everything really slowly. Like public speaking - if you feel it is too slow - it’s probably about right.
The skills include mask clearing (removal and replacement) scuba gear off underwater and on surface, hover, fin pivots (with inflator and oral inflate), mask off swim, buddy breathing, weight belt removal etc. etc. etc.
Jan demonstrated and we copied - no marking this time. I have to say that I did OK - which proves that I am very comfortable in the water now - and able to slow things down.
Back to the classroom for more theory and then back to the pool to do the circuit for real - with marking. I am asked to wear a BCD and when I sit down to put it on I manage to knock the cylinder on to the floor.
No paint scratches though - I did break its fall with my hand - oooouuuccch!
So I now have to demonstrate all the skills one handed - well not quite but it hurts a hell of a lot which doesn’t help. I do OK though - although I can’t do the regulator snorkel exchange as I don’t wear one :o)
A quick pint with Jan afterwards and a chat about what I need to work on most. He says that I don’t really have any problems with the in-water skills but he would like to help me get a bit more confident in my own abilities through working with divers who dive differently to me.
Shattered… and still got the dreaded snorkelling exercise to do.
