Open Water Teaching

In the morning I had to do an Open Water teaching presentation of two skills—Buoyancy Weight Check at the Surface and a Free Descent with Reference only. This dive was the first dive I was doing using Nitrox (32% oxygen, 68% nitrogen) which allows me to stay underwater longer, air supply permitting. For my teaching presentations, Maziar and Warren played my “students”, or victims, depending on how you see it.

On paper, the exercises seemed simple enough. However, once you get in the ocean, things change. Control of your students can quickly be handed over to mother nature or your students—currents can push students away, students may not know how to do things and veer off, etc. The Weight Check exercise went okay except for the fact that it was hard to keep my students together because of surface current and the sun blinding people. The Free Descent was chaotic as one student held onto the descent line while the other wasn’t descending in a controlled manner. I didn’t pass the Descent portion because the student used the decent line when he wasn’t supposed to. Learn from your mistakes.

After lunch I did my second Confined Water teaching presentation which was on Snorkel to Regulator Exchange. It’s a simple skill to do, but there are many subtle details an instructor needs to demonstrate. As an instructor in training, I’m learning that students may have no clue how to do simple skills I take for granted—for example, breathing from a snorkel. My presentation went well except I didn’t mention for the student to blow bubbles while exchanging the snorkel and regulator. This wasn’t a requirement, just something they should do.

I finished class early and had the majority of the afternoon free. I took the time to relax from the stressful morning. I’m starting to realize that I’m feeling less nervous during my presentations. After practicing each presentation several times, I’m getting more confident in what I do which lessens my nervousness. The Open Water presentation was my first attempt so I expect to get used to doing it the more I do. While relaxing, a group of divers who run the website Wetpixel arrived at El Galleon.

I met James, Matt and Drew who were all staff for the website. It’s nice to talk with and pick the brains of professional underwater photographers. Talking to Matt who is in his early 20s, and seeing his photos made me feel like an old beginner photographer. I need some catching up to do in order to be competitive.

- jason