Out One Student, In Another. Disco!

Ren lights one for Kenny.

Today was Kenny’s last two Open Water dives (3 and 4) for his Open Water course. After he completed these dives, he will qualify to be certified. I signed us up the day before to go on the big boat out to Balicasag Island. When we got to Genesiis in the morning though, there weren’t enough people signed up for that boat to go so we went to the Kalipayan dive site at 9:30 AM instead.

For the dive at Kalipayan, I wanted to have Kenny do the Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent (CESA) skill but couldn’t find a suitable vertical ascent line. This line is a requirement for the skill. I had to do this skill on the next dive I guess. During the dive, we did all the required skills in the shallower water before going over the wall to 18 meters deep. I’ve dived the dive site several times before but couldn’t remember what direction the dive guides always go. I decided to go left with the wall being to my left. The dive turned out to be fine and among other things we got to see a sea snake, sand eels, and nudibranchs.

After the dive Kenny and I hung out at Genesis for lunch. I ate instant noodles which I previously bought for the longer boat ride out to Balicasag Island. Additionally, I drank a lot of free instant coffee. While sitting around and waiting for the next boat to go out for Kenny’s last skill dive, someone came into the shop whom I helped out. The man was looking into signing up for an Open Water course and ultimately decided to sign up with me. Wow, another student, pretty consistent work. He wanted to start today but told him we couldn’t and that he can start tomorrow.

At 1 PM, I went out with Kenny on his last Open Water skill dive. We went to the local Sanctuary dive site which we’ve dived several times before. In the shallows, he was able to do his skills easily. We swam over the wall and to the left to about 18 meters deep. Swimming along, I noticed a Titan triggerfish in front of us who was looking and swimming toward us. These triggerfish are known to aggressively defend their nest by attacking divers where they can bite chunks of flesh out of people, through their wetsuits.

I slowed down, put my feet forward. Kenny looked back at me and I signaled to him the sign for triggerfish. He turned around, put his legs forward, and the triggerfish aggressively attacked him. While it kept on attacking him I tried signaling to him to swim back. The triggerfish was frightening looking as it attacked him and would occasionally look at me. We must have swam 30 meters before we were out of its territory and turned away. I signaled to Kenny that we should go the other direction—towards where we started from.

Going the other direction I noticed another triggerfish swimming around but it didn’t see me. I was debating whether to go above the wall and out to avoid it or sneak by it hoping it wouldn’t see me. I decided to sneak by it. Looking around, I didn’t see it anymore and proceeded to swim cautiously forward. Out of nowhere, I the triggerfish darts towards me and scares me causing me to flinch. Quickly I turned my fins toward it and swam away. I signaled to Kenny to ascend over the wall and out. We cautiously ascended and surfaced. Even at the surface I checked below to make sure it wasn’t still looking at us.

Back at Genesis, we hung out with Luer, Sander, and Kurt. I debriefed Kenny and filled out the remaining paperwork for his certification. Kenny was officially PADI Open Water Scuba Diver certified! My first full Open Water course (my first did all his homework online beforehand) and course at Genesis. It was a landmark occasion for both of us. We celebrated with beers of course.

Dinnertime, Kenny, Sander and I went to Powder Keg restaurant. I was a little reluctant at first because the last two meals I ate there weren’t that good. I ordered the calzone that Sander said was good—I trust his opinion on food. Of course, the calzone was good and just enough. I finally found something at Powder Keg that I like.

After dinner, Kenny and I drove home to clean up. I took a shower, relaxed, and reviewed some PADI standards in preparation for my Open Water course with Ross, my new student. Ross will be my first Open Water student I’ve not known beforehand doing a full Open Water course at Genesis. It seems like with every student there’s something new.

Sander sporting his new pink hair clip.

Mae balancing with my large helmet.

It’s Saturday, which of course means disco night at Oops bar. Disco doesn’t really get going until around 11:30 PM so Kenny and I decided to hang out at Coco Vida before disco. We went there by around 10:30 PM, had a few drinks, took pictures of the bartenders, and then went over to Oops by 11 PM. At Oops, Sander joined us, someone gave us peanuts, and we started throwing them at people. Of course along with the peanuts we had a few rum and Cokes.

Laser light disco Filipino style at the local basketball court.

Shortly after 2 AM, Kenny, Sander and I decided to go to a disco that was happening at a basketball court nearby. I felt it would be good to go because Kenny hasn’t experienced a typical Filipino disco before (Oops doesn’t count). The disco simply was an outdoor basketball court setup with large speakers, a DJ, and dancing lights. Kenny and I had to pay admission even though I don’t think there was an official entrance fee. The “bar” was a folding table with bottles of San Miguel Beer under it.

The disco was moderately crowded but fun. Of course, the Filipino top 10 dance music comprising of “Low Low Low”, “Superman that Ho”, and “Dangerous” helped get the dance floor moving a little faster. Kenny managed to impress a group of Filipinos with his good dancing moves. I had a good time and I think Kenny did as well. We left the disco sometime around 3 AM. Fun times.


- jason