A Boy and His Big Blue Dream...

[DMEpat]

Once upon a time, I had an office chair. Like most office chairs, It was accompanied by a desk. Oh, and from this office chair I had a marvelous view of a widescreen computer monitor that reminded me of how many hours I had until lunch and/or the end of the day. Meanwhile I spent 9-5 tanning myself under the glow of the fluorescent lights above me. Surely there had to be more to life than this? This is not to say that I hated my former job, but it didn’t satisfy me on some greater level. The level of truly, and I mean TRULY, loving what you do. Sound familiar to anybody? Meanwhile, I had my PADI Open Water certification, but I wanted more. The thought dawned on me!

Now it wasn’t necessarily divine intervention that brought me to the decision to become a Divemaster. There are many factors at play here. The above description of my former job was certainly a motivating factor. Combine that with the chance to travel the globe, being able to do what I now have a passion for, and the general amazing atmosphere that diving provides, and I finally felt I wanted to experience, on a full time basis, the pure and unbridled joy that diving brings. Being a Divemaster (and maybe one day an instructor) would allow me, so I believe, to share my passion and to see people experiencing some of the happiest and most joyful moments of their lives. I understand that the job of a diving professional will not always be peaches and cream, but I imagine the journey will be amazing.

So a long story short – I packed my bags and left New Jersey, finished my Advanced Open Water, EFR, and Rescue Diver courses, and found myself at EcoDiving Tours in Playa Del Carmen (Home - Ecodivingtours) ready for an extended 3 month Divemaster internship. Not only will I be completing the DM coursework (through PADI, of course), but I will also have the opportunity to work in a rapidly growing dive shop. So here I am. The goal of this blog/thread is to share any insights I may uncover, and to generally provide an entertaining (hopefully) account of a journey through the ranks of professional diving. Feel free to share your thoughts, advice, and insights as well! And remember, this is my first time. So be gentle….

-Patrick


Home - Ecodivingtours

 

[mselenaous]

Welcome to Scubaboard
(or should I say the Asylum for those afflicted with the addiction).

I think you'll appreciate this recent thread:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ne...ering-diving/377436-curse-you-scubaboard.html

Good luck on your training adventure!

 

[DMEpat]

Elena,

Thanks for the link! I think I'll officially declare my insanity.....starting....now.

-Patrick

 

[DMEpat]

Hey there kiddos! Ah, the glorious life of a Divemaster intern. Some quick background on the locale of this particular internship… The shop here at EcoDiving Tours in Playa Del Carmen is a small one run by Mr. Jose Castelazo. The shop is only about 2 years old, yet is growing pretty quickly. While I might not have the bustling experience of a large resort dive shop, being able to work for a ‘small’ shop certainly has its perks. For instance, we get the down low on the ins and outs of the dive shop’s daily operations, accounting procedures, long/short term goals, and various other need to know information. Plus we have a fair amount of flexibility. Along with Jose I’m joined here by a fellow intern, Bradley, who joins us from across the pond in Wales. So that makes for 3 musketeers here in Playa Del Carmen. With snorkels instead of swords (pause for laughter).

Guess what? The first week has flown by. We hit the ground running with regards to daily operations and tending to the needs of the shop, we had a few brainstorming sessions on some growth strategy for Ecodiving, and we also managed to get our 25 skills done for divemaster training (in a cenote nonetheless, which is pretty wicked). Getting skills down to demonstration quality takes practice, practice, and more practice. If you can’t find water, practice your skills in front of the mirror. This also makes for a good laugh if your friends walk in on you.

So over the past couple of days we had some customers at Dos Ojos and Tajma Ha, two of the lovely cenotes out here in Playa. If I might say, to those considering becoming DMs, cenotes are not a bad reason to choose Playa Del Carmen. Did I mention the cenotes? Cenotes. So with regards to the customers, we did the typical intern thing which meant assisting with tanks and setting up gear, and although it may seem tedious, it is actually quite exciting. I’ll compare it to getting ready for a date with the girl of your dreams. You may be slightly anxious, but you realize you are going to have an amazing time. Ok, maybe without the kissing.

But jokes aside, one of our goals here is to act as a sponge, to learn and absorb everything we possibly can from our instructors/mentors. Ranging from how they interact with customers to how they handle and care for their gear. And so far the Divemaster course, in my young and humble mind, gives us the opportunity to learn about diving, the people who share our passion, but also even a little bit about ourselves.

-Patrick

 

[Crowley]

Once upon a time I had an office job, with a very nice leather chair and a heyuuuge desk with, at any given time, 4 permanent computers with 3 big screens and a small test newtork (minimum 3 servers).

Now, I don't.

Dive it. Love it. Live it.

C.

 

[Easdem]

Pat:

Like you, I'm going through a DM class...Except in NC. Skills training in the pool and the internships in a cold, low viz quarry. I agree, demonstration quality skills are hard to get nailed down perfectly, especially the complicated ones like CESA and Share Air...

GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

[DMEpat]

Amen Reverand Crowley! Amen! Although the irony of us sitting in front of computers typing on Scubaord is not lost on me, I think we can all agree that we need to break free once in a while. It's good for the soul.

Easdem - Good luck to you as well!!! Once upon a time (last summer) I completed my Open Water in tropical New Jersey. In a quarry. In a 7mm with a hood and gloves. I feel your pain brother. As to the skills, there are some sweet vidoes on youtube that helped me out a bit in addition to my mentor/instructor - YouTube - PADI Divemaster skills circuit Part 1. Definitely worth a look. Not looking forward to the kit exchange. I will tell you that much...

 

[Easdem]

The kit exchange (or task loading exercise like my instructor's call it) is not so terrible if you move slowly and get paired up with someone about your size, at least feet size. I know 2 DMC's that got paired up, one had full foot fins, the other had open heel fins with booties...Talk about extra complications.

I have seen the videos and taken notes...Also, I have been practicing at my work desk...Scared a few people that have walked into my office.

I'm going to be in Cancun in October with a few other divers. We may call on your outfit to arrange some dives...Are you planing on staying in Mexico?

 

[DMEpat]

Easdem,

I have been having recurring nightmares about kit exchange involving the Dopplegagner from Spiderman (http://www.samruby.com/Villains/Doppleganger/Doppleganger.gif). But I'm sure all will be well when its over. And yes, always practice DM skills behind closed doors, or in dark alleys. Best not to frighten those who have not seen the light.

As to Cancun, check your Scuba Caribe post for my response. Should be here in October, but can't be certain yet. In short, either myself or the guys here would be happy to show you the mind-bending dives that the Yucatan has to offer.

And when you all get down here in October, you won't want to leave either...

-Patrick

 

[DMEpat]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

2 weeks down and the adventure continues! We have now completed our 24 skills to demonstration quality. And by demonstration quality I mean I even brushed my non-existent hair out of the way for the mask replace and clear. It’s by choice, not hereditary, the non-existent hair thing. I could grow it back any time I want. I think. Gotta say it is kind of nutty doing the skin diver skills, as I was totally not expecting them to be part of the divemaster curriculum. Can anyone confirm that these are new skills? Free diving is radical by the way. I now know what it feels like to be a merman.

Seems version 3.0 of the divemaster curriculum has some new twists and turns. In fact, now we only have two 60 question exams as compared to, what I believe, was about 8 separate exams. I’m now waiting for someone who was part of the first ever PADI Divemaster course to post a “back in MY day” rant. Perhaps DM candidates used to battle a giant octopus while exchanging kit in an overhead environment? Old school stuff, no doubt.

Besides reading, reciting, and sleeping with the Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving, we have actually been, well, diving. This past week we ventured to the quiet town of Puerto Morelos to check out the wreck of the Juan Escutia. This was the first wreck dive of my young diving career. But Holy %$#!. You name it, we saw it. Eagle rays, moray eels, barracuda, giant southern stingray, groupers of all sorts, and hundreds of other beautiful fishies. Does anyone know where the wreck capital of the world is? Because I want to go there and possibly live there for the rest of my life. Me likey wrecks! Off to take the first part of our DM exams....gulp....

-Patricio.