May 24, 2008 - Divemaster Log

Hello everyone!

Well, the action is non-stop this week as once again the Video Dude puts on his Divemaster "Hat" and heads out to Commercial Blvd. Pier to assist Mat of Scuba Network FTL with Open Water students on their beach dives. It's another great day weather-wise as the ocean is dead calm and there is very little current.

I assist Mat in getting the students geared up and headed for the water and get everyone organized on the beach so that Mat can brief them on the skills we'll be doing today. It is my job today to keep the "herd" together so that Mat can see everyone at all times, and to assist with evaluating the students skills underwater.

We swim out underwater to about 12-15fsw and find a nice sandy area to start running the students through their skills. After everyone has had a turn doing the required skills for this dive, we take a brief tour of the reef next to our area. Mat finds a baby Nurse Shark (about 3ft long) hiding under a ledge and it takes off like lightning. Everyone got a thrill out of that you can bet! Now it's time to swim back to shore and change over tanks for the next dive. Once again I get everyone organized underwater and we head back to our entry point.

Back at our cars now, we swap over tanks and get ready for our next dive. We discuss what we saw and Mat briefly talks about how everyone did and what we are doing on the next dive. Then I get everyone organized for our next beach entry and we head back to our skill area to finish up the remaining skills. Once completed, we get to tour a little again then head back to shore. I assist with getting everyone back up the beach to their cars and getting their gear cleaned and broken down, then it's off to the shop to fill out log books and get everyone ready for their boat dives on Sunday.

Another day of working (?) in Paradise!

The Video Dude