7.14.08 - Divemaster/Assistant Instructor Log

Hello everyone.

Like I said in a previous post, the work is coming fast and furious now!

Monday, July 14th finds the Video Dude doing his Divemaster/Assistant Instructor thing for Scuba Network in Deerfield Beach. Tonight I am assisting with an Open Water class and we are at the Pompano Beach Aquatic Center doing confined water skills. I am joined by Instructor Bobby James and a large group of eager divers-to-be.

I help Bobby get everyone organized poolside, making sure they have prepared their new gear properly and not forgotten anything. After everyone is set, Bobby gives the briefing discussing pool safety, hand signals, and skills to be performed tonight. Then everyone gets to get in the pool and do their required swims and treading water. After that, Bobby and I demonstrate for everyone how to properly assemble and test their gear and it's into the pool for skill demonstrations and practice. First, Bobby and I demonstrate the buddy method for donning gear and we go over the buddy checklist. Then, I take one group and Bobby has the other group and we go through the underwater breathing (with and without mask), mask clearing and removing/replacing the mask, and regulator clearing and removal/recovery.

By this time, our pool session is nearly over and we have to start vacating the premises. We demonstrate how to do a ladder exit with gear on (as if we were on a boat) and have everyone wear their gear to their parking spot. This is when we show them how to use your buddy skill to remove the gear, and show them how to properly clean it.

There's more to come on Wednesday, so Stay Tuned!

An exciting night of teaching and evaluating students here in Paradise!
--The Video Dude