PADI, diving and Instructor Development IDC

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Instructor Specialties
2008-04-30 17:24:00
Last week some Instructor Specialty training was completed.Independently from each other, Ton, who completed his IDC and IE last year in May (my first blog entry!) and Stuart who completed his IDC and IE last year in October with me, each came to me for Instructor Specialty training.Over a few days we completed amongst others Underwater Navigation, Boat, Deep, Aware Fish ID and the Multilevel Instructor Specialties.We had some very nice dives and I saw a few 'firsts' for myself, 2 Jenkins Whiprays on Chaweng Beach and at Twins (Koh Tao) a Yellowmargin Triggerfish. During this dive I also saw an octopus during the safety stop, although they're quite common, I don't see them a lot. Very unfortunate and therefor very nice to see this one for a few moments, drastically changing colours all the time.Here's Stuart, happy that he sorted his deep dive timed task. At Red Rock/Shark Point at Koh Tao, we spotted this lovely bluespotted stingray. Also at Red Rock we found this beautiful so...

PADI Specailty of the Month April 2008; The PADI Digital Underwater Photogr
2008-04-06 03:20:00
PADI Specailty of the Month April 2008; The PADI Digital Underwater Photography courseIs a very exciting and very popular Specialty, the Digital Underwater Photography Specialty.Digital has taken the underwater photography world by storm. Get in on the action with the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Specialty course. You can quickly and easily capture the underwater world with your camera and on your computer.During the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Specialty course, you learn to use the PADI SEA (Shoot, Examine and Adjust) method, which takes full advantage of digital technology. The result is good underwater photos faster than you may imagine. You not only learn how to take good photos, but how to share them with your friends via email or printing, optimizing your work with your computer, storage and more.-You must be a PADI Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water (or have a qualifying certification from another training organization) However, you can take the course as ...
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The AI part of the April 08 IDC has been completed
2008-04-06 02:59:00
The AI part of the April 08 IDC has been completedYesterday was the last day of the AI course and today we're all enjoying a day off, after having spent 6 days in a row with classroom presentations, confined water and open water presentations. Here's Ulrike during one of her classroom presentations as part of her AI course. Each candidate has to do two of these presentations during the AI course and than another two during the OWSI course. During the PADI IE or Instructor Examination, the candidates get to present one more. As part of the confined water training, we also have the candidates practice rescue scenario # 7 from the PADI Rescue diver course; "Unconscious diver at the surface", a skill that's part of the IE curriculum. Here's Joe in full swing during one of his turns. Marcus and Paul the IDCS Instructors are looking on in the background. Melita in action during of her Rescue scenario.As usual we also have very enjoyable lunches during our breaks from classes at World ...
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PADI Members Forum Koh Samui 2008
2008-03-28 16:19:00
Just got back from the PADI Members Forum Koh Samui 2008 Held at the Centara Beach Resort at Chaweng, presented by the Regional Manager for Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar; Hans Ullrich.Koh Samui's was one of the last ones in line for Thailand but nonetheless, it was an interesting one.Hans showed videos from some winners of last year's 'Go Pro Challenge' with the announcement that the Challenge has been extended to this year, 2008 and that the winner receives a 10.000,-USD price in cash!We than went on for a questions/answer quiz which had some trick questions in it and gave some good attention to the E-Learning program that PADI has in place.Last but not least we looked into some Risk Management scenarios which had a Rescue scenario in it. I an highly recommend visiting a PADI Risk Seminar if you get the chance.All in all an interesting evening which I can highly recommend to visit when your PADI Regional Manager comes to your town!If you can't make it in person, PADI ...
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Children thoughts on diving and water sports in general
2008-03-26 05:16:00
Children thoughts on diving and water sports in generalAs we all know, children have a different perspective on life than us adults. The quotes below were send to me by email, hope you enjoy them;1) This is a picture of an octopus. It has eight testicles. (Kelly age 6)2) Oysters' balls are called pearls. (James age 6)3) If you are surrounded by sea you are an island. If you don't have sea all around you, you are incontinent. ( Wayne age 7)4) Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily Richardson. She's not my friend no more. (Kylie age 6)5) A dolphin breaths through an arsehole on the top of its head. (Billy age 8)6) My uncle goes out in his boat with pots, and comes back with crabs. (Millie age 6)7) When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to cross the ocean. Sometimes, when the wind didn't blow, the sailors would whistle to make the wind come. My brother said they would be better off eating be...
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Successfull December PADI IE!
2007-12-13 05:08:00
The December PADI IE has been successfully completed!Will, Sophia, Rob and Joakim have one thing in common today, they're no longer PADI Divemasters but as of today, they're PADI Instructors! Congrats! This morning they completed the last part of the PADI IE, their Confined Water presentation and their skill circuit. Later on today we will take the ferry back over to Samui and have a nice party and buffet at Aux Amis and than move on to Chaweng to celebrate their new status. Starting Saturday, we will continue with Instructor Specialties and after that Joakim's EFRI course.Time to relax a bit after yesterday's presentations, the Knowledge Development and Open Water presentations. Paul, myself, Sophia, Will and Rob having a break.This morning in the pool, Thomas, their PADI examiner, Rob, Sophia and Will with another IE candidate in their group. Joakim was underwater being a Certified Assistant.Here it is, the big sign of relief group picture of brand new PADI Instructors. From l...
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December IDC finished and the PADI IE has started
2007-12-11 08:58:00
The December IDC finished and the PADI IE has started today on Koh Tao.All four IDC candidates, Will, Sophia, Rob and Joakim have successfully completed their IDC course and Paul and Miro both succeeded in their IDCS courses.Here are Joakim and Will after their Open Water dive of the OWSI program. It was a lot sunnier than during the last IDC and temperatures in general were very nice. For more Samui weather information, please visit my Samui weather blog. Miro, Rob and Sophia are in this picture putting their dive equipment apart, after their Open Water dive during the IDC. Today the PADI IE started, the examination! Here are Will and Sophia looking at their assignments for their IE program. Thomas Knedlik on the left will be their examiner. Joakim and Rob checking out their assignments. Before the IE, there was a lot of nervousness and anxiety floating around, which probably won't finish until they complete the program on Thursday! Here's a picture of me and Bob Murphy, our ...
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Specialty of the month December 2007
2007-12-06 17:10:00
This month' Specialty of the Mont h ; Project AWARE.The Project AWARE Specialty is where you learn about the plight of worldwide aquatic ecosystems and how you can protect them.It's inspired by Project AWARE, a non profit organisation run by PADI and you can discuss various projects that currently are run by Project AWARE or register for Coral Watch, where you can help monitor coral reefs.Since the Specialty doesn't have an age limit, you can get AWARE Kids involved for the young ones who like to take up this specialty.If you're interested in preserving and taking care of the underwater world, this specialty is for you!Participants who sign up for this Specialty during December receive a 10% discount on the course fee.Camille
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December 2007 AI completed
2007-12-04 12:58:00
The first part of the December 2007 IDC has been completed today.After two days Prep course and 4 days AI course, we're all ready for a nice day off.All candidates had to sit through a few presentations by me and there's more coming up in the OWSI program, starting on Thursday! There was also plenty of water work and here are Will and Sophia concentrating on what to do during one of their confined water presentations. Joakim and Rob during the same confined water presentation, getting ready to enter the water. As usual we had our share of nice lunches at World Resort. From left to right Miro, Rob, Joakim, Will, Sophia and Paul.Today we completed the Open Water training part of the AI course and after some counseling we were on our way home to meet later tonight at the pub and have a beer and some chit chat!Camille
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The December 2007 IDC and IDCS courses have started
2007-11-29 15:23:00
The December 2007 IDC and IDCS courses have started.Yesterday Paul and Miro started their IDCS course and today Will, Sophia, Rob and Joakim started their prep IDC course.Sophia during her Introduction of the IDC, where each person participating in the IDC get's to introduce him or her self. A view from the front, from the left front to back; Sophia, Joakim, Paul and from the right front to back; Will, Rob and Miro.Today we started with sorting out lots of red tape (aka paperwork, like filling out Liability releases etc), explanation of the IDC and IE, the Introduction presentation and an exam (physics). In the afternoon we had a Confined Water dive were the 20 skill circuit was practised and they got re-acquainted with Rescue diver course exercise # 7, unconscious diver at the surface.A closer look on Paul (left) and Miro(right) whilst they're studying hard during their IDCS course.During the course I will give some updates and during the PADI IE, which will be held on Koh Tao th...
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DAN O2 Provider Course November 07
2007-11-20 07:20:00
More DAN courses!Will and Sophia completed their DAN Oxygen Provider course today and can't wait until the next IDC starts! This course is part of their Go Pro Platinum Package which they're almost about to complete, having arrived on Samui some three months ago, starting with their PADI Advanced Open Water courses. Now they're ready to start their IDC later this month.Here's a picture of us in front of the local Recompression Chamber in Bang Rak, Samui. Camille
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