Week 4 - Christmas / New Year´s Eve

Monday (12/26/2022) - After the rain of the last few days, a whole day in the cold pool? Yes, if you do a diving course, that can happen! You don't move very much when diving, and when you're doing exercises you're mostly stationary. Nevertheless - sometimes there is no other way! Therefore: a whole day in the cold pool - by the way, cold means: approx. 23° Celsius! But my client is a former lifeguard from Canada - they're tough! So all 5 CW ("confined wate" - pool or pool-like) dives done

Tuesday - another day off! I used the time to watch "Avatar - Ways of the Water" in the cinema - as a diver I have to say: the pictures of the underwater world are impressive, even if I don't agree with a few of the film's statements. And there's one scene that makes every dive instructor despair - but that's the risk of the profession!

Wednesday- diving operation again today! Despite the strong wind, but more on that later! But the day started with Nicole working in Maroma, a diving instructor from China who I know from my time in Playa del Carmen! I had 2 refreshers in the pool (they haven't dived for more than 4 and 9 years respectively), and then into the ocean - or rather: into the fight against the waves! Inflate the BCD, put on your fins and swim against the waves and currents - diving is always an adventure! But the dive was very relaxed - except that I gave one diver 2 of my 5kg of lead because she only accepted in the sea that she had too little lead. Basically you need the lead mainly for descending or during the safety stop at the end of the dive to stay stable at 5m.

Thursday - Had 2 "new" clients today - not in the sense that they have never dived with me, but that she did her open water course in October and was now diving "in the wild" for the first time. He had 8 more dives , so not very much experience either. For me that means: very slowly, explaining everything twice, responding to questions in more detail and explaining more, if necessary (also literally) "take the hand" and simply radiate calm and security. So it turned out to be 2 very nice and relaxed dives, each with just over 40 minutes of diving time - and a turtle! 

Friday - The weather wasn't that nice, with quite strong winds, so no diving, only 7 demos in the pool, of which at least 2 customers went to our shop afterwards and booked a DSD package!

Saturday- the last day of the year, and one of the busiest! It started with 2 dives with a customer from Italy who is a divemaster himself! That was very relaxed and was also "rewarded" with a large ray circling us. Although - my information was: 1 diver, 1 dive, and that's it. Back at the boat after the 2nd dive I found out: "You now have 2 DSDs and a refresh". Life is what happens while you're making other plans. In any case, father (refresh after 11 years of abstinence) with 2 children (21 and 19 years) as a "trial dive". A family from the Netherlands, so everything in English. Theory - no problem, next step: off to the pool! No problems here either - very fine! Last stage: into the sea! And also here: no major problems! That someone is a meter higher or deeper than desired the first time in the sea is rather the exception - most have problems diving! Only the father had a little whoops with the additional weights, but nothing that we didn't get sorted out quickly. And so December 31st was the first day in Maroma to record 4 dives (2 in the morning and 1x pool and sea in the afternoon)! Then all colleagues drove to the gas station for a New Year's beer - at home I fell into bed at 11pm and just slept through the fireworks! but nothing that we didn't get sorted quickly. And so December 31st was the first day in Maroma to record 4 dives (2 in the morning and 1x pool and sea in the afternoon)! Then all colleagues drove to the gas station for a New Year's beer - at home I fell into bed at 11pm and just slept through the fireworks! but nothing that we didn't get sorted quickly. And so December 31st was the first day in Maroma to record 4 dives (2 in the morning and 1x pool and sea in the afternoon)! Then all colleagues drove to the gas station for a New Year's Eve beer - at home I fell into bed at 11pm and just slept through the fireworks!

Sunday - a very quiet day, also because most of the hotel guests slept "a little longer"! So I did some paperwork in the morning and offered demos in the pool in the afternoon. It is always very nice when those who are interested dive after 2 minutes for a lap through the pool (at least 2.2m deep) with shining eyes and a smile from ear to ear. For me, this is one of the best confirmations that my decision to become a diving instructor was the right one! 

Summary: a happy ending and a happy start to the years!