Though it only felt like yesterday since I wrote my last post, over one week has passed - incredible. It's all a bit of a blur as I have been on the boat diving for 7 consecutive days. There has been some rocky seas, strong currents, reduced visability but consistent sunny days and cool breezes.
I have now had a lot of exposure to the ins and outs of a dive centre - both from a customer perspective and from behind the scenes. Yesterday was my first day as a Dive Master Trainee - This is my first professional status in the dive world. After two weeks I will be accredited and this enables me to work as a Dive Master - Guide and teach students :) As a trainee, I assist in the mornings with registering the customers - getting them the required equipment - setting up their gear boxes and assisting in the co-ordination of travel to the pier where we get on the boat.
Once on the boat, I am briefed on what training dives I will be doing for the day and assist with setting up & cleaning up food and being a point of call to customers with anhy enquiries. I have my official Dive Asia T-shirt which I wear all day so I can be easily identified (because the social Aussie isn't enough ;) Its great having the opportunity to rack up a lot of time on the boat, getting to know the processes and proceedures as well as the boat boys and the Dive Masters/Insructors before I jumped in myself. There's a bit of horse play on the boat - usually play fighting Muay Thai with the boat boys - they are a pretty cheeky bunch, but make the day light and funny though there is no communication in english!
Also in the last few days I picked up my very own set of dive equipment! A very expenive but essential investment to launch me into my professional career. There were some teething problems and most of it needed to be exchanged. Fortunately, this was able to happen and was a big releif on my behalf. I was so kindly gifted with a set of diving booties and a pair of fins which saved me so much money that I was able to put this towards my dive computer which I was hesitating on. The decent models are between $450 - $1000+ so I was so fortunate to recieve this hand of kindness so that I could no longer hesitate in purchasing my watch (aka power rangers wrist band / captain planet ring). From the words of my favorite Aussie hip Hop band - Horrorshow - "I'm getting by with a little bit of kindness from stangers, under the sky scraper lights I wonder aiamless".
Now I have my equipment, the BCD I am still quite uncomfprtable with, and slightly regret not taking more time in exploring other options - particularly those which are simularly effective and half the price. But, what is done is done and I just have to think about the future of my career - listing my equipment on my CV and presenting myself as a self sufficient diver. Im sure these teething problems will work out over the next couple of weeks with more use and familiarity. The bonus is that it comes with a 2 year replacement warranty which gives me a strong piece of mind, apposed to getting something second hand or from a less superior brand. You could say I am set up as the Aqua Lung embassador considering everything I got from them - mostly on part to their crazy charasmatic Canadian sales man! i still have a lot of accessories to get, i thought i could shop around but I think i should just suck it up and get the last of everything and know that I am completely set!
There is very little money in diving (particuraly in comparison to the job I left) however I was willing to put my money where my mouth is and explore that 'happiness and lifestyle is more important than money and possessions". I have very little to get by, but a very supportive family tro call upon should I get in trouble. I am so lucky to have such supportive parents who are always there for me to call upon when I am in trouble and need, they always know that I am a woman of my word and always return the favor when I am in a position to do so. Perhaps I should touch a little more on my parents as they are a big part of why I am here - particularly my mum - "Marce!"A woman who was not so indifferent to me growing up. She travelled the world and has always wanted this for me. Some people come from backgrounds where their parents may have had their futures set out for them, in particular careers or study. I am so lucky that my parents have never pushed me into anything I didnt want to do (expect high school, but you cant really get out of that one - despite my non conformist definaces). They have wanted me to travel and explore the world. Experience life to the fullest while I am young, before the time comes when I may settle down and start my own family. Because of this, they have provided me with lots of support to getting me here and there is no doubt without them, I would not be here. They are my rocks. Thank you mum and dad, I owe my life to you. Literally.
The evening before last, I had the pleasure of being an attendee at my first professional meeting put on by PADI. It was hosted by Tim Hunt and Andy Auer. After the presentation, we had a couple of beers and got to chat about of lives and our jounryes in diving. This is such a common and interesing conversation with everyone you come across. Rather than the stanadrad" what do you do" "oh your a spary...okay"... Its, where are you from? how many languages do you speak? how long have you been diving? what is your story of how you chnaged your life to persue it? where is the most amazing place you travelled? what is your favorite dive story"... its such an amazing job, the things you do, and the people you come across. I had such a great evening getting to spend time chatting with and getting to know Tim and Andy a little more. I look forward to where my future will be from here - and how they will be a part of shaping it.
Today I had a day off the boat - the first time I think since I got here that I don't have sea legs! But, now i have dead legs! I knocked out some of my stamina testing.. I had to do a tired diver tow where I pulled Scott by his air tank with all of our euipment on for 100m in the pool. I then had to swim 400m with no euipment on, and then 800 with fin, snorkel and goggles... I was shot by the end! Luckily some of the old swimmer Kassie was still in me and I passed with flying colours. After this we went to Kata Beach and did a beach dive. The second day I have been home at 5pm, before the sun has gone down - such a delight to have an afternoon to chill out.
Something that is so special that I greatly apreciate in what I am doing, is that even in days that are difficult, I still see wonders that make reassure me of what I am doing. The oher day when I first tried my equipment out - it all fitted wrong and gave me pain & discomfort. We did 3 dives and I wasn't having a good day. I was stressed and upset about some news from home and I was not myself. On the very last minute of my third dive for the day.. I was slowly ascending to the surface when I saw a wonder which I had never seen before. It was like a transluscent ribbon, with neon coloured lights running around it. It was absolutely stunning and took my breath away (metaphorically of course! When diving - you breath continuoulsy and never hold your breath!!) I showed it to my buddy diver - Paul from the UK and he was so amazed. When I got hom that night, I googled my little heart out and I found what it was! Its called a 'ctenophora' (venus girdle) and was described as the 'jewel of the ocean'. Just magical. The next day Pual was diving again and I ran up to him and told him what it was - I showed him photos and a video I found on the internet and he was so amazed. He was so thankful for the effort i had gone to and to share it with him. An experience that only he and I had shared. I think i'm going to be a great mermaid!
I will be departing here in 16 days to head to the Maldives. I have a very assertive instructor who has had much experience in the Maldives and is adequately preparing me to be in the best possible position when I get over there. I have not only much to learn, but a lot to retain over this time before I put it all into practice in my internship.
Unfortunately, despite my bets efforts to avoid soft drinks, junk food and the like - I have somhow been.... growing haha, damn rice and noodles - cant't avoid that stuff here! ... I hope the extra lifting as a Dive Master this will shart to shed away and I look forward to being on a island far away, where I intend on doing plenty of excercise (famous last words!)
As for now, the boys have just set up a make shift bbq and have headed to the shop to buy some chicken and beer and we are going to have a celebration tonight at home. Scott is now a Dive Master, Dima's birthday is tomorrow and leaves the following day, Dom arrives in the next hour and.... well, even if not for all of that - we would probably do it anyway!
See the best of each situation, even in the worst, try to see a positive - if nothing else, it is a lesson that you have learned, to avoid repeating in the future. It may be costly, it may be painful. But know that you did all that you could do, despite your best efforts sometimes, things out of your control go wrong and are pushed upon you. So long as you know that you are the best person that you can be, and that the more you give, the more you recieve. Things will bring you down. Even when you seem to be prevailing above previous defeats, you will still be challenged. Dont worry. Be happy.
Things that multiply once shared - smiles, love, laughter, kindness, peace & happiness. Get your multiply on.
Love and peace,
Kassie
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