divemaster official

First and foremost, my apologies for letting such time lapse between my posts! Some of you good friends have contacted me and requested I provide the next installment, and here it goes!

The internet can be often unreliable where I stay and unfortunately this is what occurred the other evening when I had intended to write my next post. Between the last post and now, I have been busy completing both prac and theory assessments for my DiveMaster course. In the evenings when I get home, most of the time the moment I lay down, which is the first time I stop in the day,  I cannot get back up and fall asleep!

Some of the assessments I have completed are leading a 'Discover local diving' guide, a 'Discover Scuba diving' course, Scuba review, and acting as an Instructors assistant on an Open water course, to name a few. The hands on experience with 'real life' customers has been challenging and interesting - Facing he true reality of what life as a Scuba instructor may have installed for me. On the Discover Scuba diving course, I was assisting and we had three students that day. One of which who was a gorgeous 16 year old girl from Finland. It was the first time she was diving, and the poor love was quite upset and nervous about getting in the water. I promised her parents I would take extra special care of her. After we got in the water, she was the most capale student of the three. She was graceful underwater and very attentive and mastered the skills she was required to perform. After returning to the surface, she was very much a different person and was looking forward to our next dive. It is remarkable the affect that diving has on people, and it is so true, that it really does change lives forever. Most of the time people are nervous and hesitant at first (as was I), though that moment when you enter the water and experience the weightlessness, freedom and awe of the under sea world around you - you truley are changed forever.

It was a delightful suprise to me last week when my Instructor was going through a presentation with me, and he asked - "What category do you think scuba diving falls into?" I though, sport, adventure, conservation, exploration - there are soo many.... he came back to me and said "Life transformation". As a diving professional, you help to transform lives of people forever. Enough said. This is exactly what I want to be doing.

Thinking back to the events which have occurred since where I left off, there are but a few which really stand out. There were several times that when they occurred, I was very tempted in the emotion to blog so openly and detailed about some events, but with some time and perspective - I can just touch on these so you get an idea of what it has been like. There have been many challenges. I choose not to dwell on them or let them define me, but will share openly. To remain honest and transparent about my experiences, to which many of you have commented on your appreciation of this, I will share.. One of the most difficult experiences to date has been dealing with a very egotistical, demeaning, rude and humiliating person. There are a couple of less-savory characters which I have encountered, however this one takes the cake. In brief, this person lost their shit at me on the boat infront of all the customers (to which I am also a paying one) about washing my BCD in the same large tub of fresh water as where there was one underwater camera soaking at the bottom.  This person went completely off their tree. Carrying on about ho expensive the equipment was, not using my brain, and blah blah blah... Prior to me washing my BCD, there are two fresh water tubs, I walked to one, saw there was an abundance of camera equipment so I did not use it. I waitied until a colleague had finished using the alternative tub of fresh water to which I saw a camera at the very bottom (it is quite deep) so I inflated my BCD with air, dunked it on the surface and then filled the inflator hose with water. Consiously aware and using my initiative to work around the camera equipment, to wash my brand new expensive equipment (equal in price to the camera). As he stopped to take a breath in his humiliating display infront of all the customers, I began to explain my position... "I...." and then he abruptly cut me off, got right up in my face with his finger and yelled "YOU DONT SPEAK. YOU LISTEN" without giving me an opportunity to speak he continued his disgusting display of behaviour.

I was appaulled. Not only for being spoken to in such a horrible and humiliating way, not letting me speak, infront of a boat will approximately 30 customers, me being a paying customer myself, and this person was meant to be a role model, representing not only himself, but a business, and an industry. I was both very angry and upset. Adding to all of the above, one of my pet hates is someone assuming or claiming I had not done something, that I had or asking me to do something I am doing. I was already in a fragile state with another difficult personal situation I am experiencing at present, and it quite well have just been that straw that broke the camels back in that moment.

The next day I did not want to go on the boat. My morale was down and I was doubftul about continuing on. I had so much on my plate that I was being torn between pushing through following my dreams or letting the things getting in my way, block my path. I sucked it up and went on that day. The usualy loud and egotistical person was very quiet that day and hardly said boo - much like a dog with a tail between its legs. I am not naive, I understand that there are 'diffficult people' everywhere in the world and you will always come across them, you just need to inact the right skills to deal with them. Soon following, the appropriate people heard about what happened (as well as several other situations to others) and from what I can understand, the appropriate action has been taken. Unfortunately there is another dragon, and despite this rather large occurance, this other dragon is still acting in much the same manner to a new customer which I found out about yesterday evening. Some poeple eh. It gives me some sense of victory knowing that people with these type of attitudes, lack of care and service are the dinosaurs to which I hope to be replacing. They may have an abundance of experience - but I think, who is more employable - an experienced asshole who is going to drive out customers. Or someone who is fresh and eager to learn, who is going to draw in customers and gain experience over time? With my strong customer focus, love and enthusiasm for the underwater world, and care and respect for people and the environment, I pledge not to turn into a resentful mole.

In the past couple of weeks I went out on two occassions to get a massage. On both occassions I have been asked by Thai woman if I am having a baby! Man, some cultures and people just have no sensitivity. Fair cop, I have been enjoying food and beer whilst over here, but way to blow the lack of confidence which I was already sporting. The first occassion I was very hesitant about going out in the first place because my clothes were not complimenting my bootilicious body so well. And then to go out and get asked this - I nearly blew my top!

On the Phuket homefront, we have some new neighbours. Very sadly Dima went home to Kahzakstan and he has been very sorely missed. In his apartment there is a lovely girl from India, and next to me is a French dude. With the exception of the French dude, we are all quite close and go out for 'family' dinners and trips out and have bbq's in our yard.

Last week I had the pleasure of picking up my very own wetsuit! I got a full length 3mm piece which should hopefully start protecting my skin from the delightful shorty wetsuit tan lines I have on my arms and legs! I got to give it a trial run for just one day before completing the last of diving on the boat.

Something which I had not thought to take into consideration was just how many cuts, bruises, bumps, blisters and scratches I would encounter as a diver, particularly on my feet! They look so battered. You would think that being in salt water every day would be great for healing.... and it is, to some degree, however always keeping the scars moist (yep i dropped the M word) it takes about 3 weeks before the healing truly takes place (with the big blisters in particular). Furthermore, the first person to encounter a mermaid and depict that she had long hair was clearly mistaken. Perhaps she was tangled in sea weed, because i'll tell you something for nothing - it is not practical what-so-ever! Each day I sport a different hairstyle in an attempt to find something practical and effective! Also - nails! They are brittle and flaky and are best kept at a 1mm length! #diverproblems

Over the past week and a bit some friends from home were visting Thailand. By friends, well, we had met once... A good mutual friend of ours Gian ( www.stil-hora.com - check his stuff out! ) had introduced us at a gathering at his place one time and we just instantly became BFF's. You know those poeple that you only meet once, but feel like you have known for a lifetime. Completely on your level and are immediately life-enriching friends. Anyway, they were over here and so we caught up over a couple of nights and had two of the best times not only in Thailand, but very memorable forever. Lots of laughs, stories and more laughs. Beautiful company with beutiful people. On evenings where we were all experiencing a array of problems in our lives - but we would leave them behind and just soak up the joy in the moments we shared.

Yesterday after a big day of dive theory, I sat my exams late in the afternoon. I made it below the margin for aceptable errors and passed! I am now a Dive Master! Such a great achievement, however I am being to hard on myself about not getting a higher score, regardless of the fact that I had passed. I have learnt so much and have so much more to learn. It is so amazing being interested in study - completely incomparable to school!  Thankfully my drive for success is going to steer me in the direction of additional study and practises so I get everything down packed. I dont just want to do what I need to do to pass. I want to obtain the highest possible result and attain the largest wealth of knowledge to support me in being a very wise and skilled diver who is best prepared for any possible situation. Yesterday evening all the neighbours wanted to celebrate my achievemnt (how gorgeous of them). So we got some BBQ food, plenty of beer and hang out, having a little 'party' at home. We drifting into the evning teaching each other swear words in Persian, Hindi, and English. Enjoyed watching the Persians clicking their fingers in some special way - dancing amazingly, and I.....  I sculled beer from a snorkel!

Today is my first legit day off. I have a few errands to run, but I am just so enjoying pottering (and you know how much I love to potter!) around my room, and though it is such a gorgeous hot day outside - its so nice just to lay in bed for most of the day because I have not done it once. And I dont feel even a little bit guilty. I cant wait to have a little nanna nap.

Rumour has it that tonight we may go into Patong, though it has become quite the norm now that it's "we'll go tomorrow" and tomorrow never comes. Nothing crazy, just head in there, watch a ping pong show or something quintessentially Thailand-like.

Being Saturday, it is now only 3 sleeps until I depart for the Maldives. It is remarkable how much the jam-packed days have flown by and late Tuesday evning I will find myself at the Four Seasons resort at Landaa Giraavaru ( www.fourseasons.com/maldiveslg/ ) . This is where the magic truly happens. I endevour it to be both challenging and extremely rewarding. Again I cannot express my gratitude enough for Andy who has taken a leap of faith and accepted me in this internship program. I caught up with him on Wednesday evening and he instilled so much confidence in me and adrressed so many questions I had about the upcoming experience. There are some very exciting possibilties an projects on the horizon and I can't wait to share my experiences with you as they arise.

Each person is on their own journey, they experience their own hardships and challenges. Some people wear them on their sleeve, others keep them private. It does not mean that those who choose not to share or display their hurt is not experiencing ay difficulty. In fact, it is most likely that what they are experiencing in their lives is much more diffcult and less trivial than those who dwell in their sorrows. You never know what man people may be going through. Don't compare your life with anyone elses. We are eaching finding our way through life on our individual paths. Be kind.

I will endevour to post once per week around the same day so you can check in and see what I have been up to. I like the ring of Mermaid Mondays, so I will best try to post on or before each monday so you can keep track of experiences. If you would like ask questions, comment or share, I would love to hear your thoughts and feelings and respond.

The next couple of days will be relaxing and pottering about. I think it is also time I bite the bullet and invest in an action camera so I can share some wonderful photos and videos with you from the sea.

Until we meet again, share love and respect and be patient with others. You dont know what they are going through and how much a kind smile, a kind word, or a selfless gesture may mean to them. What you give out, will come back to you ten-fold. Give miracles that you would like to recieve.

Love and kindness,
Kassie