We all gathered on the beach before heading out.
Jo went first and then the divers were supposed to follow one pair at a time.
The first two went out and when they got to Jo, all the rest went together. As the DMC (Divemaster Candidate) I went last and took the float and dive flag for the group.
Putting on my fins and getting ready to swim out through the surf.
And, then we were underway.
The surf was pretty tame on the way out.
As soon as we were out in about 15 feet of water the rest of the group submerged and left me to bring the float.
I didn't take too long to unwind the rope a bit and swim along about 10 feet below the surface. Much easier to keep with the group that way. I tied up the float and then Jo and I went to find the rest of the group.
Caz took them on a tour of the site for the first dive.
The tour led right back to the beach. The new divers were pretty much out of air by then, so we got out and went back to the vehicles to change tanks. The surf had picked up substantially at that point and getting out was a little bit more fun with the waves crashing and pushing us out.
Getting into the water for the second dive was a little less organized, but also a little more exciting. Lauri even took this photo while I was waving at her. Actually, I was not sure it was her. Without glasses, and from that distance, I was lucky to be able to tell it was a person!
The surf was up a little more than when we got in for the first dive.
Those of the group that were a little slower getting going were nearly bowled over a couple of times before they got ready and headed out.
Eventually though, we all made it past the surf and headed out to the float/flag to do their skills.
Playing "follow-the-leader" while snorkeling out.
One of the surface skills was to remove their BCDs and sit on them. They had to show the Instructor their hands.
Another surface skill was the tired-diver tow. I am watching from the rear.
When they finished the surface skills, we all submerged and they got to continue doing skills underwater.
My job was to monitor the rest of the group while Caz and Jo had each diver perform the skills.
The last skill they dis was the CESA - Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent. Each diver got to do it once, and one got to do it three times.
While others were performing, the rest hung out on the bottom waiting. Not completely relaxed and comfortable, I'd say.
When they all finished, they met on the surface while I untied the float and rolled up the line. When I was done, they were all gone, however, it was not like diving alone. Due the the fact that there were about 100 divers in the water, I was never really alone. Rather than surface and swim back fighting the waves, I kept about 15-20 feet of line out and just towed the float back.
I took a few photos, but they were far enough away that none turned out very well.
They all came right back to the beach since the new divers had burned through all their air doing their skills. That gave Lauri a little bit of concern because she could tell I was not with them.
A little later I showed up and put her mind at ease.
After struggling with the surf on the exit and hiking up the beach through the soft sand, though, I was really out of breath and breathing hard while washing off the salt water.
I only used about 1500 psi on the first dive and 1600 psi on the second dive.
1 comment:
On to the next internship and skills test right? Good luck tonight!
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