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Nudibranch Heaven

By on January 26, 2012 in Diving in Bali

As underwater enthusiasts we tend to focus on the things like sharks, whales, dolphins and turtles which of course, why not, they are fascinating. Like many people, these magnificently large, intelligent and ancient forms of life spark both curiosity and sheer amazement. Many people, myself included are drawn to the ocean for this very reason. We saw videos and read books on these incredible species and wanted to see them for ourselves. Anytime you do have an encounter with one of the above, it becomes an absolute memorable experience. Each sighting has it’s own unique element making every sighting unforgettable. Unfortunately, some may only get a chance to see these things in aquariums which for many reasons I don’t agree with, but to see these animals in there true environments among nature swimming in a vast ocean is the way they should be seen. I’ve seen many dolphins and sharks stuck in tanks when I was younger but after seeing them in the open ocean, you realize just how wrong it is for them to be stuck in a confined space day after day. It would be the equivalent of a human living his life, never being able to leave his room. I think we could all agree that this would drive anybody insane… Just one thing to keep in mind next time you pay to see dolphins, whales and sharks in captivity…. The same goes for most animals for that matter…

On a more positive note, one thing I have really come to appreciate since coming out to Bali is something called a Nudibranch. Many people refer to them as sea slugs, which is pretty much what they are, but the term “slug” to describe them just doesn’t do it justice. Nudibranch are actually in the subclass Opisthobranchia from the class of Gastropoda from phylum Mollusca. Before coming out to Indonesia, I had seen Nudibranchs in video’s and magazines before but had never seen one for my own eyes. I’ll never forget the first dive I did out in Seraya when I saw my first Nudibranch. (Well, actually it was two moving together which happens from time to time) Since then I’ve become somewhat obsessed with them. I’ve made it my mission to find and document as many different types of Nudibranchs as possible. With over 3000 different types worldwide there is never any shortage. I have had the pleasure of spotting numerous different types with a vast array of vibrant colors, shapes and sizes. Everyone here knows, if they’re on a fun dive with me and they spot a Nudi, you better show it to Kenzo! Just last week I saw one of the most incredible types of Nudibranch, a spanish dancer around 17m on the USAT Liberty Wreck. I was doing an open water course so I didn’t have my camera to snap a shot. ughh! I must admit it is my pet peeve to see a new type of Nudi and not get a photo of it… Oh well. To date I’ve probably only spotted just over 100 different types but with the new found appreciation I have for these little buggers, I always pay special attention to the small things that many people just swim over while looking for the big stuff. Sure everyone wants to see sharks and turtles but any time I’m on a dive and see a Nudibranch I’ve never seen before I consider it an awesome dive. Luckily for me out in the waters of Indonesia and diving in Bali, there is an abundance of marine life home to thousands marine species and when it comes to Nudibranch, you won’t be disappointed.

Time is ticking on a 7 month dream coming to an end…

By on January 17, 2012 in Diving in Bali

Hello once again fine people of the world,

Over the past 5 and a half months my life has taken a turn that has forever changed not only the way I live but also the future path I will take once I move on from the island of the gods. Blue Season Bali’s Best Dive Job in the World contest has more than fulfilled the proposal of changing someone’s life. I’ve transformed from a hard working kitchen manager working his way through school sweating in the kitchen 6-7 days a week, to a PADI dive instructor who now spends his days in the refreshing waters of Indonesia teaching people from all over the world the wonders of scuba diving. The new job opportunities alone is something that has made this experience undeniably life changing but also the perspective you gain on life from living on the other side of the world and being immersed in such different cultures and lifestyles than what you are used to back home, is truly rewarding. Every day is a new adventure and through the wide array of people you meet, you discover things that open your eyes to limitless future travelling destinations.

Many people see the contest as a way to free themselves from the life they have back home but take my word for it, it does so much more than that. As you may or may not know, Blue Season Bali has officially launched the BDJ contest 2012 and it’s BIGGER and BETTER than ever with an even greater prize package than before. If you have great passion for diving and the aquatic world, are full of energy and can bring an even brighter side to the BSB team than you are fit to win the BIG prize. Teaching and learning go hand in hand in the diving world which makes every day a rewarding and exciting experience. Just read past blogs to get a taste of the BDJ life in Bali! So, if you’re tired of the life you’re locked in and need a ticket out, here it is! Enter at http://www.bestdivejob.com/!!! You can’t win if you don’t try!

Finally, as the clock ticks on my time in Bali and I begin to map out my next adventure, I want to throw the question out there and give people a chance to ask questions of curiosity with regards to Bali, Blue Season’s internship programs and of course the Best Dive Job Contest! People from all over the world come to Bali, one of the premiere diving destinations of the world for many different reasons… Want suggestions on dive trips to go on? Have a week to kill and want tips on what to do? Are you looking to do a divemaster program, tec course or the new eco internship BSB is running? Need some tips from the BDJ winner on how to increase your chances for the 2012 contest? Anything at all you may have a question about I would be happy to do my best to answer. Many questions can be answered on the BSB site http://www.baliocean.com/en/ but if you want a more personal response or in depth opinions, feel free to shoot me a facebook message either personally or through the Best Dive Job page or comment on the blog site. Hopefully I can answer everything you need to know and help you make the best of your Bali diving experiences!

PADI Instructor, the good life!

By on January 7, 2012 in Diving in Bali

As the days roll on and my training as a PADI Instructor progress, things just keep getting better and better!

I’ve now completed 4 open water courses with a wide variety of students causing me to adjust and experiment with different teaching methods to cope with the slight variation of student’s strengths and weaknesses. I’ve just kick started another open water course today and have the upmost confidence that my student will leave, like all the rest of my students, a confident open water scuba diver with an enhanced appreciation for the underwater world!

I’ve also had the pleasure of conducting a Coral Reef Conservation speciality. This is a speciality course open to anyone, certified diver or not and showcases coral reef information, assessments and facts on the health of our worldwide reefs, how to identify and monitor damaged or stressed reefs and of course what we can do to help. The course was a great opportunity to express my concerns about the future of our reefs and ocean while also enforcing and motivating the class to do their part in any and every way possible. I had new to the BSB team, marine biologist and OWSI Neils sitting in of the presentation which was great. He was able to offer some more in depth coral reef knowledge and we both shared different stories about the ocean and the everyday struggles it is facing to enhance and strengthen the course and it’s values. Neils will also be conducting the new Eco Internship program at Blue Season which you can find out more about at http://www.baliocean.com/en/bali_eco_internship.blueseason. Check it out!!!

Finally, 2 days ago I conducted a deep speciality with two interns out in Nusa Penida. We spent the whole day out on the BSB boat surrounded by the crystal blue ocean and the stunning island landscape of Nusa Penida. The sun was shining and the water was warm with excellent visibility, what more could you ask for… We had an added bonus to the course when Master Instructor Yasu who was supervising the course, told us that conditions were ideal and we could go to the Bat Cave!!! I heard about this place when I first came out to Penida but never had the chance to actually check it out. 5 months later I finally got my chance and let me tell you, after all the anticipation and hype, it did not disappoint! It required a nice open swim through with just enough sunlight piercing through that the ascent into the bat cave was easily identifiable. It went from complete silence underwater to chirping bats flying overhead. There was a large hole in the rock which allowed the sun to penetrate through and give us a great view of the inner cave. This place was majestic and to make the experience even better, as we came back out from the cave, a turtle sped right past us. One of the other interns said the same thing I was thinking as we surfaced and that was that this was possibly the best dive we had out here in Bali.

So far, after my early experiences as an instructor, I’ve confirmed that the beauty of teaching is you never stop learning. The certain satisfaction you get from teaching someone something they previously didn’t know is extremely rewarding and of course every day and every course is a new adventure. In the diving world, you never stop meeting new people and continually learn about new and exciting places. The possibilities are truly endless!!!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

By on January 2, 2012 in Diving in Bali

Just wanted to wish all the readers tuning into the Best Dive Job winners blog a Happy New Year!

One thing I think we all do as the year nears an end or perhaps the morning after a BIG night of celebration, is to reflect upon the year that just passed. When I think back to what I was doing at the beginning of 2011 and where I am now, I can’t help but feel so incredibly thankful that I had the love and support of friends and family. It seems like a life ago that I was sweating in the kitchen day and night looking forward to a rare vacation I may get some months down the road. With my nose to the grind, not a day went by when I wasn’t looking for some sort of escape or a path to a new, more refreshing lifestyle. That’s when I came across the webpage that little did I know, in a few (long) months time, would change my life. From the day I entered the Best Dive Job in the World contest I had a a full team of supporters which I extend a thousand thanks to. Thankfully like them, I never let my foot off the gas and when the it was all said and done, emerged victorious as the Best Dive Job winner. For that I am forever grateful to all who were on Team Kenzo and of course the people of Blue Season Bali for giving me this life changing grand prize!

After selling off most of my possessions and making the BIG move to Bali, things just kept getting better and better! Not only was I surrounded by an array of some of the most flavourful foods I had ever tasted, but I was now living the island life in tropical paradise! Palm trees as far as the eye can see and the ocean on all sides, that is where I belong. People always told me Indonesia and Bali had some world class diving but I could never truly imagine it until I experienced it for myself. At this present time I have just under 200 dives logged, many of which are here in Bali and even then, I’m still seeing new things on almost every dive. As for the people, where do I begin… From the moment I touched down I was greeted with open arms by people so friendly and willing to help it would make any newcomer feel right at home. Within weeks as other new interns arrived, I was now the person to show these unfamiliar newcomers the ropes, which was a cool role reversal. Throughout my stay I have met some incredible people from all over the globe and have developed friendships that will last a lifetime. Although I’ve had to see many great people go and unfortunately couldn’t see my entire training through with second place prize winner Priscilla Ong, I was lucky to at least spend 3 months diving with her as Best Dive Job buddies!

I can’t say enough good things about the staff at BSB. It really is a family atmosphere although it seems to function at lot more smoothly than your average  family. We have quite the large staff with numerous positions along with several interns doing training programs and I just find it amazing how it all pieces together to work as one unit. I have tried to learn the Indonesian language through the many locals working with us but because that can be quite tricky, instead I have focused on learning their incredible ways of spotting things underwater. Finally, the training and dive industry knowledge I have learnt through the decades of experience the BSB course director and instructor staff has to offer is incredible. When it comes to diving and working as an instructor, many things you learn through your own experiences but having the advice of people that were once in your shoes does wonders for you as you grow.

So as 2011 has officially ended and I look back to what has transpired in my life since the end of 2010, I can only imagine what may lie ahead for the year 2012. My adivce to you is live every day to the fullest, if possible try to see as much of the world’s beauty and nature as possible and if you haven’t yet entered the Best Dive Job in the World contest 2012, do so immediately. I’m living proof, it’s the ticket to the good life and will change your life! You can’t win if you don’t enter… So, what are you waiting for?

 

Life as a PADI Instructor

By on December 29, 2011 in Diving in Bali

The recent days over in Bali have been jam packed with new and rewarding experiences both in and outside the water.

To start with, I spent my first ever Christmas away from home. I figured I may be eating Nasi Goreng instead of turkey this year but we had the most incredible Christmas dinner over at Blue Season Bali complete with all the fix ins; turkey, gravy, potatoes, stuffing and everything else you could hope for. In total there were about 30 of us who all had to unbuckle the belts by the time it was all said and done. To make the occasion a little more special we had a secret Santa present exchange which filled the childhood void of tearing open a present on Christmas morning. All in all, even though I was a long way from home, friends and family, it was truly the best Christmas a guy could hope for. If you ever plan to do an internship with BSB over the Christmas holidays, not only will you be in under the paradise sun and palm trees but you will get that warm Christmas feeling complete with quite the feast!

Now for diving and the PADI instructor experience.

Last night another fellow MSDT instructor and I took part in a night dive speciality training session. Accompanying us was Course Director Thomas Barrett, staff instructor Tom Mckenzie and new to the BSB team eco internship instructor/marine biologist Neils. We dropped in just off the beach in Sanur at around 7pm following a beautiful sunset and within 5 minutes we saw 2 juvenile harlequin fish, 2 eels and a Spanish dancer! Absolutely stunning! We carried along and by the end we saw so many eels I lost count, a couple more harlequin fish, 2 snakes, several crabs and loads more nocturnal critters which come alive at night. Unfortunately I didn’t have a camera along with me or what great footage I would have captured to show you guys! What a great way to end a 4 dive day in beautiful Bali. Yes, there was some rain, but nonetheless

A couple days prior to the night dive I started my first ever open water course. I had a 10 year old boy who luckily, was a natural little fish in the water. Although full of enthusiasm and energy, I was faced with the challenge of working with this kids 10 minute classroom/workbook attention span. Of course we have structure to the open water course following along with difficulty progression and different things that must be done before moving on to the next however, the order is somewhat flexible and allows us as instructors to slightly modify a course plan. With this guy I really had to be on the ball. All the planned intentions I had more, less went out the window. Luckily the training and lessons I learned during the IDC came into practice and I was able to roll with the punches no problem ensuring that while learning, this kid never stopped having fun! He was a joy to teach and reminded me much of myself in the water when I was young. He also taught me a lot about my own teaching abilities of how patience is the key when dealing with new divers and how you must be able to modify lesson plans while still sticking to a time frame. In the end once we surfaced from that final open water dive and I told him he was now open water certified, the look on his face said it all. The feelings of achievement and satisfaction he felt and knowing I helped achieve that with him was a great feeling and one I will never forget. His parents had been diving for years and long awaited the day where their son could dive alongside them and helping make this families dream come true was truly a rewarding experience.

A thousand thanks to Blue Season Bali for not only giving me the opportunity to become and live out my life here in Bali as a PADI instructor but also for the incredible teachings you have provided me with that allow me to go out and interact with people from around the world and experience the rewarding feelings of teaching people how to dive and have the pleasure of introducing them to the wonders of the underwater world!!

 

Master Scuba Diver Trainer – First Official Course

By on December 19, 2011 in Diving in Bali

The long awaited day has come where the dream of becoming a PADI instructor has become a reality. Today marks the day of my first official Open Water course! Until now I have assisted with several courses during my days as a DiveMaster in training and I have done several training simulations during the IDC but now it’s time to put my training to the test. Over the past couple days I have conducted a few Discover Scuba Diving experiences which were greatly rewarding not only for myself, but for the guest who took part in their first underwater experience. It’s kind of weird to put yourself back in the mentality of how you felt the first time you entered the underwater world but it’s a mindset you must put yourself in to properly conduct any course involving new divers. The more DSD’s (discover scuba dives) you do, the more aware you become of the little things you must do and how to manage another diver more effectively while ensuring their safety and enjoyment. This of course is the most important part of the DSD experience. Although you need 5 DSD’s to equal 1 official certification, it’s an essential element to an instructors training and something that all instructors will no doubt have several encounters with. After surfacing from the dives, the satisfaction you get from the rewarding experience you have provided and seeing the change in the individuals after they have explored the wonders of the underwater world is simply unforgettable! You have opened a gateway into a new world and for many people, the diving will not stop there. One way I see it is the more people who appreciate the ocean and are aware of its complexities, the more people will make the effort to protect it and fight for its survival. Nothing is more important at this point in history.

As I await the guests who will be taking the Open Water Course, Susanne one of the other instructors and myself, map out how we plan to conduct the course. It is a family of 3, the mother, father and 11 year old daughter so we must follow the youth standards and procedures and keep in mind the possible short attention span of a child, especially one who is trying scuba skills for the first time. We have the assistance of Master Instructor Yasu who will be supervising and giving feedback on how we conduct the course as well as possible suggestions and modifications for future courses. This is the advantage of taking the MSDT program. You get the experience of teaching courses but do it with the supervision and guidance of experienced individuals. Of course the key to any job is finding your own methods and what works best for you, but getting various tricks of the trade and learning through other peoples experience is extremely beneficial which is why I think all new instructors should take the MSDT. This foundation you will receive during the MSDT period will undoubtedly make you a much better instructor as you move forward in your career, whatever that may be.

For now I am at the start of my MSDT program so follow in the coming weeks as my training progresses. I will surely post another blog once this course is complete, but confidence is high, energy is high and I can only imagine how great the feeling will be when I hand this family their Open Water certification. I think it is awesome that a family has decided to take part in an activity like diving all together and I will certainly focus on making this a fun, family bonding experience. The key to the open water course of course is learning how to dive but, there has to be a large emphasis of FUN!

Stay tuned…

Kenzo Kiren… PADI Instructor!!!

By on December 5, 2011 in Diving in Bali

 

Yaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

Can’t quite describe the emotions racing through my body and soul right now but I can tell you it feels amazing. It’s hard to believe just  4 months ago I was sweating in a kitchen anticipating the challenges and experiences I would be facing in Bali but here I am only 4 monthsinto my 7 month grand prize and I can say it has already been a dream come true. Every single day I’ve spent in Bali has been a blessing. I’ve met such a wide array of people from all over the world establishing several lifelong friendships, enhanced my perspective on life and most importantly achieved the goal of becoming a PADI Instructor!!!! And I’m not finished yet…

If I said it was easy I would be lying. To become a PADI instructor takes a lot of hard work, perseverance, determination and of course most importantly a passion for teaching and a love for the underwater world. I’ve never been so nervous about an exam in my life. The exams along with the added pressure of keeping BSB’s perfect passing rate for 2011 in tact made it that much more nerve-wracking. I tried not to think about it but imagine the only person failing the IE was the Best Dive Job Winner… Thank god I dodged that bullet… In the end, I actually had a near perfect score in the exams. Besides a couple incorrect answers in the theory section I pretty much recieved perfect scores! Our group as a whole was no doubt very well prepared thanks to the great IDC program over at BSB. So, a thousand thanks to the people of Blue Season Bali not only for selecting me as the Best Dive Job Winner but also for all the guidance, opportunity and knowledge they have provided me with. I came to Bali as a baby in the diving world with nothing but my open water certification but in 4 short months they transformed me into not only a PADI instructor but a damn confident one. Special thanks and congrats to the 6 others that passed through the pearly gates of the PADI world and came out instructors alongside me. We had lots of fun and all truly deserve what we achieved. Next step is the MSDT and I’m sure the progress will just keep on coming. Can’t wait! One final thanks to all my friends and family back home who’ve supported me from the day I entered the contest. I truly would not be living the dream if it wasn’t for all of you so thank you so much… It’s safe to say I didn’t disappoint and now you all have no excuses to take up diving and get certified by instructor Kenzo!!! I expect to see you soon.

Cheers everybody!

Final days of IDC & Mock IE…Check!

By on December 1, 2011 in Diving in Bali

Hello again ladies and gentleman, people of all ages!

I believe the last time I filled you in on the IDC we were right in the thick of things, preparing and presenting various in class knowledge developments as well as inwater skill circuits. Before wrapping up the IDC, we were given one ‘day of rest’ an optional day off which as a group we decided to for once enjoy a stress free day out on the boat in Nusa Penida. We were blessed with a shining sun, perfect dive conditions and a sighting of about 6 large mantas. But now back to the serious stuff… Today we wrapped up the official final day of the IDC portion with day 2 of the mock exam. The mock exam basically consisted of a imitated Instructor Exam like the one we will be facing tomorrow morning and the following 2 days. It was one final assessment/opportunity to practice and master the possible skills and subjects we may get during the actual exams as well as one last chance to review the theory that at this point hopefully we should have down pat. The past couple weeks have consisted of many moments of course directors towering over us or behind us ticking things off on their slates as we present in both confined and open water situations. But in the end, it was for the better and now we know when they are towering behind us, they are marking off all the things we are doing right! Instead of clapping after a presentation, we splash the “instructor” which is a really great feeling and fun for all. Come take the IDC at BSB and you too can have the satisfaction of being splashed with praises.(it really is a great feeling) Fun and games aside, at this point, times were tense as we took on the mentality that this was the real thing. Although a matter of one question can be the difference of a pass or fail, all in all I think we have a pretty confident bunch. We’ve had lots of fun and plenty of progress and it’s finally time for the little birdies to leave the nest and try our luck in the big, big world.

In the end, the mock went very well. Everybody passed, confidence was high and we were now mock instructors..(if only that meant something) It is 930pm right now and I’m sitting in the BSB classroom going over some last minute stuff alongside my buddy and fellow instructor candidate, Jacques. Steve just left after a long day at the office and at this point it’s up to fate. Tomorrow morning we will meet at BSB around 9am then head off to possibly the most stressful, nerve-wracking couple days of our lives. The exams run for three long days. Day 1 consists of 5 theory exams covering physics, physiology, general skills and environment, Recreational Dive Planner and equipment. Each section is only 12 questions but this means if you get more than 3 wrong on 2 sections, YOU FAIL. If you get more than 3 wrong in only one section you get 1 chance make up which I’m sure would be the most frightening test of your life. If all goes well, after the theory section, we write a standards exam going through the many PADI general procedures and standards. Day 2 is when we present a knowledge development in class presentation as well as a confined water presentation and a 5 skill circuit. Once again there is a passing criteria, but for now we won’t go into details. Finally if all is still fine and dandy, we move to day 3 which entails an integrated open water skill presentation as well as rescue exercise 7. This is when we come across an unresponsive, non-breathing diver on the surface and must remove both theirs and our equipment while providing rescue breaths every 5 seconds… Not an easy task with surface currents and examiners watching your every move… Good thing we’ve practiced this about 50 times up to this point. So, all that said, I think the Blue Season Bali IDC team will have no problems blowing through the 3 days and coming through the other side as instructors. We’ve worked hard mentally and trained very hard physically up to this point and with the dedicated work our course directors have given us, we have all the tools necessary to pass the exams. For now, think positive thoughts, deep breaths and hope lady luck doesn’t give us any trick questions on the exams…Or else…..

Wish me luck!

Soon to be instructors….

By on November 26, 2011 in Diving in Bali, Life in Bali, PADI Instructor Training

So here’s the next status update on this month’s PADI IDC group.

First off don’t leave your cereal in the classroom…unless you want ants for breakfast… Didn’t stop me from digging in. Mmmm

Anyways,

Over the past few days we’ve been getting hit by wave after wave of information, evaluation, positive reinforcement and feedback, resulting in waves of progress. We’ve all individually had to prepare and present 2 separate knowledge development presentations. To start off, we are all given a different question that our group of “open water” students struggled with. We then have to take them through and reinforce values, key points, application to upcoming skills they will face in both confined and open water situations and make sure that by the end, everything is simplistically understandable and crystal clear. We get to use things like the PADI prescriptive teaching guide which makes things convenient offering video’s and other interactive tools. Overall, it’s a great way to get us experienced and comfortable. It allows us to execute lessons to a variety of students while also teaching us presentation structure and how they should be conducted more effectively. So far I’ve scored a 5 and 4.5 out of 5 so confidence is at a high and hopefully I can finish off strong with the final knowledge development! Everyone else’s presentations have been great and quite animated which makes things fun for both us the students as well as the course directors. Definitely no shortage of laughs with the charismatic, creative bunch we got packed into that classroom.

The next thing we’ve been putting our nose to the grind on is our confined water presentations as well as today, we had our first open water presentations. These entail a real life simulation of teaching students to both correctly and safely perform a skill according to PADI standards. You get marked on everything from the briefing, highlighting objectives, describing the value, signals, organization, making proper use of an assistant and most importantly, identifying assigned problems and correcting them appropriately. Finally we must do a debriefing describing what the students did well and what things they need to remember for the future. This may all seem fine and dandy in the pool but when it comes to open water, it’s another story. Today, for example, we all were out in Sanur taking turns being the instructor. I was the last to go and just my luck, as I was preparing for a hover skill using a Jon line attached to a buoy line, a massive mob of seaweed came out of nowhere and engulfed the line. I literally had to get out a knife and saw and rip away for about two minutes until I could finally free up the line. I really wish a picture was taken because words just can’t describe how big this clump of seaweed was and how funny it must have looked as my students watched me tackle this monster. I guess we can say this was a great learning experience of what can happen in a real open water situation with a actual group of students… My hopes are that it never does…

So for the final 6 days of IDC we have one more knowledge development presentation, 2 more confined water presentations and one more open water integrated skills presentation. All this as well as a couple more workshops, a couple more pool sessions and a day out in Penida which I think we’re all looking forward to. Things are busy as can be, but lots of fun too. Finally, 2 days before the IE we have 2 days of mock IE. This is our final assessment to make sure we are ready for the 3 day IE (instructor exams) as well as fine tune any last little bugs in the system. Our group is full of positive thoughts and I can’t wait to become instructors with such a great bunch…Fingers crossed…

It’s Official, the IDC has begun!

By on November 21, 2011 in Diving in Bali

The IDC is officially under way and all 7 of us instructor candidates are in full focus, soaking up every slide show & pool/ocean lessons and feeling very confident as the days roll on. The first official day of IDC was yesterday so we went through many of the main focuses and philosophies and stressed the team mentality approach of not just worrying about yourself the individual passing the IE (instructor exams), but all of us collectively passing. I thought this was a great way of looking at things because not only does it promote the teamwork mentality but it also encourages us to learn through each other while also allowing us to teach one another. One person’s strengths may be another’s weakness, this way we all  can ensure that in the end, there are no weaknesses. We did another exam assessment on our theory and after reviewing my scores, I was fascinated with how much I improved over the past week. Without a doubt the IDC prep helped tremendously and now moving forward I know what more I have to do to fine tune my theory and pass those IE theory exams.

This IDC our group has had the pleasure of getting lectures by the best Blue Season Bali has to offer. Due to a Tec40 course going on during IDC prep, we got to spend a week with Gold Course Director Tom West. Let me tell you, this guy is brilliant! He knows something about everything and when it comes to his diving knowledge, there isn’t a question he can’t answer. The knowledge that guys brain contains really is frightening. Next we have Jonathan Cross Platinum Course Director and owner of BSB. I must say, we are a truly lucky group to be able to learn through the experience and knowledge Jon has to offer both in the classroom and in the water. Today he took us out to Sanur and let us practice being instructors controlling a group of students. This was a very beneficial experience and a great step towards our end goal. With the in water direction and feedback I think we all benefited greatly through this exercise. Finally, we will soon be joined by Thomas Barret (Baz), who has been running the majority of the IDC’s this year and has a 100% passing success rate. Let’s hope this group can keep that streak in tact! Like I mentioned before, we also have Staff Instructors Robert Scales & Tom Mckenzie helping out. When it comes to the help at hand, we got a pretty extensive group of individuals with a lot to offer! They’re always willing to spend extra time either in the pool or classroom helping any of us get on our game as well as show us some good tips and techniques that once helped them with their IDC’s. Anyone considering taking the IDC and or MSDT in the future, this is the place to do it. I can’t say enough good things with my experience thus far and I know it will only get better…You won’t regret it. ( the special IDC lunches are a reason alone to come take the course…let’s just say they’re mouth watering!) This team makes it a fun filled experience that no doubt ends with fantastic rewards that paves the way for a great future in the proffessional diving world…whatever you may choose to do.

Stay tuned for more on my IDC experience!

Progress comes in BIG doses!

By on November 18, 2011 in Diving in Bali

Hello again ladies and gents!

As another couple days blow by, content and confidence growth continues right along with it. We have just finished day 7 of the IDC prep portion, (6 if you count the optional day of rest or fun diving, although most people just take that as another classroom day to focus on theory or pool skills) and now have one final day remaining before the IDC officially starts. Over the past 2 days we went over some very useful presentations which highlighted the different aspects we will be exploring and applying once becoming an instructor. We looked at things like how to effectively conduct courses, specialities, marketing, career opportunities, business of diving and much, much more. Although it involved many slideshows and classroom hours, the personal experiences and stories that Westy (Course Director-Tom West) and Staff Instructor Thomas Mckenzie shared along with them made them much more interesting and a far more rewarding learning experience. Also, we had discussions throughout and went through a couple questions at the end of each section to help with the learning process. Quite mind blowing stuff I must say! 

Today, we had our Emergency First Response Instructor orientation which led us through an in depth look at our focuses on the EFR courses from an instructors standpoint. We did a couple simulations of instructor/student teachings on one of the primary care skills and filled out some action plans which we will refer back to later. Tomorrow for day 2 of the EFRI we will actually give presentations and do mock EFR courses will full debriefings and go through all the importance’s we need to know for when we actually teach EFR.

I finally just got home and as much as I would love to take a nap, I got some work to do! Better throw on some coffee!

More IDC course updates to come!

Ready to rock the IDC!

By on November 11, 2011 in Diving in Bali

It’s the eve of this year’s final IDC course over at Blue Season Bali. Since my arrival, I have seen two separate groups of people go through the nearly month long course who all came out proud to say, they were now PADI Instructors. Of course each individual told different stories both throughout and afterwards of the struggles and obstacles they faced, but in the end, one story they all shared was their self-satisfaction and relief when it was all over. They all say that the amount of hard work and sacrifice was a small price to pay for not only the sense of achievement they recieved but also the gateway and opportunities that were now open to them in the diving world. Some individuals decided to carry on to take the MSDT over at Blue Season Bali and get the chance to teach courses and gain experience, while others depart shortly after, off to seek out a new adventure in a new destination. Whatever the plan may be, successfully completing the IDC no doubt opens a world of endless possibility.

For myself, after IDC, I will be continuing my diving education with the MSDT (Master Scuba Diver Trainer) which will help build up my instructor rating and also give me the opportunity to get certifications and experience. Not only will this help for job possibilities in the future but it will also let me put many of the things I just learnt into practice. With the help of the team over at Blue Season Bali there will be no shortage of knowledge and guidance which will undoubtedly help me achieve greatness as a PADI Instructor.

As for right now, I’m not sure the exact structure of the IDC course but I do know it will be jam packed full of lectures, skill circuits, presentations and mock courses/exams. The IDC team over at BSB so far this year has a perfect record for students passing the IDC so let’s hope we can finish off with a BANG! Stay tuned for progress updates throughout and hopefully in one month’s time Kenzo Kiren, Best Dive Job Winner will be a PADI Instructor!!!

Overnight Tulamben

By on November 8, 2011 in Diving in Bali

Every once in a while once a couple requests get put in Blue Season Bali organizes an overnight trip open to all the interns. Depending on requests and schedule availability we either go to Tulamben or Menjangan. This time around the destination was Tulamben and the total number people coming along was 12 interns and instructor Neil.

We set off around the same time as usual once the days guests had cleared out and arrive at Tulamben around 10am. We organized our gear and in two separate groups, took part in dive number one on the USAT Liberty Wreck. Right off the bat, I found a beautiful almost clear pink nudibranch right on the wreck. This was a pretext for what was going to be a great dive trip. We surfaced from the first dive then headed down to Wayan Restaurant where we always enjoy a wide array of lunches overlooking Mt. Agung. After digesting we dropped off our bags at Paradise Tulamben where we would all be staying, then headed back down to the beach for dive number 2. This time around my group decided we would venture to Coral Garden and what a decision that was. On this dive we had two very close encounters with a couple Blacktips. I mean so close I could touch them! What a fascinating and majestic creature and one that truly deserves more respect and protection than it is receiving by today’s society. After surfacing from dive number 2 and bragging to the other group about our shark sightings we all went back to our hotel. There we enjoyed a couple relaxing hours before we would set off for our night dive.

The sun was setting and we made our way to the beach. Once again had our two groups formed, group one would be entering the water first led by me. I must say, I was very excited and honored that I was given the responsibility of leading a night dive. Though I have never led a night dive, I knew the wreck like the back of my hand and had nothing but confidence it would go well. The dive went smoothly and we saw a different side of the underwater world than we were normally used to. The highlight was the massive Bumphead Parrot Fish. Some nearly a meter long and there were loads of them. We also saw the large eel that normally occupies the wreck twisting and turning as everyone’s torches locked on as it tried to catch a fish. Unfortunately, his moment of fame ended in disappointment as the fish won this battle and got away. On this dive I learnt the valuable lesson of the importance of carrying a backup torch. At one point a divers torch ran so low that he needed my backup in order to see. Another diver’s torch also started dying and luckily I could communicate getting him someone elses backup so he could then finish the dive. At the end just before we surfaced, we all cut out our lights and enjoyed the phenomenon of bioluminescence. Very, very cool stuff! Though there was some confusion during the midpoint of the dive when our group got surrounded by group two as well as another group of people taking part in a night dive, we managed to stay together. All in all, the night dive was a success and I had proven that I could get a group of divers back to shore safely not only during the day but now, also in darkness. We ended off the day with a group dinner at Paradise Tulamben then headed to bed early as we had plans to start our day with a early 6am dive.

The next morning we continued where we left off last night, the USAT Liberty wreck. It was awesome to dive Tulamben before the loads of other guests arrived on site, something I had yet to experience. Another highlight of this dive was seeing the remains of the night dive atmosphere. The best way I can explain this is that it was like a downtown street after a busy night where most of the bars were now closed, most people had cleared out and only a few stragglers remained roaming the streets. The wreck seemed quiet with life and was still rather dark because the sun had yet to fully rise. We saw the occasional large Bumphead still roaming around looking lost, several little critters and the rest of the normal wreck occupiers start to awake.

Before leaving Tulamben, we took part in 2 more great dives totalling for 6 on this amazing trip. The trip was not only an unforgettable diving experience but also yet another great bonding trip with all the other interns at BSB. Can’t wait for the next overnight trip!

 

Divemaster Progress

By on September 11, 2011 in Diving in Bali

Another couple days has blown by and in those days my progress as a DMT have come along rather smoothly. I’ve been working hard on perfecting my pool skills and demonstrations and although I could still use plenty of practice, I feel I’ve got quite a good grasp and have learnt several tips and techniques which will help when teaching or assisting in the future. Over the past week I’ve completed my search & recover practical skill, the 24 skill circuit, open water confined,  OW open water, passed part 1 of the exam, finished off the 5 water skills and just today completed the scuba review. whhhhheew! What a week!

For now the day is done, looking forward to the arrival of 2 new DMT’s! Tomorrow is my day off so a couple of us are thinking we may head out to Ubud, check out monkey forest and what not… For now I’ll just try and get through tonight… Something tells me there will be some drinks involved…

Another couple days blow by

By on August 20, 2011 in Diving in Bali

It’s been a couple days since the last blog so we’ll fill you in on what you’ve missed.

First off I officially got my dive equipment package from the great people of DiveMasters, Aqua Lung and Blue Season Bali so thanks so much for that. With the new gear my peak bouyancy will soon  be in check and confidence is now at an all time high!

I’ve had some beautiful dives down at Seraya’s Secret a macro site full of nudibranch, lionfish, spotted rays, the occasional barracuda and many other little critters. Fortunately for us not many tourist go to this site (maybe they haven’t heard of it) but it is an amazing little place requiring patience and diligence with rewarding results.

Last night we took our weekly Blue Season Bali BBQ to the beach and decided to have a bonfire with a battle of the sexes games challenge. The games consisted of a relay of spinning around multiple times then balancing an egg on a spoon (not an easy task when you’ve had some bintangs in you and walking down slope in sand and speed is a factor). We also had team balloon toss, cracker eating relays and to finish off a game of waterfall (a relay of downing beers as fast as possible). In the end although it was down to the wire, the boys claimed victory and thus bragging rights for the week. All in all it was quite the eventful night and I’m sure the first of many beach bon fires to come as I’m sure the girls want another shot at the title…

Today we were off to Amed, another dive site roughly 15 minutes from Tulamben Wreck but unfortunately due to shallow tide we were unable to enter past the reef so it was back to Seraya’s Secret. This was particularly exciting beacuse I got to brief and guide my first ever dive! Once again we saw an array of aquatic wildlife including 2 large moray eels, several cleaning shrimp and an octopus. The pictures I have dont really do it justice so you’ll have to come to Bali and check out Seraya’s Secret for yourself… I also managed to lose one of my integrated weights on my brand new BCD, thankfully after some search and recover and a lucky break, I found it on my way back to shore!!

Once again some great dives and eventful days over in Bali!

Stay tuned…

Rescue Diver…Check!

By on August 13, 2011 in Diving in Bali

Just got back from Sanur where me and two other very tired divers were out doing our Rescue Diver Course…

As luck would have it the current was pretty strong, the visibility was less than ideal and the waves were splashing over our faces(as well as Edu, one of the dive masters and unfortunate victim in today’s rescue session. Although I managed to lose my snorkel, we all swallowed our fair share of salt water and were absolutely exhausted by the end of the day, I feel proud to say I officially earned the right to call myself a Rescue Diver!

 

 

 

 

 

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