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Thinking of Taking Your Instructor Development Course (IDC) - F.A.Q.'s

6/18/2020

 
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With my local waters opening (Calgary, Alberta) I have had a number of conversations with divers who are interested in earning their PADI Instructor rating.  The questions have a similar background, basically, they have centered around whether they will get an Instructor’s job at a facility when they are done, is it worth the expense, what is included in the cost and ‘how much does the course cost’?

As much as I strive to remain unbiased (I am a Course Director, so there may be some thought that my answers promote me) I have to admit, I have worked with several Course Directors and have seen programs that meet the criteria required (there is a basic Standard), and others that exceed the basic and include additional value. 

So, I have gathered some information from colleagues to give a more rounded answer to some of the frequently asked questions, while ensuring that the content is inclusive of my local environment. 

I have first-hand knowledge and experience to support the information provided and hope it helps with your decision making.

OF NOTE:  
Assistant Instructor and Open Water Scuba Instructor and IDC Staff Instructor courses must be conducted on site of a 5 * IDC center.  With COVID-19 protocols IDC Staff Instructors and Course Directors can offer on-line learning for some components of these courses, however, they must be affiliated with a 5* IDC center and the components not associated with On-line learning must be done on-site.  

You can ensure the instructor you are considering is affiliated with an approved center by contacting PADI at  QA@PADI.com



Is there a job guarantee for students?

It is virtually impossible for anyone to guarantee a job as this depends on many factors. Providing a guarantee would be providing false expectations for students.  It is preferable to be completely honest and transparent. The Course Director should work with instructors to make an interesting CV so they can get a job in the destination of their choice. This does not mean you will not find a job in the location you take your course. Eventually jobs open for new instructors and a preference may be made for instructors who were trained on site. Working with a Course Director or facility that has a positive working relationship with diving centers in the area may result in other centers hiring that Course Director’s instructors. Similarly, a Course Director that has working relationships with PADI centers worldwide can result in a recommendation and referral.

Is it possible to get a job after graduating as a PADI Instructor?

Clearly, this is possible locally or anywhere in the world. The Calgary area has four dive centers and instructors come and go.  However, in the Calgary area, it is important to know our dive season is possibly four months of the year (May to September) with maybe an addition of a month on either end due to ice/snow/winter run-off (Mother Nature’s decision).  This makes instructor positions as a full-time occupation unlikely.  Instructors who are willing to travel or relocate (even temporarily) have a higher chance of getting employment in tourist sites, although a valid work permit is often necessary.

PADI’s website under Pros sign-on also lists job offers worldwide. You likely can find opportunities that offer the lifestyle you’re looking for. Jobs do exist – you have to decide if the opportunities meet your personal requirements.

I think it's a big investment. Will I earn it back?

Investing in your career as a PADI Instructor includes skills that are transferable to other areas of your life and career.  It is a title that will accompany you throughout life.  Business and education require an initial investment but, if you do things well, you will benefit over-all. The cost of becoming an instructor is very little compared to any other careers or businesses.

From a local perspective – given the short dive season and the number of courses and competition – your investment becomes a question of desire.  What is motivating you to acquire this advancement?  What is the local pay-scale versus cost to you to provide the instruction to your students - what costs are covered by the facility you will work with?

Your instructor certification will accompany you no matter where your next destination is. Chances are, you will not make a living in the local dive environment of Calgary, however, on a worldwide scale, although you will not become a millionaire as a diving instructor, you can have a decent income and enjoy a lifestyle that, for many, would only be possible in their dreams.

Does it matter where I take my training to get a job?

The reality is that the PADI Instructor Development courses must have the same content and follow the same standards no matter where they are taught. This means that, in theory, instructors leave with the same preparation no matter where they have taken their course. Fortunately, with the large number of alternatives on the market for the PADI IDC there are some better proposals than others. To make the best choice you must consider factors such as commitment and company reputation, Course Director dedication and availability, and additional programs included to complement your IDC. It is highly recommended that you schedule an interview with the Course Directors you are considering so you can ask and receive answers to all your questions, and make a well informed decision. The ease with which you can schedule this meeting may be the first evaluation criteria in your final decision.

What to expect from my Course Director during and after my IDC?

The Course Director is the person who will be responsible for guiding you through the process to become a PADI Instructor. You will learn about teaching and education systems with them. You will receive valuable advice to develop your career as a professional diver and you can get information about the diving industry, specific details of the geographic region and more. 
There are diving center locations where the Course Director interacts only occasionally with their instructor candidates, leaving much in the hands of assistants. This can be due to workload, because the Course Director does not live in the area, or the position of Course Director is not their full-time occupation. There are assistants able to do a good job but constant interaction with the Course Director enriches the program. 
There are Course Directors who personally lead all professional courses (Assistant Instructor to Open Water Instructor which equals the IDC) and will accompany you throughout the process until you successfully complete your training. The relationship with your Course Director should not finish at the end of your IDC. You should find that even years after you finish your course you can go to your Course Director for clarification or advice in your career as a PADI Professional.


Do I have the opportunity to take continuing education at the instructor level with my Course Director?

It is important that your Course Director help you continue your professional training beyond PADI Instructor level. This will help extend the range of courses you can offer and help you become more attractive to diving centers when you are looking for a job. Your students will also benefit by being able to take all their courses with you without searching elsewhere.

Locally, it is important to determine what courses are beneficial for you to teach on an on-going basis and those that provide for a well-rounded CV.  Choosing a Course Director who can prepare you for worldwide opportunities may require you to research other destinations. Or, confirming your Course Director can work with you in other locations.  Your Course Director should offer continuing education training in PADI Instructor specialties.  However, also consider what additional training they offer to ensure you are best suited for employment opportunities elsewhere.  For example:  Sidemount, technical diving with PADI’s Tec Rec Diving, DAN Instructor courses, and cave diving training. There are a number of excellent IDC courses that ensure candidates benefit by receiving exclusive prices on any continuing education program taken with them and go beyond the basics of a standard IDC program.

Why is there a large difference in the prices of professional programs in different destinations and dive centers?

The answer to this question has to do with several factors. There are a variety of strategies in posting prices. You need to understand what is included and how it is being charged so you can compare properly. An example of this is that there are options that show prices not including materials or PADI applications fees. It’s just a way to display information to manipulate consumer perception. To do a proper analysis it is necessary to compare the same product. This is not always possible because not all packages available include the same things. The important thing here is that you understand what the program is offering you and compare the programs in their entirety so you can have a clearer idea of what you’re paying and the benefits you are getting. Furthermore, there is an added value to the services. Some options present information so that they boast offered goods or services “free”. In reality there is nothing free. There is no such thing as free housing or unlimited diving. This is all a pricing strategy and in reality the costs are included in the final price or, somehow, subsequently covered. There are proposals that may have lower operating costs allowing them to give a better price. In unfortunate cases, some dive centers sacrifice quality in order to “improve” a price regardless of student satisfaction.

Look for value of service over price – quality of training - and you will most likely end up more satisfied and in a win situation.  .

 

I hope I have provided some food for thought, and please, contact me if you have any questions.  I do travel to other destinations to complete IDC courses and I do have excellent colleagues that I am in regular contact with who I can refer you to and who are able to assist in your education,above and beyond.

Safe diving, and best wishes for your success in your future education.



Lana Taylor
PADI Course Director




ICE Diving - Know Before you GO

2/1/2020

 
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Seems the season has arrived once again for those incredible dive-hard divers to brave the icy environment and extend their dive opportunities. 

As in the past, I am posting this information to ensure, first and foremost, safety when conducting your training dives and second, awareness of risk management where Standards are noted.  I know that information regarding changes is not always shared and communicated in a timely fashion.

Ensure you have your own copy of the PADI Ice Diver Specialty Instructor Guide in order to teach the course and make sure you are meeting all the requirements (as an assistant you should be able to confirm the information you are being given is correct).  Just to be sure - a number of changes were made in 2015, so your Instructor Guide should reflect the most current version.
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The following are just a few highlights (introduced in 2015) as well as some reminders of the specific ratios related to ice diving to be aware of when planning your course and, if you are the student, taking your course:

Prerequisites:
  • Certified Assistant (Dive Master, Assistant Instructor, Instructor) – now needs to be a certified ice diver, with ice diving rescue experience (optional fourth dive recommended)
  • Instructor – now needs to be a certified ice diver  (in the past the instructor could have done a direct entry application based on completion of dives without having taken a Specialty Ice Instructor Course.)
  • Student divers must now be PADI Rescue Divers prior to Ice Dive Four.   Ice Dive Four adapts rescue diver skills to the ice diving environment.
Supervision:     
  • Dive 1 changed from direct supervision by either the course instructor or certified assistant to direct supervision by the course instructor.
  • Dives 2, 3 and 4 remain direct supervision by either the course instructor or certified assistant.
  • Instructors are prompted to assess diver readiness for later dives and certified assistant readiness for direct supervision.   
Dives:
Safety diver roles have been changed:
  • Safety divers must now be certified ice divers, preferably with rescue skills and with the Ice Dive Four recommended. Previously student divers could play this role, but this meant they may need to perform a rescue before they have learned the skills to do so.
  • Safety divers must also now dive in pairs. Previously this was not a standard.
  • Safety divers no longer need to have dive equipment on and ready to go in the water, which is a useful change in extremely cold surface conditions. They now need to have their kit ready to go and be able to respond immediately. This allows them to seek shelter and stay warm.
  • New skill – Out of air ascent practiced in 3-6m/10-20ft, directly under the ice hole. Purpose is for divers to practice this during training due to slight differences in techniques and to experience the dexterity challenges of simple skills when cold. Practicing under the ice hole allows diver to ascent directly, just in case there is a free flow.

​Dives and Hours:
  • The PADI Ice Diver course includes three required open water dives, and one optional dive. If all four dives are completed the course will be conducted over at least two days. If three dives are planned on one day, in addition to meeting General Standards and Procedures for Open Water Dives, ensure dives are planned within the following parameters:
  • If student divers have participated in confined water training that day, they may complete no more than two open water dives.
  • The maximum depth for the third dive is 12 metres/40 feet.
  • Completing three dives in one day is at the discretion of both the student diver and instructor. Take into consideration all factors before planning a third dive for the day including:
    • Task loading of student divers
    • Diver stamina, ability and comfort
    • A minimum surface interval of one hour between each dive, with adequate time to rest and prepare for the next dive
    • Adequate student diver rewarming between and after dives.
    • Diver interest, willingness and motivation to participate
    • Adherence to safe diving practices
      • Residual nitrogen
      • Environmental conditions
OF NOTE:  the information presented above is according to PADI standards, also according to PADI is the recommendation of two dives only per day when diving at altitude.  In my local region all dives are at altitude - so consideration of conservative diving would result in two dives per day for a two-day diving experience.

The minimum number of recommended hours is 24.

I hope you find this information of interest and assistance.  If I can assist further, please don't hesitate to contact me.  Dive Safe and stay Warm!

Spring Has Arrived - and so have Dive Gear Sales!

5/17/2016

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In my local dive community, it seems that when spring peeks around the corner, dive gear comes out of hibernation and hits the Dive Gear Sales – at both the local dive club level and on-line.  Sometimes, questions that come up are “why did you buy that first” and “why did you buy that (in the first place)”, accompanied by “why are you selling that”?

This gave me some cause to ponder.  So I looked at the gear I have put up for sale in the last while and came up with these general thoughts about what I bought first, why and why sell it.
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What Did I Buy first?

​​When I first started diving, my first purchase was a weight belt with bullet-style lead weight.  No, not a set of regulators, a dry suit, computer or tanks etc.  I found that when I traveled by land (weights are very heavy to take by plane) I rarely found weights at dive destinations that were not large plate-weights and square. Very, very uncomfortable on my hip bones!  So, comfort being foremost – I bought weights that fit!  The second item I bought was a compass – every time I rented a set of regulators, the compass didn’t work that well (either due to being misused and left dirty, or because not all compasses behave the same).  So, I bought a compass - you can get back to where you started from and you can trust that it works properly – more practice equals better performance.  And you have your own for your 
PADI Navigation Course.

My next purchase was the big one – my dry suit.  I decided when I first started diving that I would determine the cost of renting my full kit – regulator, dry suit, BCD, hood, and gloves and calculate how long it would take me to have paid for it through rental fees (my mask, snorkel and fins were a gift).  At that time, I calculated it as 70 dives.  I knew people who had bought full sets of gear when they first started diving and then it languished in their gear bins (I am guessing waiting for the excitement of Spring Dive Gear sales).  By 70 dives I was fairly certain I would be committed to this fantastic sport.  Truth!  Dry suits keep you dry when they fit you – so my first dive after my dry suit purchase, I was dry!  And, I also knew I was going to continue to dive.   A worthwhile expense.


The next items in my gear kit were my BCD – a gift; my regulators (piece by piece – gifts); and my computer – a consignment purchase (awesome snag!).   These items are more regularly available and not so specific to the individual, so more rent-able.

Why are you selling it?

I recently sold a jacket-style BCD for a relatively small sum and was asked ‘why do you want so little cash for it?’  My reply was that it was a few years old and I wasn’t using it anymore, it needed someone else to love it. 
​
The other consideration is – what style of diving is the equipment appropriate for?  As a dive Instructor and Course Director, I have gear that is specific to certain types of teaching – Tec, Sidemount – which differ from regular recreational diving, so a simple BCD (in the case of the one recently sold – ladies jacket style) doesn’t work so well for me anymore.  However, that still leaves me with four – 4 – BCD’s, that I actively dive and one that is specific to infrequent dives (hmmm, next gear sale item perhaps).


Also consider how often it is used.  Given that I dive both cold and warm water conditions, I have gear suited to staying at home (cold conditions, bigger lift capacity due to higher weight requirements) and travel (warm conditions, lighter lift capacity due to lighter weights and also baggage restrictions).  Divers that are changing their dive lifestyle – sell their gear (to keep it happy), during Spring Dive Gear sales!
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Buy new or used?

Important considerations – I feel very fortunate that my first purchases of used gear were bought from honorable sellers (in my case a dive shop that still is a pleasure to deal with).  If you are new to the sport of diving and wish to make sure you are purchasing quality used gear, local dive centers often put their used gear up for sale.  This is a good place to start if your knowledge about what you are looking for and what is suitable to your diving desire is limited.  You won’t over or under purchase gear suitable for you.  If they don’t have what you need – they can likely provide a price-range for what you should expect to pay for used gear.  Also, they are in a great position to give you a ‘life expectancy’ idea and you can then determine if the cost is appropriate to the time frame. 

Next thought – bring that ‘service technician’ buddy along with you, or your particularly gear-savvy dive friend.  In this way, they may be able to suggest that what you are looking at isn’t a high priority over other items, or that the quality isn’t what it should be etc.   Then you won’t end up with too many reels, lights, shiny things (hmmm, more gear sale items waiting for next Spring!)

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Also, maybe before you even think about buying used gear – think about taking a “PADI Equipment Specialist Course” – it won’t give you the skills on how to rebuild your regulator (that’s a job for Certified Service Technicians!) but it will give you the tips and tricks on how to make regular and minor gear repairs and how to determine whether a piece of equipment is in need of servicing as well as a general idea of what that cost might be.  In the end – new might be your best value.

The fact is, if you take good care of your equipment, follow manufactures guidelines for service, cleaning and storage, gear will last a long time.   Purchasing used from someone who cares for their equipment can work out to your advantage with the appropriate knowledge on your part; purchased new it will last a long time, likely have a warranty, and your purchase price may become a distant memory!

I like sales – both to shop and to buy - but buyer beware is important.  Something to keep in mind – if you want ‘something for nothing’ you might get ‘nothing ‘.

​See you in the water (or at the next Dive Gear sale!).
Lana and Randy.

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DiveStrong Canada - Two Years Young!

2/25/2015

 
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February 2015 is the second anniversary of DiveStrong Canada. 

“What matters most is how well you walk through the fire.” Charles Bukowski

Since you are reading my blog you may very well have also read “What is DiveStrong” on my website, how the name of my company, and that of my colleagues in Slovenia, was the result of brainstorming in a timed three-minute session during our Course Director Training Course in the Dominica Republic, in 2010. We, all of my friends and colleagues of the 'DiveStrong' team, made it through our challenge in 2010 and have all gone forward to create successes, for not only ourselves, but the many candidates we have mentored and encouraged in diving – at all levels.

In February 2013, I along with my husband and most favorite Dive Master – Randy Kliewer, decided the dive environment we were involved in didn't reflect the positive, ethical and progressive atmosphere we wanted to embrace. As a result, DiveStrong Canada was born.

We do not have 'bricks and mortar' so it is with a great deal of pride that I say thank you to our clients. PADI Elite Instructor Status 50 (over fifty students, less than 100 ☺) was a milestone achieved in our first year. Your belief in us and your promotion of DiveStrong - through word of mouth advertising and support of our many efforts – has spread the word.

Our second year has seen a continued and increased request for courses inclusive of Instructor courses – again at all levels from the Open Water Scuba Instructor to Specialty and EFR Instructor. In addition, our dive travel opportunities have filled and satisfied clients have come back for repeats! Thank you! I think the best compliment I received recently was “I know they fill fast, so please don't forget me when you get all the details complete”.

We have a lot planned for this upcoming year – but most of all, we plan to continue doing what you, our clients believe in us for – answering your questions, mentoring you forward, assisting you with your dive and travel success. That is why we are DiveStrong – we have strong support.

Thank you for a great second year, safe dives and travels to everyone.
Lana and Randy


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Ice Diving 2015!

1/29/2015

 
PicturePhoto Credit - Glenn Fines
Hi Everyone!  Welcome to Ice Diving 2015!  Hopefully the weather conditions will be far superior to the harsh conditions that, in deference to safety, led to canceling of so many sessions last year.
As in the past, I am posting this information to update you as quickly as possible - since the ice diving season is fast approaching - to ensure, first and foremost, safety when conducting your training dives and second, awareness of risk management where Standards are noted.  I know that information regarding changes is not always shared and communicated in a timely fashion.

First - there is a Brand New PADI Ice Diver Specialty Instructor Guide - effective immediately - you must have one in order to teach the course this year and make sure you are meeting all the changes.
Second - the following is just a highlight of changes to watch for when reading through your own personal copy of the New Ice Diver Instructor Guide:
   
Prerequisites:

  • Certified Assistant – now needs to be a certified ice diver, with ice diving rescue experience (optional fourth dive recommended)
  • Instructor – now needs to be a certified ice diver  (in the past the instructor could have done a direct entry application based on completion of dives)
  • Student divers must now be PADI Rescue Divers prior to Ice Dive Four.   Ice Dive Four adapts rescue diver skills to the ice diving environment.
 Supervision     
  • Dive 1 changed from direct supervision by either the course instructor or certified assistant to direct supervision by the course instructor.
  • Dives 2, 3 and 4 remain direct supervision by either the course instructor or certified assistant.
  • Instructors are prompted to assess diver readiness for later dives and certified assistant readiness for direct supervision.

Knowledge Development and Practical Application:
  • Mostly an update on equipment and techniques.
  • Simplification of physiology in line with the PADI Rescue Diver course.
  • Addition of gas planning – within similar scope to PADI Deep Diver Manual
  • Land (ice) based skills separated into Practical Applications with more scheduling flexibility to help avoid excessive exposure to cold.
  • Increased warnings about use of chain saws and reference to meeting local regulation requirements
   
Dives:

  • Safety diver roles have been changed:
  • Safety divers must now be ice divers, preferably with rescue skills and with the Ice Dive Four recommended. Previously student divers could play this role, but this meant they may need to perform a rescue before they have learned the skills to do so.
  • Safety divers must also now dive in pairs. Previously this was not a standard.
  •  Safety divers no longer need to have dive equipment on and ready to go in the water, which is a useful change in extremely cold surface conditions. They now need to have their kit ready to go and be able to respond immediately. This allows them to seek shelter and stay warm.
  • New skill – Out of air ascent practiced in 3-6m/10-20ft, directly under the ice hole. Purpose is for divers to practice this during training due to slight differences in techniques and to experience the dexterity challenges of simple skills when cold. Practicing under the ice hole allows diver to ascent directly, just in case there is a free flow.
I hope you find this information of interest and assistance.  If I can assist further, please don't hesitate to contact me.  Dive Safe!


Welcome 2015!  Be Amazing!

1/8/2015

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A few years ago, while attending an in-house course put on by my 'career-employer', I received the following article in a hand-out.  It struck a note with me and I filed it away.  As so often happens at the beginning of a new year - at least for me - some re-organizing - or clean-up (out) - occurs and I came across this article again.  I post it as food for thought as we move into a new year.  
I hope you experience wonder and amazement - in only the best of ways in 2015. 
Sincerely,
Lana Taylor
DiveStrong Canada

Trust Involves Character and Competence  Michael Josephson

Today, I want to talk a little more about the qualities that generate trust.

First, I want to make clear that I'm talking about being trustworthy, not about trusting others. There is a relationship between the two concepts, but a decision to trust another is a choice, not a moral obligation. Being trustworthy, however, is an indispensable aspect of good character. Thus, we should always act so as to be worthy of trust – not simply because it's wise to do so, but because it's the right way to live.

Being worthy of full-bodied trust entails two distinct qualities: character and competence.

Of course, the attribute we first associate with trustworthy behaviour is integrity. This crucial aspect of good character is demonstrated through scrupulous honesty and moral courage. If we want people to trust us or our organization, they must believe that we will consistently do the right thing, regardless of the circumstances or pressure.

Other aspects of character include accountability and fairness. People trust those who accept responsibility for their choices and don't palm off blame to others. It's also important to be regarded as fundamentally fair.

But in business, confidence in character is not enough to justify trust. Trust also involves the conviction that the person or organization will successfully do what is expected. This competency dimension of trust embraces faith in ability, knowledge and judgment as well as a belief that the person or organization will be reliable and responsive. Reliability is established through diligence and follow-through while responsiveness involves respectful communication and demonstrated concern.


(CharacterCounts.org (446.3) - © 2012 Josephson Institute. Reprinted with permission. www.josephsonInstitute.org)

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My Introduction to Wreck Diving

11/12/2014

3 Comments

 
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There is something fascinating about shipwrecks - whether they be fully intact or remnants on the ocean bottom - they intrigue me.

Before I became a scuba diver, I was an amateur photographer.  I would spend my leisure time driving all over the rural countryside taking photos of 'land wrecks' - abandoned buildings, homesteads, vehicles, and my favourite - cemeteries.  They all presented a mystery to me - what story would they tell if I could only hear them speak.  The history to be gathered from the architecture or in the case of cemeteries the date of death. I have many photo books filled with my shots of 1930's vintage pickup trucks - some virtually intact, others with pieces of their skeleton strewn about the prairie on which they were forgotten.

When I started diving, I was fortunate in that I was able to dive with a very seasoned group of divers and take part relatively early in my dive life on some very beautiful and challenging (for the novice that I was) dives - including wreck sites. 

The very first wreck I dove was the GB Church - a ship scuttled as part of the BC Artificial Reef system.  This freighter is located just outside of Sydney B.C. and is covered with marine life.  I recall when I first descended on this ship how amazing it was to see so much 'stuff' all in one place - schools of fish, crabs, starfish, plumose anenomes and then there was the wreck itself - the history sitting on the ocean bottom.  I was hooked!

In February 1996, I experienced my most amazing wreck dive ever!  To this day! 

In September of 1995, HMCS McKenzie was sunk as another artificial reef in the area of Sydney B.C.  This ship is 366 feet long and sits upright on the bottom in approximately 105 feet of water.  On a bright, sunny morning, our dive charter tied onto a mooring line and we were given our dive briefing - information about the length, the depth, the access points, the ascent lines, hazards. I took it all in, but, the enormity of the ship I was about to dive down to was lost on me - until I saw her!  

I descended the line straining my eyes to see this ship - I mean it was supposed to be so big - why couldn't I see it immediately?  Holding onto the descent line - as per our dive briefing, looking all around me - where was it - and then, out of the depths emerged this gorgeous marine green ship. The visibility on this sunny day was amazing, from my descent point at the mast, I could see the wheel house, the deck, the bow.  She was truly beautiful - and, because she had only been down about 4 months by that point, clean!  There wasn't the coverage of marine life that the GB Church wears as a new gown.  Just the lines of this Navy Destroyer.  Breathtaking.  

That night, aboard our dive charter, we enjoyed a turkey dinner.  Our captain then took the carcass of the bird and placed it on the bow of the Mackenzie overnight.  The next day we again visited this wreck to see what, if any, critters may have joined the feast on the carcass.  In my dive log I noted there were six shrimp, some fist-sized crabs and a couple of star fish - the beginnings of the vast array of residents to be found on this ship in the future.

I still dive wrecks - wherever my dive travels take me I check out the wrecks.  I love the history, the marine life and just 'wandering' through the past reflecting on the lives of those who lived and sailed on the vessels now resting on the ocean bottom.

Want to see these beautiful ladies of the sea with me?  I have arranged a customized wreck trek of some of the wrecks of B.C., including my introductory ships,  take a look at DiveStrong Canada's
travel page, and then join us!   Who knows, you too may become addicted - not an unpleasant thing, I think.

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We Dove a Titan 1 Missile Silo!

7/7/2014

 
If you build it they will come - well sort of - if the 'they' is divers that would be the positive outcome!  And so - about fifteen years ago Undersea Adventures started bringing divers - a select group - to a Titan 1 Missile Silo located in Washington.  The Silo was installed in a known dried up river bed.  Apparently military management were unwilling to take heed of the advice of Engineers and determined a known riverbed posed no issue with underground water!  While the Silo was in commission, pumps kept the underground environment dry.  When the site was decommissioned - voila!  Dive Site!   Thank you Dave Bruns for a fantastic weekend.   Thank you to Darryl Jensen for thinking up such a great dive trip and hopefully we will get to see some of your quality videos soon.  In the interim - my iPhotos will have to do!  These are some shots from the entrance to our dive site access for Silos 2 and 3 as well as the surface (underground) tour of the powerhouse and personnel accommodations.  Pretty neat experience.  And Now - we are certified Missile Silo Divers! 
Darryl Jensen has completed his video of this exciting dive!   He did a fantastic job - check it out!

We had an Awesome time in the Bahamas!

6/15/2014

 
What a terrific adventure for our group of divers on our recent trip aboard the Aqua Cat in the Bahamas.  Only two of us had ever been diving off a liveaboard in the past - that would be Randy and I - and before the trip was done I was tasked (and such a difficult task that I welcome more like it) with securing another trip.  (Check out the travel page for details.)

Our trip started off in a nice 'family' way. With the exception of only two of our group - we were all on the same flight to Nassau (WestJet flies direct) which added to the camaraderie of the trip.  What a great  way to start off - meeting for breakfast at YYC and all being together on landing.  Our transport pick up was right on time and we could all assist each other to ensure everything ran smoothly. 

Our welcome by the Aqua Cat crew and Captain had us enjoying a rum punch - Bahamas Style - and getting to know our dive crew in a nice casual atmosphere.  Then on to building gear and setting up training schedules. 

In addition to some beautiful reef dives and overall fun diving, we did an awesome dive on the Austin Smith wreck.  Beautiful White-tip Reef Sharks swam with us to witness the certification dives of those students gaining their Recreational Sidemount and Tec 40 dives.  Very surreal.

The crew of the Aqua Cat were beyond top-notch.  Food was home-made and plentiful with several choices of salads, entrees and deserts at each meal (okay muffins and croissants for breaky).  We had two BBQ's on top deck on two wonderfully warm tropical evenings as well as a Captain's dinner and a Cocktail evening.  Don't worry - t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops were still the dress code. 

The end of our ocean journey saw the start of our land adventure.  I always like to plan for a top-side exploration adventure if possible.  As luck would have it - only one of our group had obligations and had to leave right away.  So, exploration of Cable Island by tour bus, street car and taxi saw us checking out the pirates museums, local shopping, celebrity homes and movie sites, followed by some group dinners and private parties. 

Such a great time with new and old friends. 

Living the Dream doesn't get to be a truer statement. 

Thanks everyone - looking forward to doing it again!.








A Short History of the Shaka

6/12/2014

 
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Ever wonder where this hand sign originated? 

I've been very busy away from my computer and access to my web-site so I thought I would take a moment to say "hi!" again and what better way than to display this simple gesture which symbolizes "reverence, solidarity, compassion and friendship, a sign of respect and mutual understanding for the recipient."   Follow the link below for an entertaining video and some 'history' on the origin of this familiar greeting....
http://www.padi.com/blog/2014/03/16/a-short-history-of-the-shaka/




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    Authors

    Lana Taylor - Avid Diver and PADI Course Director. - Favorite Quote: "What if the Hokey Pokey is what it's all about?"
    Randy Kliewer - PADI DiveMaster; Retired Captain - Calgary Fire Department; Equipment Technician 'nerd'.
    Favorite Quote: "There can be no question, my dear Watson, of the value of exercise before breakfast."

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