dive! dive! dive!

i started my divemaster course today.

i was planning on taking the rest of january off when nell and i got back from south america - but certain property purposes whilst i was away meant i had to get my unemployed ass into employment as soon as possible.
leigh and i were going to spend a month up in tutukaka doing the course full time when andrew and anna were working there, but now that they are back down in auckland and working at Global Dive (westhaven marina), squidleigh and i are going to do the course now, together and with them. woooooo! plan the dive and dive the plan?? something like that.
squidleigh got his dive name through a very unfortunate incident on our advanced open water course. i think its a whole nother blog entirely. in fact, just about everyone we know has dive names.

advanced open water dive course, poor knights, december 2006
squidleigh on the left, me (chichi) on the beanbag and anna (sensei) our instructor on the right

january would have been a much better time to do it - considering new zealand is right in the middle of the icy grip of winter. luckily enough for me, the first round is an open water course being held in the heated olympic pool in newmarket.
and i want to give the big ups to mr cossie who managed to collect my dive computer after it had its battery replaced (nearly three months ago). luckily he works near the shop - cos i am too unorganised to do it myself!
so here we go .... PADI Divemaster! the next button on the list.

PADI Divemaster Course Details

Your adventure into the professional levels of recreational diving begins with the PADI Divemaster program. Working closely with a PADI Instructor, in this program you expand your dive knowledge and hone your skills to the professional level. PADI Divemaster training develops your leadership abilities, qualifying you to supervise dive activities and assist instructors with student divers.

During the PADI Divemaster program, you learn dive leadership skills through both classroom and independent study. You complete water skills and stamina exercises, as well as training exercises that stretch your ability to organize and solve problems. You put this knowledge into action through an internship or series of practical training exercises.

• Knowledge Development: 12 topics ranging from dive theory to assisting student divers in training
• Prerequisites: PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization), PADI Rescue Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization), 20 logged dives, 18 years old.
• Minimum Number of Logged Dives: 60 for certification as PADI Divemaster