Woooooohhhhhooooooooo!!! We did it! We are officially open water scuba instructors!! WOW! That was an incredibly busy/stressful/packed few weeks. After finishing our divemaster program we went into the Instructor Development Course (IDC) with Will Welbourn of Coconut Tree Divers (www.goprocaribbean.com) and he proceeded to teach us how to teach others. What an incredible learning experience! I don't think we could have asked for a better course director and we are supremely happy with the results. The Instructor Exam (IE) was two days of nerves and worry but we came out ahead. There was definitely a big contrast between those candidates trained by others and those of us trained by Will. He is heads and tails above the rest. In short, he is a star! The same can be said of the instructors at CCD. They showed us everyday (by example) what great instructors are. We can only hope to have their mad skills one day in the future because they are truly incredible.
For those of you who don't know what the IE entails, I'll inform you. It starts with testing in the subjects of dive theory, physics, equipment, physiology and dive skills and the environment. Your skills are then tested in open water. After that, rescue skills are examined. Following that, a pool session ensues for confined skills. Moving along you take a 90 minute exam on the general standards and procedures of PADI certification. If you make it through that, you are able to give a knowledge presentation for the group. WOW.
I haven't been that nervous in....well....ever. During the examiner's opening speech he asked us to define professionalism. I couldn't even move. My mouth hung open while my brain tried to grasp at an answer. It was no use. I was paralyzed with fear. Looking back, I shouldn't have been. My marks were close to perfect and I walked away a happy woman. Kevin rocked it too! He was an absolute rock during the entire thing and brought his A Game! Woot! Anyway...enough about diving for a bit.
We are leaving Roatan on Dec. 24th. I found a great deal for a flight from Houston to Cape Town on the 26th. Finding a great deal from Roatan to Houston, however, is proving more difficult. UGH! I'm not sure if we'll be back this way...depends on where we'll get instructing jobs. The plan is to go to SA for two or three months and then follow the working trail. Hopefully we'll land in Thailand or Malaysia for a while. You just never know where the road will lead. Although we miss everyone terribly, this adventure isn't over...not yet!
Oh, and before I forget, let me wish a million congratulations to Jenny and Luke Brunham on their adorable new bundle of joy Ava!!! She was born on November 25th - happy and healthy! Way to go guys! I can't wait to meet her. Jenny is holding up incredibly well and has confirmed my suspicions that she's superwoman. A day after giving birth, she was walking around the Crystal Centre picking up Christmas crafts!!! If that isn't superhuman, I don't know what is. Anyway, miss you all! Big hugs and lots of love.
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