BEWARE – DMT SARA IN THE POOL

Hello all! I’m Sara, DMT at Wicked Diving since one month. Well being a DMT isn’t all about manta-spotting and dreaming of whale sharks – for example, we practice how to assist a teaching instructor, and independently do Refresher Courses. Which means we have to know the (about 20) dive skills (like the oral fin pivot, quite a tricky one!) perfectly, and how to demonstrate them over and under the surface; down below using signs and signals. The first time around I felt a bit awkward, kind of like a flight attendant doing the safety demonstration…

Yesterday I assisted our instructor Ricky with Open Water student Thomas from Germany – theory class in the morning, and in pool in the afternoon. I learned tons sitting in class; Thomas had already read the whole Open Water Manual and asked a few tricky questions that I had to look up… Lunch, and then on to the pool – visibility excellent and sun shining. Thomas went through all the skills as if he had been diving for ages: setting up the equipment, breathing in the regulator, removing his mask and everything a diver needs to know how to do! I got to demonstrate the surface skills, and act as “diver out of air” in the water, trying to look as panicky as possible and making sure to get Thomas’s attention giving him a real good shake (OK maybe I got a bit too carried away).

We finished our pool visit practicing two of my favorite skills: “Cramp removal” (grab your buddy’s foot, and massage his/hers calf) and “tired diver tow” (drag your tired/lazy buddy on the surface). Very relaxing and a good way to end an intense day of learning!

Thank you Thomas and Ricky and for a great day, I really look forward to assisting you guys on the liveaboard leaving tomorrow! (Whale sharks and mantas; don’t go anywhere!)