No, it is not as bad as all that!
I began SCUBA diving when I was 19 year old. I was Open Water Certified (Level 1) in university. At that time, I thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool to be able to dive for a living?”
Years went by. In grad school, I returned to diving (a lot) to support my research and other projects in my lab. Again, I thought, “I should get more certifications, and, perhaps, use diving as an alternate career path.”
During grad school, I began the 2nd level certification, Advanced Open Water. Due to research schedules, however, I never completed the course. I never really thought much more about it.
More years went by. I was teaching at Highline Community College. They have a Marine Science facility on the Puget Sound. A number of us were using the facility for teaching, sample collection and community outreach education – some of which included SCUBA diving.
We realized that it would be “prudent” for us to gain further certifications, if for no other reason than that we were LEADING dives with Open Water divers, and were not much better trained (although FAR more experienced) than they were. A group of us completed the Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver certifications. This level of training prepared us for emergencies in the water, and gave us all more experience and confidence. However, none of that training really prepared us to LEAD dives and manage dive plans for others.
Fast forward to a month ago. Jack and I decide to spend a month in Dahab to get out of Cairo for August. I decide that, perhaps, this is the time to fulfill one of those long-standing wishes/dreams – complete DiveMaster training. With this certification, I cannot TEACH classes, but I can assist and I can guide dives.
Assisting and leading dives is not my long-term goal for this training, I have a job that (most of the time) I really enjoy. My goal is more personal and educational. With this course, I shift from the “Look and swim” mindset of diving to the “Show and lead” mindset.
So, here I am in Dahab. We have been here for 3 full days. I have begun my DiveMaster Training (DMT) with my favorite dive center, Sinai Divers Backpackers Dive Center. On the second day after arrival, I assisted on 2 guided dives and an “Intro to SCUBA” dive. Yesterday I assisted on a “BubbleMaker” (kids intro) dive. Today I am up to my eyeballs in homework. The irony does not escape me!
I am doing EXACTLY what I’ve wanted to do for a VERY long time. OMG is it hard work. I couldn’t be happier. 🙂
Doing EXACTLY what you want often is an amazing amount of work, but it is so worth it. All my life I wanted to have a small farm with horses, but while I was raising two kids with an extremely urban husband the closest I got was to have a couple of horses to ride in my “free” time. Oddly enough it was the tragedy of losing the husband that gave me the dream and now I find myself caring for about 25 assorted equids on my own farm near Abu Sir. We are up to our ears in sneezing coughing animals with the flu epidemic, working around the clock to keep them comfortable while they recover, and I wouldn’t trade places with anyone. I can so identify with your delight.
Good for you Kaddee!! I envy your opportunity to fulfill a dream, and what an exotic and historic place to do it. 🙂
Kelley
What a great thing you’re doing! You should be very proud of yourself. Scuba is something I’ve always wanted to do, but never took the time. Too bad there isn’t enough time for you to teach me when I’m in Cairo. That would be so much fun!
See you soon!
J.