Dive-Monster Rhoody

I am freelancing since a while like many know. Being trained in one of the best PADI-Dive-center in the Philippines my safety-thinking is relatively high developed and I try to explain that to my students and divers many times why I suggest doing it “this way” instead of “that”.

A couple of weeks ago I received the weekly newsletter of Asia Divers, the Shop in Puerto Galera which is mainly responsible why I am in the Philippines. (and of course the brilliant owners and staff there…) Guess I earned my Brownie Points now … hehe

Usually newsletters are about fun and how wonderful everything is. In that edition was another sort of story and before I continue, I wanna let you read it first.. (the following is partially copy/pasted from the original Asia Divers Newsletter)

Not every day goes they way we would like and certainly, like anywhere, the unexpected happens. On Monday the 9th of March we had the most unexpected when one of our new students who had only just gotten into the pool to do a “Discover Scuba” had what we think was a stroke! Our man who we will not name had just put his head under the water when he started to act a little abnormal and within a few seconds lost consciousness. Thanks to the quick work by Peter, Jamie and Brad, our man was out of the water, suit cut off and CPR was being administered. During the few minutes of CPR Dave raced in with a defibrillator in hand and set up for shock treatment. After a series of two shocks and sets of CPR our man gasped his breathing, and stayed so, till we managed to get him in record time to Batangas St Patrick’s hospital. Needless to say we were all in a state of shock and disbelief….

Things like that are happening, and I was also involved in several accidents (as rescuer, not victim). While reading it, many things went through my mind. I remember that while I was working there we had several cases, quite interesting that no diving problem was involved there… Here in Dumaguete I had one serious one with a DM of the resort I was working in.

During my time here in the Philippines I saw so many “highly-trained” people including Course Directors, Staff Instructors, and Dive-Master running around like chicken without head, making wrong decisions or are under the influence of a “special tip in advanced” and simply risking the life of customer who trust them in their judgment.

I definitely know not one single dive-shop (including PADI-CDC) who have a defibrillator. One shop has a training-model and I rented it for one of my rescue courses and guess what… broken zipper and no batteries… by the way CDC means Career Development Centre… hmmm

I will analyze the situation further in the next article ‘cause I need to get some diving done first…

Cheers for now and happy weekend

Rhoody

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I was just attending a PADI Member update for 2008. It was a two hour Seminar in the Waterfront-Hotel in Mactan,  Cebu. It was held by Jimmy Christrup, the PADI representative for the Philippines. Jimmy is an old friend of mine from Puerto Galera when I was working for ASIA DIVERS, the number one diveshop in Puerto Galera 4 years ago. The last four years he made all his way up to PADI Course Director and now an employee the biggest diving association in the world.

Usually I fall asleep during these 2 hours, but trying to be respectful, I stood alive during the whole time. We got some numbers of the worldwide certifications and the status of PADI. PADI is the certifying agency for approximately 70% of all new certifications worldwide in over 180 countries. Overall there were 900.000 new certifications issued last year.

In 2007 in the Philippines were 18.500 divers certified.
11.700 at the entry level (Open Water Divers)

5.000 in continuing education level (Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver)

1.800 in Specialty Courses like NITROX, deep-diver or Under Water Naturalist.

The entry level numbers went down about 3.5% while the continuing education increased by 14.8%. The start 2008 is promising a good year.  In  the first 2 month of this years, as all 3 numbers increased significantly in that time. The entry level by almost 30% compared to 2007.

For all who are interested in diving but don’t wanna read books and study in their holiday, PADI has different options for everybody. The latest launched option is the eLearning. You can finish all academics including the exams online. In your holiday you make a quick review and the rest is water work. That is a great option for business travelers with only a few days at one location. As many waiting areas in Airports offering free WIFI they can make all the theory while they are traveling. The water work can be done in minimum 2 days, but this would be a quite tough schedule. I recommend 2.5 or 3 days.

The pictures are showing the hard way to become a professional diver.
1.)The Open Water Entry, quite simple test with a beer or two through a snorkel.
2.)Nitrox course: also easy, you just need to look like a idiot
3.) and 4.) The Divemaster mix is a bit harder, you get some wired stuff through the snorkel, including Tabasco, Rum, Beer, and everything what comes into your instructors mind.

The reactions of the new diving PRO are different.  At that time my DM-candidate was still able to sit. I have pictures where he is sleeping on the ground a few minutes later with three dogs in his arms

There are some levels between. I will put some details on the side soon.

More information about diving on www.philippinen-tauchen.com

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