三公尺深潛

English version

        從口中取出調節器，再放回口中，用力吹氣排除調節器中的積水。這是體驗潛水最重要的技能，所以我先示範動作，再請一位香港女生在水深不到兩公尺處重複一次。

        還沒下水之前，我就在擔心這位香港女生能不能體驗潛水，因為她在問卷上勾選了「不會游泳」。更慘的是，她分配到的裝配都不合尺寸：面鏡太寬，不合臉型，一直進水。浮力背心太大件，活像是救生背心把她一直往上提。

        雖然她勉強自己把調節器從口中取出，再放回口中。但是她太害怕而沒有用力吹氣排除調節器中的積水。不到一秒鐘就吐掉調節器，掙扎著要回到水面。

        沒辦法了。已經花太多時間讓她練習，水底下還有兩個客人等著我帶他們體驗潛水。帶體驗潛水時，最不想面臨的抉擇就是放棄，不管是我放棄還是客人放棄。最後還是得請同事護送她回船上。

        沒想到下午這位香港女生還有勇氣繼續挑戰。這次幫她準備好合適的面鏡和浮力背心，只帶她和她的朋友下水，沒有耽誤到旁人的困擾。

        換個方式試過幾次後，她終於成功排除調節器積水。不過，早上她吐掉調節器，掙扎著要回到水面的印象猶存。所以，這趟體驗潛水全程保持在三公尺深，感覺好像隨時可以摸到水面上的浮潛客。反正客人能輕鬆愉快地潛水，潛多深一點都不重要。

        照片是上週二被熱帶氣旋趕回凱恩斯的半路，遇到一群海豚拍的。

今日潛點：
Briggz Reef - 360，最大深度7.6m，停留時間17min
Briggz Reef - Fish Bowl，最大深度3m，停留時間18min

Diving at 3 meters

    I pulled out the regulator in my mouth and put it back. Then, I sharply blew the regulator to clear the water inside. It’s the only critical skill that an introductory diver must learn, so I instructed a Hong Kong girl repeat what I’d just done at less than 2 meter depth in the water.

    I had been worried about her at the very beginning because she ticked ‘No’ to the question ‘Can you swim?’ on her application. Even worse was all the lousy equipments she got: a mask that did not fit her face constantly flooded and an oversize buoyancy controller that lifted her up like a life jacket.

    I could sense her fear from her eyes. Although she forced herself to pull out the regulator from her mouth and put it back, she didn’t blow to clear the water inside. Instead, she panicked after a second. She spitted out the regulator which were supposed to be her life saver and struggled to the surface.

    That’s it. I rushed her back to the surface. I already spent too much time on her while there were two other introductory divers waiting for me in the water. I had to call my colleague to escort her back to the boat. This really made my frustrated whenever I had to give up an introductory diver (or the introductory diver gives up herself). I wished I could show her the fun of diving not the fear of water.

    Later in the afternoon, she was going to try the introductory dive again. I was touched that she was trying so hard to overcome her fear. This time, I had prepared the proper equipments for her. Also, no other customers but she and her friend doing the introductory dive.

    She finally made the regulator cleaning skill after a few tries. Still, I was worried that she might panic and spit out the regulator during the dive. So, I kept escorting her at 3 meter depth which was only a quarter of the maximum depth for an introductory dive. It’s so shallow that I could almost reach the snorkelers above me. But, who cared? It’s a nice dive as long as they had an easy and nice diving experience.

熱帶氣旋

        挨家挨戶發放履歷表後，獲得某潛水店的面試邀約。雖然是沒經驗的菜鳥教練，但是店裏缺工，而且沒人會講中文，經理明快地決定，隔天上船試工一天。沒問題的話，直接正式開工，在船上再住四天。

        船上只有四個客人，工作人員比客人還多。正在高興接下來幾天都可以輕鬆渡過時，船長突然衝進餐廳，宣布有熱帶氣旋在500公里外成型。隔天最壞的情況果然發生了，整船提前回凱恩斯避風。

        不禁想到多次出國潛水都遇到颱風，連騎單車環島都遇上梅姬颱風。還記得那天騎單車到礁溪，吃晚餐時看到新聞轉播，才知道蘇花鐵公路都中斷。南半球沒有颱風，沒想到有熱帶氣旋來搗亂，沒能正式開工。不過經理依舊明快地決定，發給我聘用書回去填寫。

        圖片是熱帶氣旋 Nathan 的路線預測，從凱恩斯北方掠過，不會登陸就180度迴轉，存心來亂的怪氣旋。

求職中

English version

        「你好，我正在尋找潛水教練的工作，不曉得你們經理有沒有空可以…」

        「我們目前沒有空缺，」戴著耳麥準備隨時接電話的接待櫃台小姐沒等我把話講完，「如果有空缺時，我們會在凱恩斯郵報或是網站上公布…」

        三天前，另一家潛水店經理拐彎抹角地，說了類似的話。去那家潛水店見習試工一天，回到潛水店後，經理只說會考慮需要多少時間培訓...（自動快轉），會再打電話聯繫。

        所以又回到原點，開始挨家挨戶拜訪所有凱恩斯的潛水店，像發傳單一樣發送履歷表找工作。

       「可以把履歷表轉交給經理嗎？」

       「當然可以，我會轉交給經理。」

        轉身出門時，瞄到接待櫃台小姐把履歷表放在她身後的桌上。經理就坐在她後面，和別人討論事情，並沒有抬頭看是誰來求職，也沒看擱在一旁的履歷表。嗯，希望下一個潛水店會更好。


        照片是市郊的公共游泳池（Woree Aquatic），沒有工作只好又開始悠閒地，游過一天算一天。

Job Hunting

    ‘Hi, I’m a dive instructor looking for a job. I’m wondering if you dive team manager is available…” I introduced myself to a busy receptionist with headset and microphone still on her head.

    ‘Unfortunately we don’t have positions available.’ she interrupted, ‘We put open positions on Cairns Post or online…’

    Three days ago, another dive shop manager had said the same thing in a diplomatic way. He had been invited me to join a dive boat for one day. When I finished the day, he just said that he would consider how much to invest on me blah blah blah, and he “would” give me a call.

    So, I started shooting my resume to all the dive shops in Cairns.

    ‘May I leave my resume to the dive team manager?’ I asked after the busy receptionist explained their recruiting process.

    ‘Sure, I’ll pass on’ she answered.

    When I walked out the door, I peeked the busy receptionist passing my resume on the desk of the dive team manager sitting right behind her. The manager was also busy and did not look at whom was asking for a job nor the resume on his desk. That told me how good my chance in this dive shop was and urged me to move on to the next dive shop.


    The photo was taken at Woree Aquatic, a public swimming pool, where I am going to spend every morning when I do not have a job.