To Be Continued
I had sent out the leave notice before the last trip, and the manager had replied to ask for a specific date to stop working. I hoped to quit at the end of this month, but it was not the end of a trip and did not align with work shifts. So, I had proposed a flexible week long range.
A Quiet Trip
I just started another trip on the liveaboard ship and bumped into skipper Wade in the wheelhouse.
'Will you be the trip director?' asked Wade.
'It's not necessary for me to be the trip director. Tina is the trip director.' I answered with caution. I still recalled that he had commanded me to release the duty of trip director in the last trip.
'Will you be the trip director?' asked Wade.
'It's not necessary for me to be the trip director. Tina is the trip director.' I answered with caution. I still recalled that he had commanded me to release the duty of trip director in the last trip.
感覺很好
在船艙中醒來，完全沒有半夢半醒的過程。船艙還是黑漆漆地，但是我的思緒異常清楚，好像電源瞬間被開啟了。頭一次，我在船宿上醒來覺得精神飽滿。
前天開始這趟船宿。我是船上唯一的潛水教練兼旅程總監，忙碌地在兩個角色中切換。 抽出空檔在舵手室查閱隔天的旅客清單時，船長韋德剛好經過。
韋德說：「你想要聽聽我的建議嗎。」 他喜歡指導給意見，也許是他從中獲得了成就感。他繼續說：「明天盧卡斯來的時候，叫他當旅程總監。」
我說：「是啊，我全靠他了。」心裏也希望盧卡斯來接任旅程總監，可是他明天下午才到，而且他不喜歡中途接手。馬上接任旅程總監對他有點不公平，畢竟他明天沒有旅程總監的加給。我大概要撐到後天才能卸任吧。
隔天早上依舊忙碌，教進階潛水課，潛了三次水。下午潛完第四次水後，被告知船長要見我。在走道上遇到韋德，但是他沒開口說話，直到我們單獨進到舵手室。
韋德質問：「我是怎麼告訴你，叫盧卡斯當旅程總監的！」
我試著解釋：「盧卡斯不喜歡馬上接任...」
韋德命令：「不管盧卡斯喜不喜歡，我告訴你的不是他媽的讓你選擇！」
我回答：「瞭解，我會要他當旅程總監。」
離開舵手室後，馬上把盧卡斯找來。我也許不能像船長那樣強硬地命令，但是我可以讓盧卡斯知道這是船長的命令。
我開口說：「我知道你不喜歡一上船就接任旅程總監，不過...」
他打斷我說：「不會，沒問題的。」顯然地，他也知道韋德不高興我還在當旅程總監。
然後，我們討論了一下接下來的工作，幾分鐘內，他接手當旅程總監了。卸下重擔，即使剛剛被船長臭罵也不覺得不開心。
現在覺得一覺醒來精神飽滿。感冒還是沒好，還是有一整天的工作要做。但是，今天早上感覺很好。
照片是今天早上的日出
I Feel Good
I was sharply awaken in the cabin, no transitional half-awaken state at all. The cabin was completely dark, but my mind was crystal clear as though it were instantly switched on. This was the first time I felt energized after sleeping on the liveaboard ship.
I started this trip the other day. I was the only instructor and I had to be the trip director as well. I was busy to switch between these two roles. When I checked the passenger list for the next day in the wheelhouse, skipper Wade happened to pass by.
'Do you want my suggestion?' Wade said. He liked to give guidance probably because he got satisfaction from that. 'When Lucas comes tomorrow, ask him to be the trip director.' he continued.
'Yeah, I count on him.' I had known dive master Lucas would come tomorrow afternoon. But, I knew he did not like to take over the trip director role in the middle of a day. It would not be fair to ask him to do trip director's job if he would not be paid as a trip director on that day. I probably had to be the trip director until the day after tomorrow.
Next morning I was fully occupied because I was the only instructor. I taught advanced course and dived three times in the morning. I was told that skipper wanted to see me when I came back from my fourth dive in the late afternoon. I met Wade in the hallway, but he did not speak until we were alone in the wheelhouse.
'What did I tell you to ask Lucas to be the trip director?' he questioned.
'Lucas does not like to be the trip director right away...' I explained.
'What I told you is not a fucking choice. It doesn't matter if he likes it or not.' Wade commanded.
'Got it. I will ask him to be the trip director.' I answered.
Right after I left the wheelhouse, I asked Lucas to meet me in the office. I might not be able to command him as the way Wade had done, but I could let him know it was Wade's command.
'I know you don't like to be the trip director right away, but...' I said.
'No, no, it's okay.' he interrupted me. Obviously, he also knew that Wade was not happy that I was still the trip director.
Then, we discussed the remaining tasks and he took over as a trip director within minutes. It's a huge relief for me. I did not feel bad at all even the skipper had just sworn at me.
Now I felt energized after sleeping. I still had not recovered from a cold and I still had to work all day long. But, I felt good this morning.
The photo was the sunrise this morning.
I started this trip the other day. I was the only instructor and I had to be the trip director as well. I was busy to switch between these two roles. When I checked the passenger list for the next day in the wheelhouse, skipper Wade happened to pass by.
'Do you want my suggestion?' Wade said. He liked to give guidance probably because he got satisfaction from that. 'When Lucas comes tomorrow, ask him to be the trip director.' he continued.
'Yeah, I count on him.' I had known dive master Lucas would come tomorrow afternoon. But, I knew he did not like to take over the trip director role in the middle of a day. It would not be fair to ask him to do trip director's job if he would not be paid as a trip director on that day. I probably had to be the trip director until the day after tomorrow.
Next morning I was fully occupied because I was the only instructor. I taught advanced course and dived three times in the morning. I was told that skipper wanted to see me when I came back from my fourth dive in the late afternoon. I met Wade in the hallway, but he did not speak until we were alone in the wheelhouse.
'What did I tell you to ask Lucas to be the trip director?' he questioned.
'Lucas does not like to be the trip director right away...' I explained.
'What I told you is not a fucking choice. It doesn't matter if he likes it or not.' Wade commanded.
'Got it. I will ask him to be the trip director.' I answered.
Right after I left the wheelhouse, I asked Lucas to meet me in the office. I might not be able to command him as the way Wade had done, but I could let him know it was Wade's command.
'I know you don't like to be the trip director right away, but...' I said.
'No, no, it's okay.' he interrupted me. Obviously, he also knew that Wade was not happy that I was still the trip director.
Then, we discussed the remaining tasks and he took over as a trip director within minutes. It's a huge relief for me. I did not feel bad at all even the skipper had just sworn at me.
Now I felt energized after sleeping. I still had not recovered from a cold and I still had to work all day long. But, I felt good this morning.
The photo was the sunrise this morning.
小船駕訓班
船長把所有潛水團隊叫到舵手室了解船上人手有多不足。結果只有一個潛水教練，一個實習教練，和三個實習潛水長。舵手室空間不夠寬敞，平常不會所有人都待在這裏。今天舵手室好像有平常的兩倍大。
對於人手這麼少，我不意外。上船之前就知道，又會是船上唯一的潛水教練，要管理所有的潛水和浮潛活動。但是，船長煩惱的是，怎麼用這麼少的人手停泊船隻。
為了要停船，我跳上一艘兩公尺長的小船。發動引擎，載著一個實習生，離開船宿大船。小心翼翼地開到錨繩旁邊。錨繩是在海上停泊船隻用的，一端連接著海底的水泥塊，另一端是個繩環。錨繩粗到要雙手才握得住。實習生用一條小一點的繩子，穿過錨繩的繩環綁好。
然後，在眾人的目光下，我以最慢的速度開著小船，拖著錨繩靠近船宿大船。要把粗重的錨繩遞給船宿大船很不容易。實習生使盡全力高舉繩子，船上的人伸長手來抓繩子。過程中，我設法穩住小船不被海浪沖走。
可是，小船的位置沒停好。當繩子遞給船宿大船時，繩子就在我面前橫跨過小船。必須抬起粗重的繩子，越過頭頂，才能把小船開走，不然會被繩子橫掃到海裡去。有點窘，不過至少把工作完成了。
看來，要在澳洲潛水產業工作，我不只要去汽車駕訓班，還要小船駕訓班。
Boat Driving Lesson
Skipper had called all dive crew to the wheelhouse to check how little manpower he had. There were only one instructor, one trainee instructor, and three trainee dive masters. The crew hardly ever all gathered in the wheelhouse because the wheelhouse was not spacy. Today the wheelhouse seemed to be doubled.
I was not surprised to see so little crew on the liveaboard ship. I had known that I would be the only instructor running all diving and snorkeling activities. But, what skipper concerned was how to park this ship with so little crew.
In order to park the liveaboard ship, I jumped in a 2-meter small boat with a trainee. I started the engine, drove the small boat away, and carefully approached to a mooring line. It's a rope for parking the liveaboard ship. One end of the mooring line was attached to the concrete blocks under the sea, and the other end was a loop. The line was so thick that it required both hands to hold it. The trainee tied a smaller rope through the loop of the mooring line.
Then, I drove the small boat as slow as I could to drag the mooring line to the liveaboard ship while all the crew were watching me. It was difficult to pass the heavy mooring line to the liveaboard. The trainee held up the line with all his strength while the crew on the liveaboard stretched their hands to grab the line. I managed the small boat not to be drifted away by waves when the line was passed to the liveaboard ship.
However, the small boat was not in the ideal position when the line was passed to the liveaboard ship. The line was across the small boat right in front of me. I had to lift up the heavy line over my head when I drove the small boat away so that I would not be swept into the sea. It was not pretty, but at least the job was done.
I needed a driving lesson not only for a car but also for a boat to survive in Australia diving business.
I was not surprised to see so little crew on the liveaboard ship. I had known that I would be the only instructor running all diving and snorkeling activities. But, what skipper concerned was how to park this ship with so little crew.
In order to park the liveaboard ship, I jumped in a 2-meter small boat with a trainee. I started the engine, drove the small boat away, and carefully approached to a mooring line. It's a rope for parking the liveaboard ship. One end of the mooring line was attached to the concrete blocks under the sea, and the other end was a loop. The line was so thick that it required both hands to hold it. The trainee tied a smaller rope through the loop of the mooring line.
Then, I drove the small boat as slow as I could to drag the mooring line to the liveaboard ship while all the crew were watching me. It was difficult to pass the heavy mooring line to the liveaboard. The trainee held up the line with all his strength while the crew on the liveaboard stretched their hands to grab the line. I managed the small boat not to be drifted away by waves when the line was passed to the liveaboard ship.
However, the small boat was not in the ideal position when the line was passed to the liveaboard ship. The line was across the small boat right in front of me. I had to lift up the heavy line over my head when I drove the small boat away so that I would not be swept into the sea. It was not pretty, but at least the job was done.
I needed a driving lesson not only for a car but also for a boat to survive in Australia diving business.
選擇
在一片漆黑中醒來，絲毫沒有一絲光線的黑。不曉得自己在哪裡，直到聽到海浪一陣陣拍打在船身的低沈聲音，才想到我是睡在船艙裡。迷迷糊糊中覺得有點異常，但說不出是什麼。啊！鼻塞了！呼氣時感覺到不順暢，這下完全醒了。這趟船宿之前，就覺得快感冒了。這下子真的感冒了。如果耳咽道堵塞，就沒辦法潛水了。趕緊捏著鼻子，用鼻子吐氣，試試看能不能做耳壓平衡，等一下還要教進階潛水課。
試了快一分鐘，總算是成功一次，有點擔心等一下的進階潛水課。船上沒別的教練，只有課程教練艾瑞克。他只在乎自己的開放水域潛水課，不會幫我教進階潛水課。沒有選擇只好賭一賭。
進階潛水課的學生和我沿著繩索下潛，和平常一樣，我在隊伍前面，倒退著下潛，面對著所有學生。但是，從入水開始，我就不斷地假裝捏著鼻子提醒大家做耳壓平衡，其實是平衡自己的耳壓。下潛了兩三公尺，捏鼻的動作越來越頻繁。總算在五公尺後，成功地平衡耳壓了。鬆了一口氣。
進階潛水課結束後，下一個挑戰是體驗潛水。今天要在午餐之前要完成三趟體驗潛水。老樣子，艾瑞克幫不了我，他早上要教開放水域潛水課。沒有選擇只好全部接下。
這次體驗潛水的困難在於，有一個不太會踢蛙鞋的三人團 。更糟的是他們早上要潛兩趟。昨天帶過他們潛水一次，知道在水中拖著他們逆流是件苦差事。如果潛深一點，也許可以避開強勁的水流。但是今天要潛很多趟，還是淺一點對身體比較好。
第一趟順利完成，但是第二趟就沒那麼幸運了。第二趟快結束時，氣力放盡，扛不動所有人。只好舉白旗投降，跟船上招手，派小船來接。很沒面子，但是沒有選擇。
最後的挑戰是下午的三個轉學生。 轉學生是難得的機會，可以讓我練習教學。這三個月來也只接過兩個轉學生。平常我會非常開心接下這項工作，但是不是今天。早上已經潛水四次了，接下轉學生的話，下午還要再潛兩次。希望艾瑞克早上教完課後，可以接手這三個轉學生。
「不行。我得補課再潛一次，有學生早上沒能完成訓練。你是潛水教練，你教啊。」艾瑞克回絕我。
沒有選擇，接下三個轉學生，繼續潛水。上完課之後，今天已經潛水六次了，快要追平個人一天七潛的紀錄了。
夠了，我有個選擇可以離開。
照片是小鬚鯨（Minke Whale）經過船宿時拍的。
Choice
I woke up in the dark, completely dark, no dim light at all. I did not know where I was until I heard the deep drum that waves periodically hit the ship hulk. I was sleeping in the cabin on the boat. Something weird but I could not tell. Oh no, my nose was a little stuffed. I sensed the difficulty breathing out when I completely woke up. I had been about to catch a cold before this trip. Now I really caught a cold. I could not dive if ears and sinuses were blocked. I pinched and blew my nose to check if I could equalize my ears. I had to teach an advanced diver course later.
It took my almost a minute to equalize my ears and it worked just for once. I began to worry about the advanced course. There were other instructors but course instructor Eric on board. He cared about his open water course and would not help me for advanced course. No choice but took my chance.
The advanced course students and I descended along a rope. As usual, I was in front of the students but descent backwards so that I could see all students. But, started from the surface, I kept pinched and blew my nose. I pretended to remind students to equalize, but in fact, I was trying to equalize my ears. As a few meters deeper, I was trying more frequently. Finally, I made it after descending five meters. What a relief.
The next challenge after the course was introductory diving. I had to do three introductory dives before lunch. Again, Eric was not going to help me. He would be occupied by the open water course this morning. No choice but did the three introductory dives.
The difficulty of the introductory dives was a group of three people who could not swim underwater well. Even worse was that they were going to dive twice this morning. I had taken them diving yesterday, so I knew it would be a heavy lifting to drag them against current. I could have descended deeper to avoid the strong current near the surface. However, I had to do many dives today and it would be better to keep it shallow for my health.
The first introductory dive was fine, but the last one was not. I was exhausted at the end of the dive. I could not fight against the current and was drafted away. I had to throw in the towel. I raised my hand to the boat for a pickup. It hurt my pride but I had no choice.
The last challenge was three referral students in the afternoon. Referral students were the rare chance to practice my teaching skills. I had taught two referral students in three months. I would be happy to take referral students but not today. I had done four dives in the morning, and it would take two more to teach referral students in the afternoon. I expected Eric could teach the referral students after he finished the open water course.
'No. I have to do a makeup dive. A student couldn't finish the skills this morning. You are an instructor. You teach the course.' Eric rejected.
No choice but taught the referral students. By the time I finished the course, I had had six dives today. Almost reached my person record seven dives a day.
Enough. I had a choice to quit.
The photo was taken when a Minke whale passed by.
It took my almost a minute to equalize my ears and it worked just for once. I began to worry about the advanced course. There were other instructors but course instructor Eric on board. He cared about his open water course and would not help me for advanced course. No choice but took my chance.
The advanced course students and I descended along a rope. As usual, I was in front of the students but descent backwards so that I could see all students. But, started from the surface, I kept pinched and blew my nose. I pretended to remind students to equalize, but in fact, I was trying to equalize my ears. As a few meters deeper, I was trying more frequently. Finally, I made it after descending five meters. What a relief.
The next challenge after the course was introductory diving. I had to do three introductory dives before lunch. Again, Eric was not going to help me. He would be occupied by the open water course this morning. No choice but did the three introductory dives.
The difficulty of the introductory dives was a group of three people who could not swim underwater well. Even worse was that they were going to dive twice this morning. I had taken them diving yesterday, so I knew it would be a heavy lifting to drag them against current. I could have descended deeper to avoid the strong current near the surface. However, I had to do many dives today and it would be better to keep it shallow for my health.
The first introductory dive was fine, but the last one was not. I was exhausted at the end of the dive. I could not fight against the current and was drafted away. I had to throw in the towel. I raised my hand to the boat for a pickup. It hurt my pride but I had no choice.
The last challenge was three referral students in the afternoon. Referral students were the rare chance to practice my teaching skills. I had taught two referral students in three months. I would be happy to take referral students but not today. I had done four dives in the morning, and it would take two more to teach referral students in the afternoon. I expected Eric could teach the referral students after he finished the open water course.
'No. I have to do a makeup dive. A student couldn't finish the skills this morning. You are an instructor. You teach the course.' Eric rejected.
No choice but taught the referral students. By the time I finished the course, I had had six dives today. Almost reached my person record seven dives a day.
Enough. I had a choice to quit.
The photo was taken when a Minke whale passed by.
爭吵
湯姆大叫：「嘿！為什麼你當瞭望員還可以分心來管客人入水？」他總是大叫使喚，因為他是船長。
「因為船上只剩我一個。」我不帶情緒地回應，只少，我試著隱藏怒氣。
「一個實習生在船首當瞭望，另一個在幫忙修理小船，所有的教練都在水裡。」我繼續解釋，掩飾先前回答的怒氣。
湯姆一時語塞，然後說：「找個客房服務生來當瞭望啊。」
我沒有理他，繼續幫客人入水。他只是找個台階下。
這個月開始在船宿當班。船宿總是人手不足，一如往常的混亂。在壓力下工作，情緒很容易失控。這趟船宿的第一天，同事之間就爭吵不休。今天是這趟船宿的最後一天，我的情緒也快要失控了。
昨天公司只留下一個實習生在船上。一般只少要兩個：一個當船首瞭望，另一個當浮潛導遊或在甲板幫忙。要唯一的實習生一整天在船首當瞭望員不太公平，所以，一早我自己還去船首當瞭望員。
昨天公司還把船上剩下的潛水裝備都撤走。今天有團體包船，要用那些裝備和一日遊的船。我想，今天應該沒有很多客人，應該可以順利地收工回家。結果出乎意料，居然來了十多個客人，卻沒有送任何裝備上船。好不容易湊出幾套裝備，讓客人輪流使用下水。
現在，危機還沒解除。船上人手也不足，我必須一個人管理甲板，同時應付一日遊和船宿的客人。湯姆憑什麼來對我大吼大叫。有本事你應該去跟店裏亂排班的人吼叫啊。況且，你是一日遊的船長，我是在船宿上工作，船宿的船長都沒意見，你憑什麼來對我大吼大叫。
算了，至少我今天收工可以回家。早上和下午兩個潛水時段之間，沒能休息，只有幾分鐘的時間，把午餐吞下肚。總算所有的客人都心滿意足地回到船上了，馬上把甲板收拾好，把握幾分鐘的空擋，開始收拾自己的行李，準備回家。
新的旅程總監來問：「你能留下來嗎？」
「不能，」我立刻拒絕。「很抱歉幫不了你。」我知道他很缺人手，但是我受夠了。我不只今晚不能待在船上，我也不能待在這家公司。我必須離開了。
照片是一早當班瞭望，看到水底潛水員吐出的氣泡時拍的。
Arguments
‘Hey! Why are you being the lookout and signing people in water?’ Tom yelled. He always yelled to demand because he was the skipper.
‘Because I’m the only person onboard.’ I said without emotions. At least, I tried to hide the anger.
‘One trainee is being lookout on bow, and the other one is helping to fix the tender. All the instructors are in the water.’ I explained to cover the anger in my first reply.
Tom was lost for words for a few seconds. Then, ‘get a hostee to be the lookout.’ he said.
I did not respond, continued to signed in people. He just said something to give an out.
This month I started working on liveaboard. It was understaffed and chaotic as usual. As a result, people were working under stress and losing temper. From the first day I started this trip, there were arguments among staff. This was the last day of this trip, and I was about to lose my temper.
Yesterday the shop had left me only one trainee. It had been weird because it took at least two trainees to run the diving and snorkeling session, one being the lookout on bow and the other being the snorkel guide. It had not been fair to put the only trainee to the lookout for a whole day, so I had even put myself as the lookout in the early morning session.
Also, the shop had pull back almost all the spare diving equipments from liveaboard yesterday. The equipments and regular daytrip boat would be used for a charter trip today. I had assumed that not many passengers were coming. I had been supposed to finish the job easily and go home. However, it had been a surprise that more than a dozen passengers had come but no diving equipments this morning. I had barely prepared a few set of diving equipments so that new passengers could take turn for diving.
Now the crisis was not over yet. I didn’t adequate staff, either. I had run the dive deck for both daytrip and liveaboard passengers by myself. What the hell Tom were shouting at me. You were supposed to shout at someone in the shop that had made me in this situation. Besides, you was the skipper of the daytrip boat, but I was working on the liveaboard ship. What the hell you were shouting at me.
Whatever, at least, I could go home tonight. I had no break at all between morning and afternoon sessions. I had grabbed a plate and gulped down my lunch within a few minutes. Finally, all passengers had fun and came back from water. Right after the dive deck was packed up, I took a few minutes to pack up my belongs for home.
‘Can you stay?’ new trip director came to ask me.
‘No,’ I instantly rejected, ‘I’m sorry that I cannot help you.’ I knew they desperately needed manpower, but I had enough. Not only I couldn’t stay on this boat, but also I couldn’t stay in this company. I had to leave.
‘Because I’m the only person onboard.’ I said without emotions. At least, I tried to hide the anger.
‘One trainee is being lookout on bow, and the other one is helping to fix the tender. All the instructors are in the water.’ I explained to cover the anger in my first reply.
Tom was lost for words for a few seconds. Then, ‘get a hostee to be the lookout.’ he said.
I did not respond, continued to signed in people. He just said something to give an out.
This month I started working on liveaboard. It was understaffed and chaotic as usual. As a result, people were working under stress and losing temper. From the first day I started this trip, there were arguments among staff. This was the last day of this trip, and I was about to lose my temper.
Yesterday the shop had left me only one trainee. It had been weird because it took at least two trainees to run the diving and snorkeling session, one being the lookout on bow and the other being the snorkel guide. It had not been fair to put the only trainee to the lookout for a whole day, so I had even put myself as the lookout in the early morning session.
Also, the shop had pull back almost all the spare diving equipments from liveaboard yesterday. The equipments and regular daytrip boat would be used for a charter trip today. I had assumed that not many passengers were coming. I had been supposed to finish the job easily and go home. However, it had been a surprise that more than a dozen passengers had come but no diving equipments this morning. I had barely prepared a few set of diving equipments so that new passengers could take turn for diving.
Now the crisis was not over yet. I didn’t adequate staff, either. I had run the dive deck for both daytrip and liveaboard passengers by myself. What the hell Tom were shouting at me. You were supposed to shout at someone in the shop that had made me in this situation. Besides, you was the skipper of the daytrip boat, but I was working on the liveaboard ship. What the hell you were shouting at me.
Whatever, at least, I could go home tonight. I had no break at all between morning and afternoon sessions. I had grabbed a plate and gulped down my lunch within a few minutes. Finally, all passengers had fun and came back from water. Right after the dive deck was packed up, I took a few minutes to pack up my belongs for home.
‘Can you stay?’ new trip director came to ask me.
‘No,’ I instantly rejected, ‘I’m sorry that I cannot help you.’ I knew they desperately needed manpower, but I had enough. Not only I couldn’t stay on this boat, but also I couldn’t stay in this company. I had to leave.
潛水不是極限運動
過了快三個月，第二次收到潛水的轉學生。這個轉學生已經是水肺潛水員，完成大部份訓練。理論上，只要再兩次的潛水訓練，就變成合格的開放水域潛水員。不過店裡有事先打電話來說明這位轉學生的狀況，她上次潛水的時間，已經是三年多前。
和學生談話後，發現她已經忘記以前的訓練內容。保險起見，打算在兩次潛水訓練完成所有合格必備的技巧。轉學生聽到訓練中有一項技巧，是要在海底把潛水面鏡脫掉，再重新戴上，開始感到害怕。
想到昨天同事艾瑞克才跟我說過，「如果學生有一項技巧不敢做，你有兩個選擇：一個是要求學生立刻完成該項技巧， 結果學生恐慌嗆水，衝上水面受傷。或是延到下次訓練，讓學生開開心心地潛水，之後再完成該項技巧。」所以，我告訴學生第一次潛水訓練可以試看看，害怕的話，下一次潛水訓練再完成也可以。
希望能在第一次潛水訓練完成大部份的技巧，可是轉學生光是下潛十公尺就花了五分鐘。不僅浪費時間，讓我擔心的是，等一下練習技巧時，她會太緊張害怕。先從最簡單的技巧開始，只要讓潛水面鏡稍微進水即可。每次完成一項技巧，我就拍手鼓勵。對她的表現感到滿意，所以示意她脫掉潛水面鏡。她猶豫了幾秒鐘，然後，搖搖頭。
不得已只好跳過這項技巧。回到船上準備下一次潛水訓練時，我再次談到這項技巧動作。
轉學生問：「 我可以閉著眼睛嗎？」
我回答：「沒關係，只要能把潛水面鏡戴回去就好。」即使她張開眼睛，在水下也是看不清楚。重點是她不要驚慌嗆水。
第二次潛水訓練又花了五分鐘下潛。 我示意她脫掉潛水面鏡。她沒有搖頭，但是還在猶豫中。不能讓她猶豫太久，我閉著眼睛，再次做出脫掉潛水面鏡的動作。另外，我高舉雙手，然後抓住她肩膀上的揹帶讓她安心。她深吸一口氣後，閉上眼睛，脫下潛水面鏡。然後，她戴回潛水面鏡。潛水面鏡束帶沒有扭曲，也沒有纏住頭髮。動作平穩不急躁。最後，鼻子呼氣把潛水面鏡內的水排出。非常好。
我高舉雙手，為她的表現，和她擊掌慶祝。我們幾乎要在水下開懷大笑。 她完成這個技巧後，信心大增。兩次潛水訓練完成後，她不僅成為合格潛水員，也有信心在沒有教練帶領下，和其他人一起潛水。
潛水訓練不是單純地照著教案練習技巧動作，還要配合學生的狀況適時調整。潛水訓練應該是開開心心的。畢竟，我總是跟顧客說：「潛水是休閒活動，不是極限運動。」
Scuba diving is not an extreme sport
After almost 3 months, I finally got another chance to certify an open water scuba diver. She was a referral student and had completed most training dives. In theory, she just needed the last two training dives in the ocean to become a certified diver. However, I got a phone call from the dive shop for the referral student. Her last training dives were 3 years ago, and she was not confident for diving.
I tried to figure out what she had learned for diving and the reason that she was lack of confidence when she arrived. She did not remember her training well. Since she was not sure what training had been done, I attempted to run through all the essential skills within two training dives. She was worried when she knew one of the skills was to take off her mask underwater and then put the mask back.
I recalled what Eric had said, 'if a student does not dare to a skill, you have two choices. Either you insist the student must complete the skill, so the student may chock on water and bolt to surface. Or, you can postpone the skill to the following training dives, so the student has fun for diving and complete the skill later.' So, I told the student to try but she did not need to take off her mask in the first training dive.
I hoped to complete as many skills as possible in the first training dive, but it took the student 5 minutes to descend for 10 meters. That was not only wasting too much time, but also made me worried if she would be stressed later when practicing the skills. I had her started with the easiest skill that her mask was only partially flooded. Whenever she completed a skill, I clapped my hands to cheer her up. I was growing confidence for her performance, so I signed her to take off her mask. She hesitated for a few second. Then, she shook her head.
I had no choice but skipped the mask removal skill. When we got back to the boat and prepared for the next dive, I mentioned the mask removal skill again.
'Can I close my eyes?' she asked.
'It doesn't matter. As long as you can put your mask back.' I replied. She wouldn't be able to see anything even she opened her eyes underwater. Everything would be blurred without a mask. The point was she must not panic and chock on water.
We spent 5 minutes for descending again for the second dive. I signed her to take off her mask. She did not shake her head but was still hesitating. I couldn't keep her hesitated til give up. I signed again with my eyes closed. Also, I raised my hands high and then grub her shoulder straps to keep her safe. She took a deep breath and took off her mask with eyes closed. Then, she put her mask back. Mask strap was not twisted nor tangled with hair. Her movement was clam and steady, not in a hurry. Then, she cleared the water inside her mask by blowing her nose. Well done.
I put my hands up and we high five for her accomplishment. We both smiled and almost laughed underwater. She grew self-confidence after this skill. After the two training dives, she was not only certified, but also confident to go diving with other certified divers.
Training was not simply following the skills on teaching guidelines. Training could be adjusted according to student's conditions. It was supposed to be fun. After all, as I always say to customers, 'Scuba diving is a recreational activity, not an extreme sport.'
I tried to figure out what she had learned for diving and the reason that she was lack of confidence when she arrived. She did not remember her training well. Since she was not sure what training had been done, I attempted to run through all the essential skills within two training dives. She was worried when she knew one of the skills was to take off her mask underwater and then put the mask back.
I recalled what Eric had said, 'if a student does not dare to a skill, you have two choices. Either you insist the student must complete the skill, so the student may chock on water and bolt to surface. Or, you can postpone the skill to the following training dives, so the student has fun for diving and complete the skill later.' So, I told the student to try but she did not need to take off her mask in the first training dive.
I hoped to complete as many skills as possible in the first training dive, but it took the student 5 minutes to descend for 10 meters. That was not only wasting too much time, but also made me worried if she would be stressed later when practicing the skills. I had her started with the easiest skill that her mask was only partially flooded. Whenever she completed a skill, I clapped my hands to cheer her up. I was growing confidence for her performance, so I signed her to take off her mask. She hesitated for a few second. Then, she shook her head.
I had no choice but skipped the mask removal skill. When we got back to the boat and prepared for the next dive, I mentioned the mask removal skill again.
'Can I close my eyes?' she asked.
'It doesn't matter. As long as you can put your mask back.' I replied. She wouldn't be able to see anything even she opened her eyes underwater. Everything would be blurred without a mask. The point was she must not panic and chock on water.
We spent 5 minutes for descending again for the second dive. I signed her to take off her mask. She did not shake her head but was still hesitating. I couldn't keep her hesitated til give up. I signed again with my eyes closed. Also, I raised my hands high and then grub her shoulder straps to keep her safe. She took a deep breath and took off her mask with eyes closed. Then, she put her mask back. Mask strap was not twisted nor tangled with hair. Her movement was clam and steady, not in a hurry. Then, she cleared the water inside her mask by blowing her nose. Well done.
I put my hands up and we high five for her accomplishment. We both smiled and almost laughed underwater. She grew self-confidence after this skill. After the two training dives, she was not only certified, but also confident to go diving with other certified divers.
Training was not simply following the skills on teaching guidelines. Training could be adjusted according to student's conditions. It was supposed to be fun. After all, as I always say to customers, 'Scuba diving is a recreational activity, not an extreme sport.'
