I am now a divemaster! It took 4 & 1/2 weeks of hard work – and a lot of fun – and I am done. Check it off my list: Divemaster course complete!
The DMT board at UDC. You can see everything next to my name is checked off!
4 weeks of work
During the last 4+ weeks, I spent a lot of time in classrooms learning dive theory, and a lot of time in the water practicing skills. I also assisted on classes and went diving.
It helped a TON that our instructors were amazingly patient, supportive and fun. I needed some extra help on skills like tying knots and the breath holding snorkel and Nico and Sabi were so supportive. I owe it to them for being able to say Divemaster course complete!
The diving has been really nice here in Utila over the last few weeks. The underwater visibility is great these days now that the rainy season is over. I have been bad about posting while busy finishing up the Divemaster training (SO CLOSE!). We aren’t able to bring cameras on training dives because we are working, so I only take photos on our “fun dives.” Here are some Utila diving photos and videos.
fun dive photos
Here are a few underwater shots from some fun dives I’ve done lately.
A trumpetfish
I found my red filter so moving forward the photos will not be so blue! But for now, this is what I’ve got, including this pretty angelfish.
One of the requirements of UDC’s Divemaster program is to participate in a beach clean-up, which is a great way to ensure all the students are aware of the environmental problems with our oceans. Last Monday, I participated in my first beach clean-up with Utila Dive Center. It was enlightening and a little bit depressing but ultimately rewarding.
Getting to the beach clean-up
We met at UDC and drove in a van to the beach at the southeast end of the island, where I had never been. From Google Maps, I guess it is Iron Shore Beach. There’s no road across the island, so we went all the way south and then back up the east side.
UDC to Iron Shore Beach, Utila
Advance preparation
One of the UDC instructors, T, led the group and she organized everything, providing gloves, garbage bags, rakes, and trays to put special types of refuse on, like glass bottles (of which there were few) and bottle caps (many). We were prepared and we needed to be. The amount of trash that washes onto that island from the ocean has to be seen to be believed.
Organized into teams, we competed with each other a bit: for most trash, and most of each type of trash. It was just one element to keep people involved, but most of us didn’t need the game.
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