LEARNINGCURVE
Fady Hmade listens to Behrooz Bashokooh give a theory lesson
The pool with a view used for the IFC
Pool Lessons begin with ( l-r ) Wayne Bryant , Behrooz Bashokooh , Gareth Simmonds , Gary Howard , Fady Hmade
Our plan was to run the classroom lessons in the PDO ’ s meeting rooms , then use the local pool for the sheltered water lessons and the bay for the open water lessons .
The local diving is first class , with corals and diverse marine life , but we were destined not to see much of it , as the sites chosen for the course were better suited to teaching drills – shallow , flat , sandy seabeds with not so much life ! So much for the luck of a National Instructor !
The volume of candidates meant that double events were required . It was going to be challenging for the team . We had a diverse set of students with several nationalities , including Belgian , Canadian , Lebanese , UAE and USA .
The Instructor Foundation Courses allowed the students to learn about the skills and techniques required to become a good instructor , as well as the essential criteria required to deliver good theory and practical lessons . Pool sessions were carried out in half of the local pool ; dealing with the inevitable distractions gave our students a challenge in temperatures above 30 ° C , with little shade ( NI luck strikes again ).
Our events were due to run over Ramadan ( more NI luck ), a time when it ’ s forbidden to eat or drink from sunrise to sunset . This gave us the additional challenge of how to keep our participants hydrated and fed without alienating those observing the fast .
After the two IFCs were complete , it was onto the Open Water Instructor Courses for most of the candidates ( two had to depart for work commitments ). This involved venturing out into the open water of the local bay for the first Open Water Instructor course .
Although the climate is usually hot and sunny , we received an emergency alert issued by the government warning of possible heavy rain [ yes you ’ ve guessed it , more NI Luck ]. We were facing the possibility
Candidate ’ s story :
Doug Baker
44
As an experienced diver having trained previously with several organizations , I found the level of commitment by the instructors on these courses to be absolutely first class ! The safety aspects of training are continuously emphasized to ensure that high standards are maintained under controlled conditions .
The course content is comprehensive and given the timeframe that the instructors have to administer the material , it was well organized , structured for effective learning and exchange . In our case , three instructors , capably demonstrated exactly the methodology that the course offers each student .
What I particularly liked about the course delivery is the emphasis on demonstration and mimic to establish clear communication , ensuring the student has clearly grasped the training skill . Working on the basic fundamental and small instructional steps is a key point for success in continuing to learn . Additionally using this method , an instructor is able to take different skillsets and subject matter , and still effectively train students .
I took the IFC ( Instructor Foundation Course ), Open Water Instructor Course ( OWIC ) and completed the PIE ( Practical Instructor Exam ). This was a beneficial combination of theory instruction on composition , delivery and review to be effective as a presenter , whether you ’ re a highly experienced public speaker or this is your first time .