FAVOURITEKIT
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I love my simple-to-use Apeks regulators . XTX 50s – nothing too expensive but a lovely breathe !
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Sophie has an especial fondness for turtles she recalls . “ I still log all my dives , because occasionally I dive at work and also because I can look back on previous dives to see how deep we went , and the weight I wore – to save being too light or heavy on a future dive wearing the same kit !” She is now closing on 3,000 logged dives .
For her personal diving , Sophie has a particular love of sharks , manta rays and turtles . “ Turtles have such a hard start in life , with only 1 in 100,000 making it to adulthood . I love seeing them because they have made it ; they are so fascinating . Sharks have a bad name with those who don ’ t understand them , but they are beautiful creatures that fulfil an important role in marine ecosystems . Most are harmless yet amazing . Seeing a whale shark or tiger shark up close is an adrenalin rush that I can ’ t explain !”
Transforming into an Instructor
How did the carefree backpacker turn into the consummate instructor of today ? Sophie credits much of her development to her mentor Phil Clifton , a National
Instructor during her time working at Shell in London . “ Phil was so enthusiastic about teaching us everything , from helping to prep the club RIB to ensuring any of us who wanted to get into instructing got the training we required to move up to a position where we could start giving back to diving .”
Today , Sophie is at the top of BSAC ’ s instructional tree , and her first move has been to streamline the National Diving Committee ( NDC ). She says : “ A smaller NDC is a good thing as there are fewer people on the committee ; and that in my book helps to facilitate a more efficient process . To ask a snorkeller to comment on a technical matter , for instance , is not easy , and vice versa . I can set up project teams as and when the strategy asks for it . I see
SKILLSTIP
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Be prepared . Don ’ t do anything last minute , as that ’ s when your training may not click into place . If you are well prepared , you ’ ll get so much more out of any dive , whether you are diving for fun , a purpose or teaching .
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Quality time with a Galapagos sea lion
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