In September 1996 I participated in
my first scuba diving course. After
that, I decide to continue my education in scuba diving, so I participated in many scuba diving
courses with several agencies to diversify my experience and
to learn more about the various philosophies in diving. In
2000 I took a NAUI IDC, then started teaching and training
NAUI Courses in the Kuwaiti Center for Diving.
ABDUL
In 2006 I decided to take the next step, a TDI technical course
in Thailand. I became a Trimix diver and Technical wreck
diver. Then in early 2012 a friend told me about UTD and its
philosophy of creating the thinking diver. I found it interestUTD Instructor Abdul Al-Aqeel on the MV Tala in Egypt.
ing, so I went to Egypt to do a UTD IDC with Instructor Trainer
Jeff Seckendorf in late 2012, I did not pass the course but the
things that I learned and the feedback I received made me determined to improve my skills and knowledge.
I continued my practice, made some video, and sent it to Jeff, then contacted him via Skype for some debrief. His
feedback improved my skills even more. In September 2014 I enrolled in my second UTD IDC course in Hurghada,
Egypt.
I was nervous, because I cannot bear not passing the course for the second time, but the way my Instructor Trainer,
Michael Deckert, approached me reduced a huge amount of any negative feelings or thoughts.
The training went smoothly because at the beginning Mr. Deckert discussed with me the reasons why I did not pass
my last IDC and what should I do to avoid those reasons, and how he will help me to overcomes those factors. Mr.
Deckert was patient and kind. I think he understood my personality and how I learn.
It was five intense days, but it went smoothly. The day starts with briefing lecture, then practical sessions to do skills
review or teaching s kills, and then some academic lectures in several areas of diving.
I have learned so much from the course. Actually, the thinking diver philosophy is what made me want to be a UTD
instructor, it was something new to me!! What is the thinking diver? What does the thinking diver do in this or that
situation? I learned what that meant and how to teach it.
There was another key aspect that caught my attention – global awareness. In general,yes, I always pay attention to
what is going on around me during a dive, but before I discovered UTD I did not know what things I need to know
about and what is the kind of information that I need to know. Honestly, every diving agency I know demands the
buddy system, but UTD takes it to a higher level with team diving and team positioning, and that is something new
that I can bring to my students.
I am so excited to start teaching UTD courses. I think there is a huge potentials for UTD because I know there are a lot
of divers who want to become thinking divers.
Abdullah Al-Aqeel
UTD Instructor #126
Contact Abdul at
[email protected]