Our fresh OW Scuba Instructors!

After more than two weeks of hard working and studying, stress and excitement, finally sun of the last day of the Instructor Exam (IE) rose.

While Julia, Bart, AJ, JP, Ali, Nedal and Wei were on the taxi on the way to Koh Tao Regal Resort for the IE’s Confined Presentation, Marco, Chris, Ed and Max were following on their motor bikes. 

The first day of the IE at the same resort was only two days ago, but seeing this beautiful pool with sea view, it seemed much longer ago.

The Buddha View group had their own little corner at the pool.

Everybody started to gear up and get ready for the last part of the IE.

Irene – Max’ girlfriend - and Shu were a role model for all boy- and girlfriends by being at the scene all the time.

After the Confined Presentations and the Skill Circuit, everybody gathered together at the certification ceremony to hear the redeeming words of PADI examiner Rob:” Well done everybody, you all have passed the IE!”

Wei was Buddha View’s first candidate who got his certificate.

Julia finally scored twice a 5.0 which made her so happy that she spontaneously jumped into the arms of examiner Hans. He seemed not to have any problem with that.

Nedal was very happy and relieved too.

It was hard for the Shuba Diving photographer to get closer to JP, but seen his pose, somebody else has got him in the picture.

While Bart was posing for the other photographer, Ed was wondering when his name will be called out.

Ed also passed with flying colours and luckily looked in the right camera.

Max could hardly wait to get his certificate, but he still had to wait for some nice words from examiner Rob.

Ali was the last one in row to get his certificate. Now, the cautious reader would wonder about AJ. When AJ walked up to the front to receive his certificate, there was a whole bunch of happy people jumping in front of the photographer, so she missed AJ, sorry for that.

45 brand new Open Water Scuba Instructors for the month May IE on Koh Tao.

The two only girls of Buddha View’s candidates took advantage of the situation to be in the picture with their lovely Course Directors.

Congratulations to Buddha View’s 9 fresh Open Water Scuba Instructors!

Ed showed a special way to take and be in the picture at the same time.

One more time: congrats to everyone who was involved in this IDC and IE!

To thank and congratulate Course Directors Chris and Marco, Shu had a little speech for them on behalf of the whole group.

To everyone's surprise Shu’s speech turned out to be a funny IE briefing, presentation and demonstration.  

Instructor Exam day 2

The Instructor Exam (IE) candidates had two presentations on their schedule today; knowledge development presentation – prescriptive teaching (in the classroom) and open water teaching presentation (in the sea).

After passing the knowledge development presentation with flying colours in the morning, everybody hopped on the Buddha View taxi to the Mae Haad pier.

They seemed to be very relaxed.

‘The Blues Brothers’ JP and Max were on the taxi as well.

Initially Shu’s role was to be the Chinese/English translator for Wei and Julia, but in the end Wei and Julia turned out to speak English so well, that Shu was not needed that much anymore. But that didn’t mean that Shu’s mentally support was not welcome.

Once arrived on the boat, everybody started to gear up their equipment.

Ban’s Dive Resort, Koh Tao’s biggest dive resort. They actually certify the most students of any resort in the world. They provided the boat, as well as tanks and some other equipment for the IE candidates. Ellie, Ban’s boat master is giving the boat briefing.

Our Buddha View candidates were divided in two teams. Here the green team is waiting for their turn to do the briefing.

One have to admit, seen the beauty of the background – not necessarily the muscled PADI examiner Hans – these are not bad circumstances for making an exam at all. 

While Julia is giving her briefing, the green team of Buddha View could start their presentation with PADI examiner Tim. At the end of the day, again everybody passed the open water presentation. Congratulations everyone and good luck tomorrow with your last presentation! 

IDC class passed theory exam!

After fourteen days of lectures, practicing skills and presentations in classroom, confined and open water, the Instructor Exam (IE) finally started today. 

Excellent trained by Course Directors Mark, Marco and Chris, the whole IDC class was confidently posing for the camera, just an half hour before the IE started.

Together with about fourty other IDC candidates from Koh Tao, the IE was held in the round windowed meeting room of Koh Tao Regal Resort.

For our Buddha View candidates there were seats left in the front of the meeting room. Seen Marco’s sweaty back, you might think he was very nervous. The truth was that the airconditioning wasn’t working properly so it was like a sauna for more than four hours.

AJ was the first of our IDC class who finished the theory exam. Both Bart and AJ passed the exam with almost 100% score.

Ed was the second Buddha View candidate who completed his theory exam. It was a piece of cake.

Ali and Julia were very happy that the theory exam was done.

It took a while before the next candidate came down but finally after twenty minutes it was JP’s happy face we saw.

He was so relieved, and thirsty as well.

Max was quit nervous during the exam, but he also made it with only a few mistakes. His hands were still shaking; this time because he couldn’t believe it.

Wei finished his exam shortly after Max but it’s hard to tell if he has passed because he has always that smile on his face.

Marco was counting his candidates, like a mother goose would do to check if all her babies are still there. Who is missing?

Of course, at last but not at least, Nedal!

As proud as a little boy, he showed his scores which he has written on a piece of wasted paper. Well guys and girl, you all have done a great job today! One down, three to go, but that shouldn’t be a problem at all.

Congrats to our new EFR Instructors!

Yesterday was an exciting day for the IDC candidates because Emergency First Response (EFR) & Oxygen Provider Instructor was on the schedule. After the lectures led by Mark Soworka, Buddha View’s Course Director, scenarios and skills needed to be practiced. In the afternoon all candidates had to make the theory exam but everyone passed the exam so we’ve got ourselves a whole bunch of new EFR Instructors.

Ed volunteered as the victim but unfortunately Julia (with her hands in her pockets) and Ali (standing with his hands on his hips) had no intention at all to help our poor Ed. JP seemed to be the only one who was willing to assess the situation and help the victim.

With a little bit of Mark’s help, JP tried to turn Ed over to his left side.

Ed was obviously too big a victim and JP needed three other candidates to help him.

Meanwhile Wei was busy giving our IDC baby two rescue breathes.

After he had revived the baby, he had to give compressions to this poor guy without legs.

Luckily Wei was on time and the poor guy made it.

AJ had the same sort of problem.

After a while, his victim became alive as well.

Ali was giving this baby special compressions as one should give to infants. The role model parents were very concentrated and concerned as you can see.

Ed found another poor guy without arms and started giving CPR after the ‘A’ and ‘B’ of the Cycle of Care Graphic.

While Staff Instructor Bas was playing the observer and Ed was reading out loud what Nedal should do step by step, Nedal was seriously considering what he should do first before giving breathes.

Aha of course, open the mouth first.

It was like guys without legs and arms were all over the place.

Max fortunately saved somebody’s life as well.

Once JP had to give compressions to the IDC baby, it became all too much for AJ. He just couldn’t watch it anymore.

As if it was not bad enough, the IDC baby fell on the ground once again.

Fortunately Bart was there and he saved the baby's life.

Julia found an unconscious guy lying on the floor and started to give CPR to him.

She kept on going while she was waiting for EMS to come.

But no matter how hard Julia swinged her head and hair around, the poor victim didn’t revive.