Hello! My name is John and I just began my Instructor internship in Lembongan barely a week ago. It was great just being back at the Two Fish Lembongan Resort where I also did my Divemaster Internship, IDC and IE from September to December 2019. This time around though was a completely surreal experience as now I will be the instructor for new divers and the thought of me passing on diving knowledge to complete beginners is just amazing.
Starting my Instructor Internship in Lembongan
I arrived on the island thinking I would get to have a slow start as it is currently the low season in Lembongan and I have been away for close to 7 weeks. I was thinking to ease my way back into the diving but fate has other thoughts instead. Just not more than an hour after I offloaded my equipment at the Two Fish Dive Center and in comes a walk-in guest; Helene who wants to do the Open Water Course, and just like that I have my first open water student!
It was a very different situation as compared to how I learned to teach during the IDC where the student was just completely new and fresh to diving and basically I had to make sure I was very clear on all my briefings and how the skills need to be done through the demonstrations. Throughout the course I had Tom to guide me on how I should conduct the briefings, organising the course flow and making sure the student is able to perform all the skills required.
As this was my very first course teaching, at some points I was really nervous during both the confined water and open water sessions. But I just kept reassuring myself that I got this and at no point in time should I show how I feel inside to the student. The good thing going for me was that Helene was really comfortable in the water and was really smooth in doing most of the skills although there were times where I should improve my communication with her in the briefings. Another point to take note moving forward in the future.
After the theory and confined water sessions were done we head out for the open water dives and with Tom’s assistance in conducting the briefings and skills to be done underwater, it definitely was much smoother in the flow of things. Helene was really lucky on the first two dives as well where she had plenty to look at from the abundant reef life of north Penida, turtles, moray eels and even a Napoleon Wrasse which came pretty close. We completed dives 3 and 4 the next day and she was certified as an open water diver! The smile on her face after enjoying those four open water dives begin her diver life was just amazing and gives so much satisfaction about what this is all about as a Dive Instructor.
I was really glad that this opportunity came and allowed me to dive head-on into my career as a dive instructor. With the valuable tips and feedback from Tom there is much to improve in terms of how I should conduct future courses especially on the communication and organising side of things but I would say that this was a superb course for both Helene and me and I can’t wait for the next course to begin in the next few weeks I am here.
Are you thinking about becoming a PADI Diving Instructor? Our Instructor Internships are the perfect way to start out your diving career and to get you on track in the ‘real world’ after taking your IDC (Instructor Development Course).
At Two Fish Divers we pride ourselves on teaching all levels of divers – from complete beginners through to other professionals!
Do you want to become a professional diving instructor and take an instructor internship in Lembongan with us? For more information, fill in the form below and we will get right back to you!
