The adventure... begins... every time (and you get to kiss the guys from the PADI videos ;-)

I guess this adventure started here, many years ago...

Ibiza, MY isla bonita.

I saw on the internet that a dive centre was looking for an Instructor... and I applied.

I arrive to the port of Ibiza and I met NICK, the man that changed my life and mostly the first man that told me, YOU CAN do it, and YOU WILL.

Sorry about the Pic Nick, but this is the one I have in my phone:

Nick is the smily Australian! He took me to the ISLAND and took me back every time!

He was there for me when I started Staffing IDCs and always got all his support. 
So for that and all the rest  NICK, THANK YOU!

From there to Thailand... between Phiphi and Koh Lanta.
Thank you RICH for taking me under your wing. Make me grow as a professional, and make me learn so much throughout all the IDCs that I was there with you.
As well to tell me every time, you will be good! you made me so good!

Then of course Kontiki Dive Centre, Specially PETER.
Thank you to take me as the first Course Director at KONTIKI Koh Lanta. To give me the confidence to run the IDCs the way I love. To always be there (you and ALL the company) to help me with everything. Mostly: Thank you for trusting me.... because I can tell you, I was feeling like a new Instructor fresh from his IE ;-)

Of course There is as well, all the time preparing my CDTC Dossier, staffing and working, drinking coffee and stressing, writing and studying...

For all the ones that suffered me while this was happening: if you are on Bali tomorrow, I PAY COFFEES! (Rich, you are around!)

After a crazy year of preparation that actually have been 14 years of diving and teaching and dreaming for this moment, I woke up at 6 o'clock, check my email and that was it:

Congratulations!

The PADI Course Director Training Course Selection Committee has approved your application for the 2013 Course Director Training Course held on 02-10 July in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Attached to this email you will find a number of very important documents. Please start by reading the acceptance letter containing the necessary information to prepare for this unique experience. Make sure to fill out and send back all the attached forms by the 31st of May.

To make sure that you received this email and all its attachments, please reply to confirm receipt.

On behalf of the PADI Course Director Training Course Selection Committee, congratulations on your achievement and I am looking forward to meeting you soon.

Sincerely,

Alan

So that was that!

What I was not ready for,was for meeting such amazing people and incredible mentors. My journey was just starting... again!

And is not to be funny, but you get to kiss the guys from the PADI videos ;-)

The incredible thing about all this story, is really how much I enjoyed every minute of it, and even better, how much I enjoy myself right now teaching people how to teach people to blow bubbles underwater!

I had a journey, 14 years of journey, before reaching THE EMAIL moment!

I don't regret any of this time, any of the travel, teaching, diving, carrying my bags and books around the world etc...

I will do it all over again!

EVERY DAY!

Best quotes. .. good memories. ..

I probably have many of them as well,  you can ask my lovely Matilda that spent her IDC writing them down. ..

Life is full of things that come out and we surely need to write them down. .. because even in a stressful situation. .. They are hilarious. ..

When I was teaching one of my open water student in Menorca.  I was explaining the compass skill,  and her face went blank, she looked at me and asked:
" so if I follow my bubbles. .. I won't find the boat back? "

What can you answer to that?

Or not so long ago,  we arrived to the IE.  One of my dear  student had the CESA.  The tide was so low that the sea looked super far away.
It was 7h30 am,  not enough coffee,  nerves only nerves for them but for me too.
I grabbed his arm and said,  please,  tide is low check the depth,  and I carry on towards the coffee shop.  But he stopped.
So I came back and asked him,  what is wrong?  Did you forget something.
And he said: no, but is the tide not only affect the surface?

What can you do?  I just started laughing ( nervous laugh. .. They are my kids,  remember? )  and walked. .. then he came running and said: oh my god,  I need coffee!  Yes you do!

We all have this thing. .. This fantastic moment of saying something totally surrealistic.
This moments make my day,  my life. .. and for sure my challenge!

When you decide to become a teacher,  any teacher,  you look at standarise systems.  And you soon realise, that no one is standard.
So you play with your tools to make your best music!

I love it!

Strange questions that make me think,  smile,  put my face of: seriously? ?????

Because teachers,  we are not standard either.  Because we get lost,  we can forget and we learn everyday.
We learn from all of you.
We talk and talk. .. but listen and listen to.
And is in the listening moment:
That we really become your teacher!

So thank you guys to make us better everyday!