Author: Galen

Divemaster Gear Room
Sodwana
South Africa

Divemaster Fully Geared-Up and Ready to Rumble!

    The final week of divemaster training essentially involves scuba diving two or three times per day! The latest one involved assisting advanced students on their first deep dive to 32 meters. While keeping a watchful eye on the group, we did come across four Whitetipped Reef Sharks, which was very special. They all squealed with delight over this encounter once they could use spoken verse back on the boat.

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    Open Waters Assist
    Sodwana
    South Africa

    Open Waters Assist as a Divemaster

      For the next four days I would be tasked with Open Waters Assist – accompanying a Dive Instructor with training guests who are learning to dive for the very first time. We have just two students in their 60s. Everyone’s eyes look a little strange when wearing a mask underwater, but I have never seen such terror in the eyes of these two women!

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      Potato Bass while Coral Reef Mapping
      Sodwana
      South Africa

      Coral Reef Mapping Like Fish in Water!

        We had an awesome Coral Reef Mapping Day. There was some conflict between our two European divers on how to best to approach the task.

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        Dive Master Training at Sodwana
        Sodwana
        South Africa

        Dive Master Training at Sodwana Begins!

          The Dive Master Training course officially began with an introduction to the three Instructors who will each be managing a team of three. Justyna is in my group, along with 19-year old Bianca who only just started diving a few months ago and is planning to go all the way up

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          Rescue Diver Course Sodwana
          Sodwana
          South Africa

          Rescue Diver Achievement Unlocked

            As a child I used to put a bucket over my head with rocks in my pockets in an attempt to breathe beneath swimming pool water. Decades later, I’m in a swimming pool with proper scuba apparatus, breathing underwater. Rescue Diver exercises in the pool took 3 hours straight, with a real

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            Solo Travel Lessons
            Travel Tips

            What Solo Travel Teaches You: 10 Lessons Learned on the Road

              Travelling alone is one of the most rewarding (and sometimes confronting) experiences you can have. Beyond the beautiful places and new friends, solo journeys teach you a lot about yourself and the world. What it gave me were plenty of surprises, a few bruises, and life lessons I never expected.

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              Thailand-Travels-The-Little-Red-Book
              Thailand

              The Little Red Book (Thailand Travel Diary #1)

                I won the Emirates lottery to be seated behind the only toddler on board on the flight to Bangkok. I didn’t sleep a wink but crammed in 3 quality films. Upon landing, I followed the herd through the Passport People onto the next security checkpoint. People were rushing!

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