It's been a while, but a friend of mine had me answer some questions for their blog which I thought I'd post as a nice update on what's been going on, and a good excuse to start writing again.
The context: I'm just finishing my dive instructor course at Buddha View in Koh Tao, Thailand.
The transcript:
Hey, I'm Chris from Toronto. I just graduated from university a couple years ago - BFA in film production - where I spent every waking moment of every day making films, working on set, watching movies, talking about movies, and generally not having a minute of spare time for anything else. I wanted to get away for a bit of an adventure though before I got too entrenched in the industry and started to settle in. So I've been wandering around the world for the last year and a half or so, and when I finally made it here to Koh Tao something clicked, and I decided I'd finally found somewhere to settle down for a while, and a job I'd be excited to do.
Where did you start diving?
My first time diving was a few years ago in New Zealand where a friend of mine kit me up in his equipment, threw me out into the water in a shallow bay, and I got to helplessly float around for a while without really getting how it all worked.
Since then I've done my Open Water in Koh Tao I've made it back to NZ for a couple dives where I actually knew what I was doing, but most of my experience is here on Koh Tao where I've been doing my Divemaster internship at New Way Diving and working for a couple months as a freelance Divemaster.
What means diving for you?
Since I was a kid I've been just fascinated by learning about the underwater world, loved snorkeling, and couldn't wait for the day when I finally learned to dive.
I love the way it feels, the graceful way you hover about in a three dimensional space, and the completely new world that you find yourself in unlike anything you're ever used to out of the water.
I especially love taking people out and showing them all of my favourite things - just spreading my enthusiasm to new people every time I take out a new customer.
Why did you choose to do the IDC and why did you choose Buddha View?
A few of my good friends had done their IDC at Buddha View and highly recommended it. Then when I met Mark and saw how entertaining he was, and how much experience he had on Koh Tao with the hundreds of crazy dive stories to go behind it, I was pretty sold.
Do you feel any anxiety for the IDC? Why, why not?
I'm really not too worried actually. The instructors who lead my divemaster course at New Way did such a great job at showing me how to teach (I assisted on 15 courses) and helping me work on all my short comings as a dive leader, that I've really feel completely confident in my abilities to teach a course from the start of the IDC. Plus the experience leading customers on dives and teaching scuba reviews has really helped me as well.
What do you think about the IDC so far?
It's been really cool. A great group of guys, some really good instructors, and enough humour and good stories to always keep things interesting.
After all the stuff they're putting us through, I'm confident we'll all be able to pass our IE no problem. I am just itching to get back in the ocean and start leading dives again though.
What is your plan after you passed the exam?
As soon as I'm finished recovering for the post IE party hangover, I'm gonna pick up a couple specialty instructor certifications, start hanging around some of my favourite shops on the island looking for freelance work, and scouring the bars for potential new students.
Really, it's strictly for professional reasons - it kills me to have to be out on the beach having a few quiet Changs every night....
If you knew the manager of the dive center, you really want to work
for, would read this interview, what would you like to tell about
yourself?
It's all mostly all in here. I guess I'd just have to add that I'm getting myself ready to be call every minute of the day - ready to pick up whatever comes my way from showing up on twenty minutes notice to teach a single diver to taking out a big group with a bigger shop.
And that I'm really too excited to start teaching.
Where can this manager or other divers with questions find you?
Got a horribly out of date website that I really gotta start working on again:
www.chrisciosk.com
Email: chrisciosk@gmail.com
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