Let’s start at the beginning
Becoming a divemaster is a big decision. This decision is a rite of passage. It is a distinguishing title that places you a cut above the rest. It provides you with superior knowledge than most and of course, gives unlimited bragging rights among your peers. With this title of divemaster comes great responsibilities, and with great responsibilities comes the need for a great mentor. Having a mentor who stands out above the crowd is the key to becoming the best that you can be. How could I find a mentor with this rockstar like status you may ask? We at Legend Diving have a few so read on because this is where the juice gets sweeter. We squeezed a few moments from one of our busy mentors’ schedules to chat. What follows is an unbiased, tell-all story of a rockstar Divemaster mentor at Legend Diving Lembongan.
So, what do you do when you wake up in the morning?
My day doesn’t really start in the morning. My day starts when I receive “THE TEXT”. The text is the schedule for each day sent by management the night before. The one thing that is for sure is that not one day at legend diving is the same. You can’t expect too much repetition. I love it. It makes each day as exciting and enjoyable as the one before.
So, based on what they write on the schedule will determine what my day will look like. Having the schedule provided 1 day in advance is fantastic. It helps me to mentally prepare for the day ahead. It also gives me enough time to check in with the Divemasters and ensure they know what is in store.
Sorry, I get carried away sometimes. Let us rewind to the original question. I wake up. I then walk along the beautiful beach of Nusa Lembongan Island to work. I brew up a strong cup of coffee and jump right into what will be a fun and eventful day.
Ok, so you are sipping coffee, under a palm tree, in board shorts, at work. Not bad! Give us some context on what could be next on your to-do list.
Well, it could be any number of things. I could be assigned to facilitate the Divemasters in the training pool we have here at the dive shop. This involves skills circuit training where I will teach them how to demonstrate and master all 24 PADI dive skills. We practice rescue scenarios. The Divemasters will relive the PADI rescue diver course and demonstrate how to rescue a fellow diver in distress. This is fun and can be intense. I like this workshop because as a mentor I can throw a few curveballs into the mix. It helps to break the intensity and provide some comic relief. I have seen many hilarious rescue attempts.
Once they have proven they can rescue someone in the pool, they are taken to the big blue. Here they showcase what they are made of. I will observe and make corrections when needed until they perform a perfect rescue. A good mentor should always be sure that their Divemasters aren’t just ticking the boxes. They should rather tick the boxes with a thick permanent marker that won’t rub out. The Divemaster course is mainly an in-water program. The Divemasters do however have a few hours of dry time. This is the perfect opportunity for them to whip out the textbooks and watch the related videos. As a mentor, I will always be a few steps away to help answer any questions that may pop up.
Sound like you have your hands full at the shop, what happens when you have to leave?
So, there are days where I will head out and visit the marine life of beautiful Nusa Lembongan Island. I would need to be on the boat for the day to either lead a fun dive. Teach a course or train the Divemasters on one of their assignments. As the mentor, I will make sure that the Divemasters are helping with the daily operations on the boat. I will oversee and provide instruction to them when I feel it is necessary. There are many teachable moments in any situation. I, as the mentor, take advantage of every opportunity I have. It helps them to become better dive professionals at the end of the day. It’s important that all guests are happy and that the boat captain and crew are all on the same page. It is my responsibility to ensure everyone on the boat is safe and ready for a fun day of diving. Whether I am teaching a course or leading a group of fun divers, I will have a Divemaster assist me. This is crucial in the training.
I can provide them with the opportunity to lead and encourage better practices from them underwater. It is my duty to guide the Divemasters into becoming professionals in all aspects related to diving. In my opinion, a good mentor should never highlight something that is not going well. Instead, highlight the good and provide guidelines on how to improve where improvement is needed. Nobody is perfect, we are all learning, every day. The Divemasters need to be comfortable running a boat’s daily operations, assisting with courses, assessing dive conditions, and ensuring safety. Throughout their training, I will equip them with these skills. My goal is to have confidence that they will fulfill this role and do so in style. Knowing that a Divemaster is succeeding in their training helps me to have a good night of sleep. Once they are certified, My name appears on their certification forever.
It sure sounds like a fun, yet challenging job. Do you form friendships with the Divemasters or is it strictly business?
There is a fine line between being too friendly and being a respected mentor. This is a balance that can take some time to figure out. As the mentor, of course, you want your Divemasters to like you. However, they also need to respect you and know the difference between work and playtime. The DMT course is super fun but at the same time is full-on. It requires a lot of dedication, patience, and time. No one wants to be the bad guy. That applies to all things in life. I feel that as a mentor I have learned how to separate work from play when it is needed. I have also managed to incorporate play into work time when the situation needs to be lightened. I have formed many lasting friendships with my Divemasters and have maintained a good level of teaching and accountability. After all, I am accountable for whoever has my name on their divemaster certification.
I and the Divemasters have enjoyed many family dinners, parties, gatherings, surf sessions, and dive trips around Indonesia. I have a responsibility to make sure they leave Nusa Lembongan Island geared up to be dive professionals. I want them to have also gained the island experience of a lifetime. They will remember this training forever. I will always be the guy who trained them. I want to be remembered fondly. When I was growing up and attending youth camps, I always looked up to my mentors with admiration and respect. I knew from then on that I wanted to do something similar to them. I wanted to be the guy who everyone trusted. I wanted to be the guy who people looked to for guidance. I wanted to help. I wanted to teach. I wanted to facilitate the process of helping people overcome their fears. I wanted to show them that they could become something they might have never dreamed of before. This is my passion. This is what I live for. These are the qualities that separate a good mentor from a great mentor.
Anyway, I have to run. Duty calls! Thanks for the interview and I’ll see you underwater.
