Today we’ll be training for worst case scenarios and learn various rescue techniques as well as refresh our emergency first response training.
We’ve all gotten ready and lined up in our suits and BCDs, we’re on our way to the beach.
It starts out with three different rescue techniques in the water. Ronan, Toni and I are paired up again. We’re starting out with the two boys taking turns rescuing each other, while I follow with the buoy.
The pockets on my suit are filling with water and creating a lot of drag and the boys are putting on a pace. I’m lagging behind. “Crap!” I mumble into my snorkel and swim faster, trying to catch up. We’re almost there. I’m glad the guys are turning around already.
My turn comes around and I’m already quite exhausted. I look at where Cesar is standing, further down the beach, it seems like he’s miles away. By the time we reach his height I can feel my leg starting to cramp. Thank God, it’s my turn to “be rescued”. I can really use the break right now.
With the third technique, Ronan gives me a quick leg massage while transporting my exhausted body back to where Toffy is standing, motivating us to go faster. One more time. I return the favour on the way back and we giggle a little into our snorkels, not all that bad this rescue exercise.

Finally we’re all back on the beach, but there’s not time to catch a breath, fireman carry and other transport methods. “Run, run! Faster, faster!” the instructors are pushing us further and further.

… VIDEO COMING SOON …

But the morning isn’t over yet. Rescue exercise in the dock are next, hauling unconscious divers onto the pier and then a refresher in CPR and emergency first response.

Diving accidents often require special treatment and Toffy makes sure to remind us of all the what to look out for.

We’re are all quite exhausted by the time the lunch break finally comes around.

Physiology of Diving and Diving Accidents

The afternoon is filled with physiology, medicine and the specifics of diving accidents. Not the most pleasant of topics when we’re training to work under water, but Tato patiently explains the dangers of Nitrogen Narcosis or the so-called “Bends”, also known as Decompression Sickness, and how to respond to in an emergency situation involving an affected diver.

“As divers, we constantly work in an inherently hostile environment for humans.” Tato reminds us. Our training, our knowledge and experience, the technology we use and the ability to rely on our colleagues is what keeps us safe under water.

In the late afternoon the wind picks up quite a bit and I’m glad we got the swimming and rescuing on the beach out of the way when the ocean was still a little calmer.
The surfers on the other hand have started arriving from all directions. While we complain about the winter-waters, their season has only just begun.

Time to go home and rest up. Tomorrow is another day of training, in what is often called one of the most dangerous professions in the world.

Today is the last day of pool exercizes, tomorrow we are done learning how to dive and will begin learning how to work under water.
It’s been quite an intense week for most of the guys, having to learn what most Divemaster trainees learn in a month or more.

… and the longer version is coming soon …

I’m stunned by how well everyone is doing and how calm they manage to perform all the exercises. I honestly don’t know if I would have managed to catch up in such a short time. The instructors are diligently watching us, correcting all the last little mistakes.
It would seem like we’re all divers now. So, let’s add the “commercial” to it.

This all seems Spanish to me…

Since we will start working in the harbour tomorrow, it’s time to get to know the typical harbour layout and with all the terminology. “Holy S*#t! Which one is what thing now?” I have no idea what any of those things are called in any language.
” ‘Grillete’ – the thing that holds the chain to the ‘Zementblock’ ” my notes are a strange mix of German, English and Spanish. Google translate is becoming my new best friend.

I’m not quite sure what I’m supposed to be doing tomorrow and Ronan’s very sweet attempt to explain it in French doesn’t help much either. Which chain was the one connecting to the main one again? Wait, how many chains and how many ropes are there? I guess I’ll find out on Monday. But for now, I’m quite happy that it’s finally weekend. I’m tired and can’t wait to sleep in tomorrow. Also, I need to look up a few words before the week starts again.

Right after we arrive in the morning we get quite the talking to by Cesar. “Yesterday was quite the disaster! I get it, first day. Let’s not let that happen again!” We’re all a little quiet.
After Cesar explains the pool exercises for today we start packing up our kit. Everybody wants to get it right and we’re much more organized this time around. The equipment is neatly stacked and swiftly packed into the van. Arrived at the pool, we already know what to do, where to take everything and in what oder. So far so good.

Now let’s see if everyone remembered all the exercises from yesterday. And of course there’s some new ones.
I’m really surprised by how quickly the guys are picking it up, most of them already look quite comfortable under water. And who would have thought, nobody forgot their snorkels today or to inflate their BCDs on the surface. It would seem Tato’s angry polar bear face has done the trick.

… and here’s a longer version, for the boys Day 4 – Extended Version

Everyone is leaving the pool a lot happier today and it’s time for a well deserved siesta on the boat.

Some more Theory

Back in the classroom we talk a little bit about how everyone felt in the water today, whether there was some weight adjustments to made and discuss any issues with the equipment.

After all questions are answered, Tato continues explaining the various kinds of equipment and their configurations and how they are used in commercial diving.

I can’t wait until we get to use full face masks, communication devices and air supplied from the surface via an umbilical. Just like with camera and broadcast equipment, I’m fascinated by technical aspect of commercial diving and am really excited to get started with the “cool toys”.

When we arrive in the morning we’re off to the wet-zone right away. Today most of the guys will use scuba diving equipment for the first time.
Regulators and BCDs have already been handed out and we’re gathering around Cesar who is explaining how to assemble the equipment.
We will start with 12L bottles, but since commercial diving usually involves physical labor which comes with increased air use, next week we will start using 15L and eventually 18L bottles. They’ve got quite a bit of weight to them.
Step by step Cesar goes through the assembly process before each one of us has to show that we understand it and are ready to try ourselves.

Two separate first and second stages are used and, in order to familiarise ourselves with the different connection mechanisms, everyone is given both a DIN and an INT regulator.
It takes a few tries but the guys quickly get the hang of it. And of course we’re having a bit of fun with it all too…

[metaslider id=323]

Learning to Breathe Underwater

Right… well then… Presumably everyone understood how the equipment works and is ready to use it in the public pool.
Tato and Cesar have briefly explained the process of loading kit but it’s all a little chaotic. We’re only on the second day of training and struggling a bit to remember all the things the instructors have mentioned in what seemed to be passing.
“Crap!” I think to myself, “What was it? Bring it all assembled or in parts??” Everything is taking much longer than Tato would like and we can tell that he’s not happy.
Of course I have no time nor would I dare to take any photos at the moment.

Finally, everyone and everything is packed up and on their way and this time Tato’s younger daughter Helena, of course also an instructor, is with us as well.

We don’t seem to be doing much better when we arrive at the pool. Scrambling to keep up with the strict order of things while trying to remember the exercises we’re about to do, we all hustle to get ready.
“Why is there equipment all over the place?? IN A LINE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!”
No more friendly sea-captain, more angry polar bear now.

“Assemble Equipment!” He paces up and down our slightly crooked line impatiently. “First pair, get ready!”.
Who was the first pair again? “Quickly, quickly!! What are you all standing around for???”.
Ronan and I step up “PREPARE! READY? WATER!” and with one big step we manage to land in the water at the exact same time. “Phew!” I think to myself. But my relief is short lived. “WHERE THE F*&$ IS YOUR SNORKEL??” Tato yells at me from the side of the pool. “Shit!” I’m startled and slightly embarrassed. The instructors did tell us: “On the surface, ALWAYS snorkel in your mouth! Mask ALWAYS on your face!”
Luckily, I just spent two months working in scuba diving school and got accustomed to school and teaching habits. I quickly pull the snorkel out of one of my BCD pockets, which are usually filled with useful accessories.
Ronan, an experienced scuba diver and used to not needing a snorkel, forgot his poolside. “Tato? Could you hand me my snorkel, please?” he asks quietly. “What am I? Your Maid?? OFF YOU GO!!! What are you hanging around here for? SWIM, SWIM!!!!!”
Quickly we turn around and start swimming shoulder to shoulder, in our best possible buddy-team. We’re giving it all we’ve got, faces down, I with my snorkel and Ronan with his reg [divers’ colloquialism for “regulator”]. We glance at each other underwater with an understanding “Shit…! We f*&%$d that one up didn’t we?”. Oh well, better next time.

One exercise after another, the instructors are putting on a fast pace. We’re taking off masks and switching them with our colleagues under water, taking off all our kit, buddy-breathing and other training emergency procedures. Then there’s more swimming and then some more exercises. They keep us on our toes.

Ronan and I occasionally throw each other a look of “Holy s*%t am I happy I’ve already done these a number of times!”
I look over at the other guys, imagining never having seen scuba equipment in my life and having to do things I only learned in my training to become a Divemaster. I would probably cry or at the very least I would not be enjoying myself very much.
But the water in the pool is nice and warm and after over a decade of scuba diving, simply having my head under water while breathing through a regulator puts me in an almost meditatively calm state. So I for one, am having a great time. I’m even a little bit sad when it’s finally time to get out of the water.

We seem to be doing a little better in packing up all the kit this time around and after a quick shower we’re on our way back to the school. There’s time for a short lunch break before we begin with theory lessons in the classroom.

Back to School

We’re starting out with the technical aspects of scuba diving equipment, what makes up a regulator, a BCD, a tank and how to maintain all the things that keep us alive under water.

Tato is back to his calm and friendly self. He patiently explains all the details and answers all of our questions.

I haven’t sat in a classroom in about 8 years and it feels a little bit weird to be taking notes and looking at white boards again, not to mention the fact that all of this is happening in Spanish. As soon as technical and nautical vocabulary starts making up half a sentence, I realize that this might be a little more challenging than I thought. I barely know half these words in English OR German! So far I’m still following, but mostly because we’re still talking about things I’ve learned before. What’s going to happen when we start talking about topics I know nothing about?

Tuesday morning, it’s the first day of training. But before we can get started, suits and equipment each student will be using over the next five weeks needs to be sorted, distributed and tried on for size.

Fins, masks and snorkels were obligatory for everyone to bring and Ronan, Gautier and myself already have our suits.

Since I’ve already got all of my own kit, I have some time to give the instructors and Gautier a hand with the distribution, as well as shoot a few sneaky pics on my phone before we head off to the pool.

The boys are having a laugh squeezing themselves into the tight neoprene suits for the first time and we’re all excited about finally getting started.

Cesar, our instructor for practical training, gives us a few quick explanations about what to expect in the pool before the head of the institute gives us the official introduction and run-down. Luis Manuel Noain Gimeno or simply “Tato” as he’s known to everyone, has dedicated his life to commercial diving and can look back on 40 years of experience working and educating. We’re in good hands.

He’s a tall and authoritative figure with a full, white beard who reminds me of the sea-captains in books and stories. He’s got a friendly look on his face but with a gentle smile he lets us know that, should we disregard his instructions, neglect to follow the rules or in any way not take our training seriously, his friendly face would change quickly. After all, under water it’s our life on the line and that of our fellow divers.

Swimming, Swimming and some more swimming

A short reminder about what to do… questions?… No! OK, let’s go! Fins, masks and snorkels ready and we’re off to the public pool, accompanied by Tato and Cesar as well as Tato’s oldest daughter Stefanie also known as “Toffy”, an accomplished instructor and business woman in her own right.

As we jump in the water I can’t help but think that this first week will probably be harder for some than for others. I’m glad for my extensive scuba diving experience and do not envy the guys who have to catch up in such a short time.
We’re paired up in “buddy-teams” and everything we do in the water has to be perfectly synchronized. “Prepare! Ready? WATER!”, a big, synchronized step and off we go. Then quickly back out, back in line and again, and again and again. The next entry-method, no time for breaks “Prepare! Ready? WATER!”.
Tato’s military background shows and I soon realize that there is not a lot of room for error here, much less for slacking off. It will be hard enough for everyone and the instructors challenge us to our limits, no matter our experience level.
Time to swim and I’m paired with Gautier. He has been training for this for years. “COME ON, FASTER, FASTER!!”, I hear Tato from the edge of the pool. Gautier is 18 and in top shape. I’m sure he’s not nearly giving all he’s got, but for my moderately trained 32-year old self, he’s putting on quite the pace.
I’m the only woman in the class and there is no way I can let it seem like I can’t keep up with the guys. “LET’S GO, ONE MORE TIME!”, my legs are burning but I bite down on my snorkel and pick up the pace.
Now the same thing again, this time without our masks. I’m starting to regret not having been swimming more often in the past few, well, years.
The “buddy-team” rule I already know from recreational diving is even stricter here. Every movement has to be completely coordinated. Gautier signals me with his hand under water “3, 2, 1 – and dive!”. We dive down to the bottom, always keeping an eye on each other and then come back up. Our heads are supposed to touch surface at the exact same time. It takes a little practise, this “synchronized swimming thing”.

It’s already afternoon when we get back to the school for our lunch break. We’re all a little tired and Gautier let’s us in on a little secret: the boat, a perfect spot for a well deserved siesta.

“Fatalities 1990: Male – 21 yrs, Male – 37 yrs, Male – 34 yrs …”

Lunch break is over and we’re off into the classroom for our first theory lesson.

Tato quietly sits down and puts a DVD in the player. A video starts playing, black screen and sombre music. A list begins scrolling across the screen ” Fatalities 1987: Male – 21 yrs; Male – 37 yrs; Male – 34 yrs… Fatalities 1990: Male – 29 yrs;… Fatalities 1992…”. The list keeps going and going and going, without names, just a year, age and a gender.

It gets very quiet in the room as we’re all reminded of the very real dangers of this profession and the tragic history that lead to the rigid safety procedures of today.

Seeing my gender represented in traditionally male professions usually makes me smile, but when a single “Female – 32 yrs” scrolls past I can feel myself cringe. I take a deep breath. She was my age.

After the seemingly endless list of fatalities follows a detailed explanation of real accidents, how they happened and what can be done to prevent them. Cleaning public pools, working on dam repairs, diving to retrieve lost golf balls,… . I take detailed notes: “What NOT to do… “.
Three more videos like this follow. It’s quite the introduction to our very first day.

Welcome to Commercial Diving!

It’s early in the morning on Monday when the other students and I arrive at the school. There’s nine of us, eight guys and myself.

We’re greeted by Teresa, a lovely lady, calm and motherly. She almost literally takes us by the hand and accompanies us to the hospital “El Angel” in Malaga, where she hands us off to the head nurse, Maria Luisa. Today we will all go through a series of medical checks required to be able to train and work as commercial divers. We’re all excited and perhaps slightly nervous about an entire day of needle pricks, electrodes and other medical shenanigans.
In between blood tests, x-rays, EKGs and various other examinations we have a chance to start getting to know each other. The nine of us we will be studying, training and working together for next five weeks.

Everyone seems really nice, some of the guys work in fishing and agriculture, others are looking for a change in careers. We’re quite an international crowd.

[Left to Right]

Gautier is French and the youngest in our class. He has been working in Tato’s school for a few years now every summer, developing his diving abilities and assisting the instructors in courses. He has just finished his PADI Divemaster and now that he’s 18, he can begin his career as commercial diver and follow in Tato’s footsteps.
Toni is from Murcia, a few hours north from here, but he’s been living in Ibiza for a number of years now. He’s ex-military and currently works as a security guard and DJ, but he’s looking for a new challenge and a change of pace. The Andalusian dialects (including the “Murcian” he speaks, with Murica being its own region as Toni would point out) are hilarious to me and his sense of humor cracks me up.
Juan Carlos works in a fish farm and is an apnea diving expert, who dives to depths of 50m with only one breath at the surface. I’m blown away, my deepest free-dive was just about half of that, when I was around Gautier’s age and training to be a Divemaster.
Omar is from the beautiful Canary Islands, he works in a fish farm where commercial diving is in high demand. His boss has sent him and his colleague and friend Nestor here to train to become divers. They’re a funny pair the two and always up for a joke. I look forward to a getting to know them better.
John is originally from Columbia but has lived in Andalucia for over a decade and has built his life, his family and his career as a chef in the area. But he’s had enough of the kitchen and wanted to try something entirely different. So far he has only seen the ocean from the surface, swimming and snorkelling, diving is completely new to him. He’s always got a smile on his face and really seems like he’s got this “life thing” totally figured out.
Nestor, who works in the fish farm with Omar, moved to the Canaries from Venezuela a few years ago. His grandmother is Spanish and still lives here, but the rest of his family is far away. He’s a fellow nomad like myself and we quickly hit it off.
Ronan, also from France has been living in Murcia for a few years now. He’s an experienced scuba diver and wants to take his passion for the underwater world to the next level. It doesn’t take long until we start exchanging scuba stories and comparing the places we’ve been to.
Francisco, or as he prefers to be called “Toto“, is the second youngest here with only 20 years of age. A hysterical and sweet boy who speaks an “Andaluz” that absolutely melts my heart. He’s full of spunk and energy, looking for a new adventure. His laugh is incredibly contagious and I can already see that he will be a wonderfully humorous addition to the group.

It’s afternoon by now and we’re almost through with our tests. One last thing remains: The Hyperbaric Chamber. As a scuba diver, seeing one of those is not normally a good sign. But then again, I’ve always wanted to know what a decompression chamber looks and feels like.
Walking into the Department of Hyperbaric Medicine that occupies its own building within the hospital complex, the giant blue structure that looks a bit like a submarine immediately catches my eye. It’s much bigger than I had imagined.

I’m amazed by the control panel that regulates depth, speed of ascent/descent, air flow in the chamber and oxygen supply via masks. Soon the operation specialist will put the chamber under pressure equal to 20 meters of depth under water.

Safety protocol does not allow electronic devices in the chamber during operation, so our phones as well as lighters, matches or any other possible combustibles are safely stored in lock boxes outside.

Dr. Angel C. Alonso, a specialist in hyperbaric medicine and renown in his field, will be with us the entire “dive”. He explains the procedure to us and makes sure everyone understands what to do in order to equalize their ears and sinuses. For some of the new commercial divers in training, this will be the first time they’ll experience their body under pressure.
With a smile on his face, Dr. Alonso closes the door and engages the airlock. We begin our descent. Slowly we go down two meters, then back up one. Again we descend two meters, up one and back down two, until we reach a simulated depth of 20m.

Slowly but surely everyone gets used to the pressure and all of us are able to equalize without problems.
The increased pressure has caused the chamber to heat up significantly, but jackets and hoodies soon come back on as we begin our ascent. When the pressure reduces and the cooling air’s ability to contain moisture diminishes, fog starts rising from the floor, a lot of fog. I can’t help but smile and think to myself “This is pretty cool, physics in action!” but also “Damn, I wish I could film this”.

As we ascend above a simulated 15m we begin breathing pure oxygen to test our susceptibility to adverse reactions to the increased partial pressure of O2. So far so good, no adverse reactions, no complications.

Almost done! Nurse Maria Luisa diligently collects and sorts through all our paperwork and we finally get handed our results and official medical certificates.  Everyone got the “All Clear” and we’re ready to begin our training as commercial divers.
We’re all excited to start the course and I for one, can’t wait to get into the water.