Today, review of dive physiology, meteorology, oceanology and biology. A lot to cover, but Gabriel keeps it light and interesting, generously sharing his experience that goes beyond what´s covered in the manuals.

Equipment failure: my first stage delivers too much pressure to my second stage, making it leak. The technician was out today, so we switched to a spare first stage and will have to get it fixed tomorrow.

We went in the water to do some additional work on my basic skills. My hovering (stay immobile in the water without moving hands or legs) and mask clearing (full removal of mask, then putting it back on) was better this time around, but I fumbled my underwater equipment removal (removal and replacement of scuba unit). I have to be able to do all these to "demonstration quality", that is with sufficiently exagerated and clear movements that a student watching me could learn how to do it. I still have to work on that.

Later, I accompanied Gabriel and two students on an underwater trip as divemaster in training. It was the students' second dive. Although you could see they were excited about exploring the environment and the experience of being underwater, they were also swimming all over the place. As a divemaster who is worried about their safety, this makes your job more interesting...

As it turns out, one of them had a problem with his BC that he had filled with too much air and he started ascending out of control. I went after him, grabbed him, purged my BC and tried to empty his. With the underwater adrenaline rush, I didn´t manage to quite empty it and Gabriel had to come over to give a hand.

This real life experience helping out some students was both humbling and exciting. I'm looking forward to more.