Reflections on Teaching

There are many ways to teach people. I take the approach of; show you, show me, do one, teach one, teach me, and again, and again....now theoreticals. I like to have people think, this is when the learning imprinting takes place in my experience. You've got a foundation, now you've got a structure, a context to apply it to if you will, as you work within these confines, you see who looks outside the box, and who just accepts it.

An out of the box thinker is what I have been labeled. I enjoy the label as it gives me liberty to say things out of the ordinary, or that others are not willing to say. It also lets me present some of the more outlandish ideas, expecting to be able to settle on a middle ground, or be pleased and get the idea to go forward.

The type of training I went through for the last few weeks was as usual, but so laissez-faire as to be....weird. Structure is what I'm accustomed to, however I function very well without it. There was structure, but it was at the whims of the weather and fatigue of the participants.

I got to see how my way of doing things is better and worse than others. Positive and negative feedback was given in proper proportions, and real learning occurred.

Scuba Instructor training is not like any other type of training. There is a specific formula to teaching people to scuba dive...but you can move various parts of the formula around to suit the student, the instructor, or the circumstances, but you still must maintain a particular order, and building process. There must be the foundation before the other components, otherwise you're set for failure.

It takes special people to do this, and while it might seem like the dream job, it's still a job; I's have to be dotted, and T's crossed; missing any could lead to the end of a beautiful career, being too cavalier and overly-confident can be your demise.

I was going through the Instructor Development Instructor Trainer portion of the courses. The step you take before Master Instructor, and then Course Director. Our joke in my house was that we had no idea what I would do with 'my second life' when we moved. Looks like it found me instead!!

No matter how hard I try to go back to what I did before here, it doesn't work out for me. Resume after resume, application after application - nothing. Yet scuba keeps coming and coming, dragging me along to sights unseen and depths other never consider. Without realizing it I've dove 10 or 12 times in a week and not all of them are teaching, there's fun in there too.

I do truly love watching when people 'get it'. The satisfaction of seeing someone's world change for the better is worth the tired days, sunburns and little food when you forget to pack a lunch.

Well, it looks like more diving in my future, and if things keep going well, more research too. There's a beautiful world out there that most people only capture as a background for their beach photos, or the baseline for a sunset. I intend to bring as much of that world to view as possible. Let's see what we can see.

This way, please, Sir.

Leave only bubbles!!

Negligent posting, or just busy?

I missed last weeks post, so I'm trying to get a jump start by writing first, then adding photos so we'll see how this goes.

Firstly, HOLY COW!! I've shot over a thousand photos (yes, 1000+) in the past week. I think the camera is protesting as now it has dust on the mirror, but I'm also hard on things, so who knows for sure. Going the next day or so to get a cleaner for the mirror artifacts, which only show up on long exposure.

10sec exposure showing artifacts

Leather Base in Depot Island

During all the shooting this past week, had to pamper the camera so I bought a custom strap for it. There's a little shop in Mihama (American Village = tourist trap) where you can get all kinds of things made from leather (Leather Base). I was originally hoping they could make a protective case for my camera, but they don't have the tools. So, just the strap please. Turned out pretty nice and is very comfy. Besides, can't go wrong with handmade leather!!



There was a Cherry Blossom Festival in Nago (sakura no hana) , and a Sunflower Festival (himawari) near where I work (shot that for about three days!!)



I'm tired of flowers. Now I know why other photographers despise flowers. There's only so much you can do, and they don't really do anything. With this in mind, I took this photo (insert faded beauty). Maybe I'll start shooting flowers in 'repose'.


Of course I say this as the azalea festival gets ready to start...




Got back to shooting in the water. I've been in the water this whole time, but mainly teaching and I don't take a camera or anything as it is distracting to the students and Divemasters. Students can have cameras, but only on their last dive and only after any left over skills have been completed.

Slight increase in number of nudibranchs in the area. Robert THE Divemaster has a identification goal for the little sea slugs and with me looking for sponge, lets just say there's going to be plenty of slow, photographic dives.


Expanded my training abilities and added Search and Recovery Specialty Instructor and Underwater Photographer Instructor to my repertoire. Obviously I'll be adding more as the money comes in, but that's slow coming here. I'll keep working at teaching scuba and doing photography. Looking at doing stock photos to make a little side cash, and maybe revisit some online consulting I used to do.

Exploring time lapse photography over the next month or so, so there will be videos eventually. More planning and gear involved here, and the spending of money of course. I'm going to try and DIY most of it, but motors are complicated, so I'll get off the shelf for that.

Well, back to more photos!!

Graffiti or Street Art?

Okinawa is quite beautiful this time of year...or everyday for that matter. And there's one thing that stands out, the street art or graffiti. Whichever, regardless I'll be doing a series on these and have a master portfolio on http://flic.kr/ps/8J1JU as I build a library, so be sure to view the set once you find it up.

Graffiti - writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place.    As per the online Oxford Dictionary. There seems to be a distinct line drawn between Street Art and Graffiti, with Street Art as everything else BUT graffiti, but once you see some of these, how are they not art?

There's obviously talent, composition, a statement being made.

I will shoot as much as I can, geotagging while I'm at it. There are a few obvious artists around the island that have made their mark.

So, the debate is over art? or not? Some are primitive while others are incredibly elaborate, and placement based on seclusion or high-traffic. The time and effort put into these is stunning for some of the ones I have coming up, so stay tuned!

Oh yeah, and if you see this:

Pterois sp. (Lionfish)

DON'T touch!!

Pick up your trash, and leave bubbles!!

Kin Red Diving

So I spent most of the morning today identifying marine animals from a photo shoot Robert L and I did on Sunday. Pretty interesting dive site, only the third time I've been there, but I have to say a dream for a photographer.

Left side

Right side

Buoyancy is key in this area

The area has a nice entry point with easy access, and isn't to deep either (10m/30ft). However, be
forewarned, the bottom is VERY silty. You so much as look at the bottom and you can destroy visibility. There is no current to speak of, so if you do muck it up, you either have to move on or give up on making a shot. Don't be 'that diver' if you go there, especially if there are local photographers there, you'll be sure not make any friends.

Robert and I saw Thor amboinensis and Holothuria turriscelsa as well as some beautiful sponge formations (my specialty) and a couple of nudibranchs, with Blue Dragon (Pteraeolidia ianthina) being a regular show for the day.

Watch out for fishermen,

The structures to the right (pylons) are the primary place to go for shooting but you have to watch out for fishermen. Most of the shots were in the shallower area (3m/15ft). This is also an area that can't handle to many divers at one time, so if it looks busy, you're probably best going somewhere else, especially since visibility is a primary concern here.

Keep in mind when you dive sites like this, if it's a primarily local dive spot, be courteous. Park properly, don't be loud, pick up your trash. Robert and I picked up trash while we were there, even though it wasn't ours, it doesn't matter if it's yours or theirs, pick some up. Help Ty's environment!!

As always, leave only bubbles, take out the trash, and I'll see you below.