I got wrecked

It is very difficult to be a couple on this internship since we seem to always be pulled to different dives based on the opportunities and timing to complete our requirements. Today I was going to Gato on a day trip while Jeff stayed behind to assist in an open water class. I was actually completing my advanced course but since they were going to Gato meant I got to go to Gato. I had heard great things about the Gato dives even from Jeff as he went there while I was assisting on an open water class. My dive plan for the day consisted of first completing the wreck dive with the advanced students on Dona Marilyn and then diving Gato after lunch. I had not heard much about the wreck and really did not think much about it until I entered the water. The surface current was a little choppy as the group of us (father, son, instructor, and I) entered the water and approached the anchor line. It is best to start the descent as soon as possible in these conditions to decrease surface anxiety with the crashing waves and to ensure the group descends close together. The father, as usual was reluctant to descend right away yet this time he did not have a clear issue to communicate but instead just stated he needed a minute before he would be ready to descend. I unenthusiastically waited for him at the surface and finally the descent began. The instructor had stated the maximum depth was about 30 meters which is about 100 feet but I did not expect that we would be dropping right down to max depth and not be able to see the wreck until we were nearly on top of it. I guess I should have realized that it is a wreck and since there is not much else to see, we would be reaching the wreck bottom target depth at the beginning of the dive and then circling around slowly getting shallower. To descend from the surface while holding onto a line, looking only out to a constant blue, gives the mind a bit of time to wander. By the time the blue finally broke, I was a bit anxious and worked up. Were the advanced students skills good enough, would I calm down, I really don't like this, I think my hands are trembling, should I just go back up, were only a few thoughts racing through my head. We finally reached the wreck and it was time to swim around and explore. Do I concentrate on my eratic breathing and trembling hands that my mind produced on the way down or do I calm myself and proceed. I had remembered the instructor stating that when the boy got the jelly fish sting on his hand he had perceptual narrowing and no longer looked around to see the beauty underwater. I used this information to shift my focus onto the wreck and marine life in an attempt to cast my fears away. It really did seem to work but above all of this, I was surely back on track once my divers were in need of assistance. The boy once again got stung by a jelly fish which I made sure the instructor was aware. Last time this made him quickly deplete his air supply since his breathing changed from deep, controlled breathing to rapid, shallow, anxious breathing. The instructor signaled back to me that he knew and pointed to where the incident had happened. The dad possibly unaware that we were turning around to head back to the anchor line, was off in another direction. By this time we were the furtherest point from the anchor line on the wreck and definitely needed to head back in case the boy starts to rapidly consume his air supply again. I stayed at a position to be visible by both groups and motioned to the dad that we were heading back to the boat. We were able to slowly make it back with completing a view of the wreck. The instructor did not seem at all impressed that we were the last group off the boat and first ones back. He was not annoyed that he had missed dive time but instead that the boy still really needs to work on his perceptual narrowing which could be dangerous if the group would not know how quickly he can consume air during these times. After the dive I asked a few other divers if this was a good dive, this is what I usually ask. I was surprised by the amount of people that did not really fancy this dive. This made me realize I was not alone but push come to shove, I completed the dive and still assisted in caring for other divers by putting aside my own comfort level. I would say all in all, it was job well done. Between dives, we enjoyed our surface interval while eating sandwiches and talking on the boat. I almost missed it when it was my turn to get my sandwich since the name on it was Jeff Bonnie. Since our bill at the restaurant is Jeff and Bonnie it must have been misinterpreted. Luckily, one of the open water students, Keith, that Jeff started a class with recognized this as my sandwich and motioned to me. Keith was very nice and we had talked for awhile during this trip amongst talking to many other guests. Keith is in a group with two other guys in which we had noticed they all wear survivor Tshirts often. Our intern group was discussing this the other night but we were unsure if they had been contestants, had an affiliation with the show, or just like wearing the shirts. I ensured our group I would find out the answer. The Gato trip with Keith was a great opportunity to find out. It was very neat to discover that Keith is a camera man for the show and the other guys in his group are affiliated with the show as well, one in audio and the other a producer. My mom, an avid survivor watcher will be pleased to find out this news. Keith seemed leary to discuss too much, maybe afraid to spill any secrets, I'm not sure but I respected his reluctance and changed our discussion back to vacation and diving? The son and the boy from our advanced class, nicely brought us ChocoMucho bars for dessert (the local candy bar). What a great way to end lunch, I think it has been over 2 weeks since I have had chocolate. Our next dive was around the island named Gato since the island is shaped like a cat. I really did not see the resemblance until the boat captains explained it. Yes the island looks like a Gato but you Got to be looking from the right angle. The dive around Gato was very pleasant. Part of the dive is actually swimming through the island via an under water cave. Just as we approached the exit of the cave, we could see the sun shinning down and the very beautiful blue water full of soft coral reef and fish. Sometimes sharks including baby sharks can be seen at the exit but they were not in sight today. Even though there were no sharks, it was still a very pleasant dive, like swimming in an aquarium. Meanwhile Jeff was starting his open water assist portion of the course. He had 3 divers, Sam, his wife Kate, and a 44 year old Filipino man named Oscar. The way they run open water courses here is they put confined water dive one and open water dive one together. It starts by getting them in the water with the gear on and letting them get used to breathing underwater. After this, we all kneel down in about 5ft of water and performed some basic skills. This is where the divemaster earns his keep. These students are all over the place floating up, falling over and waving their arms like crazy. As a DM Jeff's job was to basically hold down the 2 students the instructor was not working with at the time. This can be a very challenging task. Once all of the skills are done then they go for a dive. Depending on how the divers are with their bouyancy determines if the instructor or DM holds on to the person during the dive or lets them swim with very close supervision. Sam was very content in the water and was allowed to swim along. Kate did not seem to be enjoying this very much and Jeff had to keep a very close watch on her but as the dive progressed so did her comfort level. Oscar was going nuts looking and pointing at everything, the problem was he was swimming so fast we kept having to get him to stop and slow down. When it came to kicking he only had one speed superfast. Fortunately, everyone made it back to the boat safe and sound. After lunch, it was time for confined water dives 2-5. This is where the students have to perform the skills in a little deeper water and also have more complicated skills to complete. Jeff spent the entire dive behind the divers holding them down, than when needed picking them up and repositioning them, sometimes without them even realizing what happened. Everyones skills improved on this round although it will be interesting to see what tomorrows dives will bring. After the day trip the whole group of interns had to be at a 1700 meeting to discuss fiesta. We were told that the small island was going to get very busy as many of the residents on the main island and other islands would be arriving for festival. It was explained that we should enjoy this experience but be street savvy. This was a time to watch our belongings a little closer, not flash around expensive phones, enjoy our selves but go home at a decent time. The boys were warned this was not the time to get into any fights and the girls were told to make sure to walk home at night with a buddy preferably a male intern. Usually there are not any issues but the dive shop would like to keep it that way. Later that night I went to watch the advanced students get their certificates and shark bite shots for completing the course. The dad had asked if I would be there and I did not want to let him down. We chatted for a little while after they received their shots but then it was time to turn in and get some sleep as the days are becoming very long. We also have not had a day off in about 2 weeks. I am hoping that during the festival the shop will be a little busy and we can have a much needed day off.