Hello Reader,
I would like to share another facet of my journey, not only from an internship perspective: my Scuba Diving Journey. This exposure not only honed my teaching and leadership skills but also deepened my love for scuba diving. Here’s an overview of my responsibilities and the key experiences I gained during my journey, especially with Scuba Knights.
Progression to Open Water Instructor
As introduced by my colleagues, I checked out the Annual Diving Expo (ADEX) back in 2017 and started off with an Open Water Dive in Bintan. It was not a great experience, but I wanted to give it another shot.
In 2018, I went back to advance my certification as an Advanced Open Water Diver. I chanced upon Scuba Knights, and was enticed by their family-like culture.
After my dive, there was a connection with the team, and I gradually progressed to the role of an Open Water Instructor. It was largely motivated by my interest in being a subject matter expert that would give me the confidence to be a better speaker and presenter, having been experience stage-fright since young.
This position allowed me to share my love for diving with others and help them discover the wonders of the underwater world. Here’s what my role entailed:
Teaching and Guiding
Diving Theory and Science: I taught students about the theory and science of diving, ensuring they understood the principles behind safe diving practices and various specialties within the sport.
Pool Sessions: Before the Open water session, a pool or confined water session has to be conducted to safety introduce and assess essential diving skills and safety drills. These controlled environments were crucial in building students' confidence and competence.
Open Water Sessions: When students are ready to be out in the waters, I assessed students on their skills in deeper waters, ensuring they could apply what they learned in real-world conditions. This is also where students are fascinated by the marine life around them.
Trip Coordination
Guiding Trips: As most of the trips were in Tioman Island, I was regularly assigned to take charge of arranging logistics and managing manpower to and fro. These trips were an opportunity to provide practical experience and foster a sense of community among divers.
On hindsight, it was an exposure to managing time, people, and coordinating supply-demand constraints.
Promotion and Business Improvement
Promoting Courses and Services: To ensure business continuity and part of the SSI program, I actively promoted scuba diving courses, equipment, and other value-adding customer services. The goal was to enhance the overall diving experience for our customers and encourage more people to take up the sport.
This provided the exposure to understanding the selling point of products.
Business Model Review: I reviewed the overall business model of Scuba Knights and provided solutions for improvements. This involved analyzing current practices and suggesting enhancements to streamline operations and boost customer satisfaction.
This provided the exposure to consultancy, having attended online courses relating to MBA and Marketing. A presentation deck and consultation session was arranged to understand the operations, concerns, and future direction. It was well-received, and I requested for a testimonial.
Key Highlights
Educational Impact: Teaching students about the theory and practice of diving was incredibly rewarding. Seeing their progress and confidence grow with each session was a highlight of my role, serving as my motivation.
Trip Leadership: Successfully coordinating and guiding trips to Tioman Island showcased my ability to handle logistics and ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all participants.
Business Contributions: Reviewing and improving the business model allowed me to contribute to Scuba Knights' growth and success, ensuring better services for our customers.
Challenges Faced
Student Assessment: Ensuring that all students met the necessary skills and safety standards required meticulous attention and patience. Balancing encouragement with constructive feedback was essential. This was challenging due to the learning curve of students, and some not confident in the waters, thereby requiring more patience, effort, and a tailored guidance to ensure everyone is up to standard and will enjoy their dive experience.
Logistics Coordination: Organizing trips and managing logistics, including equipment and transportation, was a complex task that required careful planning and problem-solving skills. There were occasions that due to delays in traffic, caused customers to be less satisfied with the trip; Efforts were required to address this concern which included constant updates, reassurance, and feedback to the management team for appropriate compensation as required.
Promotional Efforts: Promoting courses and services involved understanding customer needs and effectively communicating the benefits of diving and our offerings. Diving is an expensive sport, and many customers tend to be more inquisitive in understanding the need or the differences between similar products.
Reflection and Takeaways
My experience as a diver and an Open Water Instructor with Scuba Knights was a fulfilling and transformative journey. I thoroughly enjoyed the culture and experience. It not only allowed me to share my passion for diving but also helped me develop crucial skills in teaching, leadership, and analytical thinking. The challenges I faced and the solutions I proposed have greatly contributed to my personal and professional growth.
I hope this insight into my experience with Scuba Knights inspires you to explore the world of scuba diving and appreciate the value of continuous learning and improvement. Stay tuned for more stories and experiences from my journey.
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic and unforeseen circumstances, the centre's operations has been halted. Since, I have been affiliated with Cuddlefish Divers, an SSI-affiliated dive centre.
Thank you for reading!
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