Utila – Week 5, Day 3: Master of Simulated Disasters
UTILA
Week 5
Day 3: Master of Simulated Disasters
December 13, 2022
Waking up at Underwater Vision is always a great thing, but waking up at Underwater Vision as the DMTOTW is something else. I knew the title was just honorary and didn’t really mean anything grand, but I appreciated that my efforts weren’t all in vain. Also, it was my one-month-aversary here on the island!
That morning, we finished the PADI Open Water course uneventfully – everyone seemed to have improved inexplicably overnight and no major problems arose. It was smooth sailing throughout, and we had a couple of really fun dives. By the end, we had six newly certified divers!
Having assisted with two Open Water courses, I could finally check off another requirement for my divemaster training programme. My list of unending tasks I’d have to finish before my very own graduation was being ticked off slowly, slowly. As much as I enjoyed drawing that skull on the board each time I’d finish another task, it would also come with the bittersweet feeling of finality.
Smooth Sailing
On the afternoon boat, I’d be the one facing a couple of challenges though. On the first dive, Corys and I were paired up to do a Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) workshop.
A DSD is practically a day-course for people who want to try scuba diving but aren’t yet sure if they wanna commit to getting their certification. We set up all their gear and practically do everything for them. We’d go over some basic techniques and skills so they’d be self-sufficient in case something crops up, but otherwise, it’d be plain sailing. For us, on the other hand, it would be a bit trickier. We’d either have to stay at arm’s length or actually hold onto them during the entire dive, solve any problems they might encounter, and lead while pointing out cool fish.
By this point, I had successfully led one dive and found myself excited at the prospect of doing it again. It being a simulated DSD was also reassuring – Corys and I swapping roles as client and divemaster halfway through the dive. With her being a know-it-all and a shark (she had also earned the title of a snake – we’d call her Corysss), she offered to lead first so she could get it out of the way.
While Noah told us to give each other problems when playing the client, he did emphasise it didn’t have to be a hell dive. Being the petty guy that I am, I did kinda come up with all sorts of problems for her to handle. In a way, I guess it was very helpful, seeing as she got some much-needed practice at the same time. She, on the other hand, was quite civil and well-behaved when it was her turn to be the client. Maybe she’s not the worst after all, huh? I’d still keep an eye out…
For the second dive, I’d be doing my second Discover Local Diving (DLD). Unfortunately for me, we were heading to the north side of the island to a dive site called The Maze. Normally, we’d go bonkers at the idea of diving the north – the sea life there is a thousand times better – but I cursed the moment Captain Hoover made the announcement. Going to a familiar dive site meant I’d have a better chance of navigating my way around and finding the boat again. Now? Only God knew where I’d end up – and worst of all, where I’d drag the rest of the group along with me.
My anxieties soon faded into nothingness as Noah told us it’d be a drift dive – meaning we’d jump into the water, swim with the current, and then I’d inflate the DSMB and the boat would pick us up. And that’s exactly what happened. It was the most straightforward, uncomplicated dive I could’ve hoped for. I focused on maintaining a slow pace, something David had warned me about after my last DLD.
Quite uncharacteristically for the north, we didn’t get to see any fish that would’ve left us in awe. In an effort to show my ‘clients’ something of interest, I ended up pointing out the commonest of fish we’d all gotten so used to. I felt pretty damn stupid doing that, but hey – at least I fulfilled that criterion without any trouble.
Sleep Schedules and Bunk Bed Bruises
Back at the dive shop, I ran to the office to sign off two more skills. Then a quick shower, a baleada at Mama Rosa, and it was time for yet another Tequila Tuesday – one I decided to skip.
In my old age, I’ve given up peer pressure for early nights in – a good trade-off if you ask me.My evening routine was a simple one – I’d hang out with the gang and have a few beers before they’d set out partying, then I’d head to my dorm and spend the rest of the night reading and journalling with Snoop by my side. Then I’d brush my teeth and go to sleep. A simple, boring routine I’d come to love. As important as it was for me to have a routine, one thing mattered even more – a good night’s sleep. Four or five dives a day take a toll on your body, and I was desperate to catch all the z’s I could. That’s why I guarded my sleep schedule like a treasure – and why any disruption to it felt like a personal violation.
Thankfully, Amelia, Snoop, and I were perfect roommates. We respected each other’s space, kept things tidy, and most importantly, we never messed with each other’s rest. It was a quiet, unspoken harmony – one that made our little shared room feel like a sanctuary. That is, until Andreas came along. When he barged in to take Matt’s place, the equilibrium shattered. As much as we liked him, his presence felt… off. Like an uninvited guest who didn’t quite belong in our carefully balanced world. And while I could’ve overlooked the verbal diarrhoea and the clutter – what I couldn’t forgive was him messing with my sleep.
That night, just a few hours into what was probably a precious REM cycle, a loud thud jolted me awake. Andreas had fallen off the top bunk. Luckily for him, he was too drunk to realise he’d landed on his side – and that he’d be complaining of rib pain for the few upcoming days. Unluckily enough, he also couldn’t fathom the hell I’d unleash upon him the following day after he ruined my sleep. AGAIN.
Stay wild,
Marius
Post-Scriptum
With Andreas’s accident, I found myself revisiting the topic of how dangerous bunk beds actually are. First off, someone could easily fall off the top one. Second, what if the top bed collapses and crushes the person sleeping below? Turns out, there are some 36,000 bunk bed injuries in the U.S. each year!