Dive Rutland's New Course Director - Tracey Roberts

​Back in January, I found out that I was being offered a place on the Course Director Training Course in Kota Kinabalu in March 2020 after a selection process that included a full business plan for Professional development, an interview, re-taking the Instructor Exam and a classroom presentation at the December Instructor Exam and that’s after a number of other pre-requisite items.

Packed and Ready to go.

After accepting the place, we were already busy - not only did we complete the fit out of the new classroom and start the revamp of the Dive Centre, there was some pre-reading, exams and knowledge development activities to be done… but finally we got there, so on 7th March you found me packed and ready to go.

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Arriving a day before the course started, gave time to meet my roommate for the nine days we were going to be in Kota Kinabalu and to have a mooch around

​On arrival on the first morning we found out which team we had been allocated into; I was in team Blue.  A multi-national team from Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway and the Philippines

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Each day we started at 8:00 and finishing anytime between 18:00 – 18:30, night off. no… Every night was spent, preparing presentations for the next day, so sleep becomes something you learn to go without. normally diving trips are eat, sleep, dive repeat this one was eat, work, work, eat, work, sleep!
 
The course consisted of presentations from the PADI team covering items such as Counselling Instructor Candidates, Knowledge Development Evaluation Training Workshops, Marketing Workshop, Quality Management & Risk Management Workshops to name but a few, intertwined with confined water and open water presentations, rescue evaluations, classroom evaluations from all areas of the NEW Instructor Development program.  
 
And when you see the schedule and it says Day off – do not be fooled, they drop in a Marketing project for you and your team to prepare and present – which is also a scored project and all members of the team have to participate.

At the end of the course, there is a graduation banquet for everyone successful on the course but not for us, NOW that’s not because no one was successful but because borders were closing and some of the PADI team were flying via Japan and needed to get through before that happened.  So, no party for us
 
I am pleased to say that I am now a PADI Course Director, it just feels a little flat with no celebration in place, but I am sure over time and on reflection that will change.

Course Director Certificate for Tracey Roberts CD-632622

That leaves me to say Thank You, to the Dive Rutland team that have held things together whilst I have been away – Bridget, James and Rick.  Bridget and extra special thanks as it hasn’t been the easiest week.
 
To my husband for the moral support and words of wisdom needed at times.
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Time to go deliver on the plan… after a few more days of oh, and yes a few drinks.

Written by: Tracey Roberts