Work - the inevitable

It's been said that you don't visit Dahab only once in your life. It's also true that few people stay for their intended duration. They get sucked into the relaxed, bohemian lifestyle and miss their flights home - you know who you are!!!

But eventually reality has too take hold and either you go back to normal life, or you get a job and stay in the crazy alternative reality that is living here. There are sacrifices; friends and family are missed, earnings are low, the locals can drive you crazy! So it means less meals out at the lovely indian and thai and more creative cooking nights in. Thank god for hard drives full of films and a wonderful stream of friends, old and new, to keep us amused and entertained.

So now I freelance as a Dive Master and EFR Instructor, giving me the independent life to work as much as I need to and freedive when I can make the time my own. With plans in the pipeline to build Aquaphobia holiday courses and swim coaching into the equation, playing to my strengths.

Nothing worth having is ever easy to achieve...

With the delightful Hannah and the ever patient Simon I began my AIDA **** course.

The 4 star theory came naturally with my diving background, as did the technical sections of the diving; 4 x 20m on 2min recovery, just a matter of letting buoyancy do it's work on the ascent and stave off the lactic acid. The rescue from 20m was a challenge but do-able, and the 20m return with one fin just a scream - literally a scream! 20m no mask return was, in contrast, bliss and I really feel it's the way I want to dive - nose clip out I think from now on. 15m rescue with 1 fin was a serious technique challenge but I got through it........... but then comes the depth, distance and time and the battle against myself begins.

Discipline Current PB's AIDA ****

Constant Weight 28.7m 32m

Dynamic 55m 70m

Static 3 min 12 sec 3 min 30 sec

They look close don't they, and as Simon (my fabulous instructor) will tell you, they are! The only thing in the way is my ability to convince my body to ignore the carbon dioxide alarm that gives me contractions in my diaphragm and throat and remember that there's plenty of oxygen in my system and I don't need to breathe.

We are in the water again tomorrow, so I'm on best behavior tonight, no cocktails in Yalla bar – might save me from bashing my head like last week too – that's another story though. A good nights sleep and some yoga in preparation for the new PB's I know I can make mine. Keep you posted.