Collab with Ruby Allwright, PADI IDC Staff Instructor
Hey everyone, Ruby here! I want to tell you about my journey, and how I became a PADI IDC Staff Instructor at 19 years old.
How it All Began
It all started 7 years ago when I completed my first ever Discover Scuba Diving experience in St Vincent and The Grenadines, on my family holiday. Wow! I was just blown away with the colours and the life. Even the way the water twinkled with the sun fascinated me. It was after this dive at 12 years old that I made it my goal to become a diving instructor.
Moving Away from Home
Fast Forward 6 years later, and there I was on the plane to Mauritius, on my way to follow my dream. Arriving into a new country on your own at 18 years old is super intimidating to say the least. However, the moment I arrived at Crystal Divers, I felt at home. The girls and Emma gave me the comfort of a family aspect, and the instructors a feeling of drive and ambition, and my mentor Tony a feeling of excitement and eagerness.
What Happened Next
I honestly believe my PADI Divemaster Course was the best decision I ever made – well, in my 19 years’ worth of decisions! It pushed me so far out of my comfort zone, made me achieve things I never even realised were possible, and helped me grow as a person.
To say I was naive is an understatement, but I think this was a blessing in disguise, because it meant I entered every phase or challenge with a blank canvas, ready to learn and build as a Divemaster Team. Not only were we learning how to dive and become a Professional, but we also how real businesses run in the customer service industry. The opportunities my mentor Tony gave me were so varied – from managing boats to learning how pools and compressors work. We learnt what the day-to-day runnings of a dive centre really looks like, not just what a guide does. I think that’s one of the reasons I decided to continue in this industry, because Tony made me realise there is so much more to it.
Becoming a PADI Professional
During my Divemaster Course, was when I really started to feel like I was part of an actual team, I built relationships with my teammates through tears of frustration and praises of achievement. We lent on each other during the hard times and celebrated each other in the good times. At the same time, I was building friendships with my mentors and instructors; Josh, Chris and Silvano, friendships that still stand even if some of them are thousands of miles away. Seeing their achievements and hearing their stories pushed me to excel and strive to make the most out of my course. They became my role models. To see Emma manage being a mother, Course Director, Dive Centre Owner and home-school tutor inspires me every day. She is the best inspiration for young women in the industry.
My Passion for Teaching
Fast forward through to my PADI Instructor Development Course, I started to gain confidence in my abilities and personality. It was here I started to develop my passion for leadership. I found myself thriving through teaching and developing relationships with my students. I started to create connections all over the world, simply through spending 3 intimate days with somebody, taking them from a nervous non-diver to an addicted ocean lover. After 8 months of doing this, I decided to embark on my PADI IDC Staff Instructor course! Some might say it was really soon, and at the time I agreed! However, Tony and Emma had seen I was ready, and I knew it was time for me to push myself out of my comfort zone again.
Doing What I Love
So, off I went back to the classroom with that anxious tummy turning feeling coming over me again. To say my Staff Instructor Course was smooth sailing would be untrue. Between juggling how to evaluate a student, to standing up and giving presentations to the candidates was overwhelming at times. Sometimes I didn’t know if I had what it took to see it through. But Emma was there to guide and mentor us through the whole journey. She taught us the art of mentoring. Through her I fully understood what it meant to take somebody from a Divemaster and transform them into a confident and immensely capable instructor. Then, the time had come, I was ready to apply what I had learnt, and Staff my first IDC with seven candidates on the last IDC of 2023!
Wow, was I excited! It was crazy to me to watch Emma lead and guide 7 different individuals on such a journey. I learnt the importance of tailoring your courses to the students rather than students to the course. I experienced first hand, the lack of professional teaching that some people receive. Of course there was also the art of learning how to evaluate multiple skill demonstrations at once or 25 minute presentations 7 times in a row. At times if we didn’t laugh we probably all would have cried!
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom, I cried tears of laughter many times too! The candidates started to become students who I could connect with and build that same relationship that I felt on previous courses. We had many nights of games – even poker – movies and storytelling. I started to become part of a new team.
Making the Most of Every Experience
Importantly, I started to understand and appreciate other people’s determination and commitment. Seeing them develop their capability and passion made me feel so happy. I felt proud of their wins – whether it was a 5 on their knowledge development for the non-english speakers, or a 4 on their first confined water presentations.
It’s still crazy to me, how people from all over the world, from all different backgrounds can become so close over one thing, SCUBA DIVING. During my Staff Instructor Course and later IDCs, I created bonds with people that are genuinely timeless. I learnt about different cultures and traditions. And of course, most importantly, I got to try lots and lots of different types of food!
I think that overall, the most important lesson I’ve learnt as a 19 year old PADI Staff Instructor, is that age is never a limiting factor – only if you let it be. People won’t just see you for your age if you arm yourself with knowledge, experience and passion. My advice to any aspiring young professional thinking about taking the next step in their scuba diving career, would be to go for it and know that you can do anything you want! Just bite the bullet. And never let a lack of confidence stop you from pushing yourself to where you should or want to be. If you are not continuously growing or challenging yourself, how will you ever develop into the best version of yourself?
So, you never know, one day I might see you on an IDC!
Thanks for reading!