UDC: Instructor Development Training
By Alex Miron

There were so many things I liked about doing my IDC at UDC it will be a bit strange to try to enumerate them all. However here goes: what I liked above all else was how safe I felt there. I felt safe because I knew how much experience the staff has. And I knew they were all trustworthy people having spent several months on the island beforehand and getting to know them. I liked how I knew if I had a question it really would be answered. And answered thoughtfully and in depth until I understood. I also liked how by the end I wasn't a fraction as nervous as when I began because I felt as though I had been prepped for everything. It was so thorough and professional.

I also liked that it was an operation that wasn't massive. I wasn't one of 20 IDC candidates rather part of a small group all getting individual treatment and attention. Weaknesses were addressed constructively and strengths were reinforced. Because there are so many IDC Staff Instructors at UDC there were always multiple role models assessing my progress and giving feedback. So although I'm convinced Andy could have conducted the IDC alone, blind-folded, with his hands tied behind his back it was really helpful that there were also other people involved because you can never get too much feedback when you're trying to make something perfect. Utila is beautiful and UDC is a fantastic dive shop with amazing people, great boats, a great location, and excellent organization. Everything ran smoothly according to a schedule that was reliable without being too rigid or inflexible. If I had to make the decision again about where to do my Instructor Development Course I wouldn't change a thing.

Alex Miron OWSI, EFRI 181287 and graduate of UDC IDC March 2003.

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