BigFatJim's Weblog

That’s me back on the island by the way…

bigfatjim — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:02:23 +0000

aye, been back about 2 weeks. Internet isn’t quiet what it is back in civilization. Great to be back, good diving n aw that.

Did my 500th dive last week which was nice

Place seems to be full of Scandinavians for some strange reason…

GENIUS !

bigfatjim — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 04:14:32 +0000

You know how when you go to the cinema and you fancy some popcorn you have the choice of the usual suspects, i.e. sweet or salted, right ?

You ever thought how good it’d be to have a third option ? Something a wee bit different ??

Well good news, here in Thailand they do have that third option.

You know what it is ?

Well here, have a look…

Yes I know, complete and utter genius !

That’s me an IDC staff instructor !

bigfatjim — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:29:42 +0000

Almost a year to the day when I arrived in S.E. Asia, I finished my IDC staff instructor course. Probably the best course I have done so far in terms of it being challenging and rewarding, and best of all I get to actually teach an IDC next month (me teaching instructor candidates – who’d of thunk it…)

That’s Desi (Course Director) on the left and henry (IDC Staff Instructor) on the right. And yes Crocs are standard issue here…

That’s me back in Thailand…

bigfatjim — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 16:22:57 +0000

Pattaya to be precise !

I’ve left the peace and tranquility of the island for the…. well let’s just call it Pattaya and leave it at that.

I’m here for about 3 months to do my IDC Staff training, teach more continuing education course and eat my body weight in junk food. Then it’s back to the island at the end of January

I’m already missing the island life…

That’s me found nemo…

bigfatjim — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:26:22 +0000

well not exactly, but I did finally get round to taking a photo of some clown fish (or ‘nemos’ to the likes of yous)

aye, maybe no the best photo in the world but due to ovewrwhelming public demand I thought I’d stick something up. Also on the same dive we saw this fella:

This is a Hawksbill turtle (you can tell it’s a hawksbill as it’s shell has a ‘serated’ edge to it)

Happy now ?

Oh, and thanks to Ian and Summer for letting me borrow their camera…

That’s me an MSDT – finally…

bigfatjim — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:14:23 +0000

aye folks, I’ve finally reached the dizzy height of MSDT (Master Scuba Diver Trainer)

That means I have certified at least 25 students and can teach at least 5 speciality diving courses (I can teach 8 )

It took a bit longer than I had hoped as they do not have online processing here and everything has to be posted in by the student divers

Anyhoo, another step forward – next step IDC staff instructor, which I will be doing when I move back to Thailand in a few weeks

Impressed ? Aye right, you just want to see a picture of nemo, ffs…

So I’ve been on the island a while…

bigfatjim — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 09:33:52 +0000

and yes I’ve not really been keeping this blog updated, but that’s not entirely my fault ! There’s no mains power here and internet connectivity is sketchy at best…

Anyhoo, you’ll all be pleased to know that I’ve been beavering away training people how to dive and working on my tan, plus I’ve lost even more weight – to the point where I need to eat fried chicken every night just to keep myself from wasting away.

Took the owners u/w camera for a wee shot the other day (my first attempt at digital u/w photography) and managed to snap this little rascal

it’s a scorpion fish – not quite sure what type it is. Not bad for a first attempt eh ?

I’m here until the end of next month when the monsoon starts and then back to my dive school in Pattaya for my IDC staff training for 3 months

Oh and things I’m really starting to crave- Irn Bru and fish suppers…

That’s me moving to a little island…

bigfatjim — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:51:58 +0000

I’ve got a job in the Perhintian islands in Malaysia for a few months – there’s no roads, cars, bikes on the island just beach and jungle ! I’ll be there for a while before I come back here and do my IDC Staff.

more info here:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Perhentians

I think the island life will suit me – either that or I’ll go stir crazy and start talking to coconuts (or was it a football ?) like Tom Hnaks in that film…

That’s me taught me first student !

bigfatjim — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:39:42 +0000

well kind of….

As I wasn’t yet in teaching status last week, I helped out on a spec

And here she is, the lovely Pia from Finland

oh happy days…

That’s me an instructor !

bigfatjim — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:35:39 +0000

after 3 days of pre-IDC, 2 weeks of IDC and 3 days of IE – I am finally an instructor !

It was the toughest and best training I’ve ever had in my life. I am totally knackered.

Next MSDT and then IDC Staff…