Sometimes I lack an original title for some of these stories, but I couldn't think of a better one. Another trip down to Cozumel, Mexico. We had another full boat and the store had supplied three instructors. My wife, another female instructor, I'll call her Jane, and me. Again, a great trip with some fun. As some of the readers may be aware, you know how you felt about your first instructor. S/he could do no wrong. S/he was the ultimate in diving knowledge, watermanship, and all the things good. Sometimes though, instructors have to eat a little "crow", but this is only if other people saw what the instructor did. And of course, a funny thing happened on this trip.
On the second day of diving we left early in the morning and headed south. Again in a fast boat, we arrived at the dive site before the "cattle". Just prior to arriving we had all assembled our equipment and put it all on, including the fins. At least that's what Jane thought. Most of the time we, as instructors, are the last to get off the boat. A reason is that most persons can not equalize the ears as fast. So we let them descend first. But instructors can, because sometimes they have to chase a student as the student drops under, and they are in better practice at clearing. This particular entry was a back drop. Low and behold, Jane did her back drop, and she latter stated, "....I look at my fins and they were not on the feet......Aw S---!!!" was what we heard. Remember that we are current diving. It was hard for Jane to get back to the boat to get her fins. Of course it is no problem, but Darlene and I were laughing underwater at Jane.
The very next day - - - guess what? The same scenario, different instructor. Darlene did a back drop without fins. Now something was suspicious at this point. I guess you might say we were close to Voodoo country (Jamaica - Mon). Jane had her revenge and I, of course had to say, "It takes a District Course Director not to do things like that.
We did a night dive the next night . . . basically the same scenario, but this time . . . you guessed it! It was my turn. Well I can say I was "concerned about the other divers" (Hah!), and I had placed my fins on deck. I was, as usual goofing off, and forgot to put my fins on. I did a back drop, settled into a descent, not kicking, looking where the others were by their lights, equalizing, and then I did my first kick. Aw S---!!!! I used the BC to go to the surface, the boat captain already had my fins in his hand over the side, and all I could say was . . . "Don't say anything!!". . . Later all of the divers on the dive plus Darlene and Jane had their day. They said they were looking up, only saw the white bottoms of my booties coming down, then going back up. The great all knowing screwed-up. And no one really knows how many times I have screwed-up. I'll never tell!!
