Your Go Pro Roatan IDC
Resident PADI Course Director
Gary Miller
About Gary
Apart from being a PADI Course Director , Gary is a Qualified Hyerbaric Medic with the U.S National Board , American Heart Foundation Health Care Provider , A.S.S.ET Member ,Nitrox Technician for Oxygen Cleaning ,A.S.S.E.T Gas Blender as well as PADI TecRec Gas Blender ,Visual & Hydrostatic Cylinder Technician to E.U S.I.T.A Standards, Mares Lab Technician,Seac sub , Sherwood and Scuba Pro Equipment Techinician . Originally from the U.K , where he learnt to Dive in the Lakes and Quarries of the Lake District . He came to Roatan in 2000 to visit his Cousin who had been on Roatan since 1990 . He came for a Month " And 9 years later I'm still here , now Married to a Local Honduran Cutie and I have Two kids - Jacob & Ashley ". Diving Changes your Life..........
When did he get started
Gary started Diving purely by chance meeting a friend of a friend at a Party back in the U.K , and within Two weeks he was certified as a PADI Open Water Diver , then Two Weeks later Advanced O/W Diver , then Nitrox certified , then onto the Rescue Diver Course . Then a year or so later 1998 he booked a Live aboard trip to the Red Sea with Emperor Divers in Hurgarda , this for him was the turning point ." It was amazing and a BIG shock to the system , I had never really experienced currents so strong or any current at that time in my diving career ,Fanstatic Reefs & Marine life and Sharks and the WWII Wreck the "Thistlegorm" . "People often ask me what was or is my Favourite Dive " Easy " The Carnatic " December 1998 , such an Amazing Dive that particular day, it was that dive that inspired me to Go Pro . Well the hole Trip did to be perfectly honest , but that Dive was so Cool !. Of course I have had many amazing dives since then here in Roatan .
What has he achieved in the last 10 year as a PADI Member
Gary became a PADI Divemaster and Assistant Instructor in1999 at the Fleetwood Nautical College with a 14 week Divemaster Intenship . Then in 2001 at (AKR) Anthonys Key Resort in Roatan whilst he was working at a Local Dive Shop as a Divemaster , he took his IDC with Phil Wier , Phil set up Roatan's very first Fulltime IDC Curriculum at Roatan's very first IDC Center AKR back in 1998 until 2003 . Gary's other Mentor Anna Schmidz had already started offering IDC's the year before in 1997. Then Pat Melendy took over from Phil in 2003 .
Straight after his PADI I.E with John Land he went into the MSDT Prep Program a must for ALL new Instructor . " I can remember the look on Phil's face laughing as I bobbed on the surface ,slighly hungover from the I.E celebration the night before . I had a very bitter Margarita taste in my mouth and Phil was shouting " he's gonna THROW UP !" - I didn't some how ...lol . In early 2002 Gary became a PADI MSDT and in 2003 with the help of Phil Wier again he became a PADI IDC Staff instructor " To me my favorite PADI Course so far" . After many a IDC Audit working with several Course Directors , and in 2005 a PADI Master Instructor .Then the Big One Gary became a PADI Course Director in 2008 , after receiving his PADI Nighthood in California .
And has so far accumulated 8 FULL years Experience in the IDC Process and 4400+ Dives in addition to 2000 plus people have passed through my hands via PADI Sanctioned Courses , and I'm still motivated !
Out side of the PADI System of Education , In 2006 Gary became a U.S National Board Hyperbaric Dive Medic or DMT after successfully taking the U.S E.M.T Class and then Aced the DMT Exam 100% - So he can "bend'em and mend'm ". In 2002 became a Qualified Hydrostatic and Visual Cylinder Technician to E.U (S.I.T.A Standards ) & Nitrox Technician and Blender as well a 9 day Scuba Equipment Technician Course in the U.K .
During his CDTC Course Director Training he set up a Network with fellow Course Directors and Dive Shop Owners to help ALL his IDC Candidates find Global employment . I'm happy as every IDC I've completed as a Course Director ALL my Candidates have found World wide employment within 3 weeks so far .
What is your IDC philosophy ?
Simple - " Give'm Hell".....lol . No joking aside I take a personal interest in my Candidates . I especially listen to the Candidates on the first day of the IDC during the Orieintation in detail , I want to know why they are doing the IDC . I listen for their future plans and where they want to go and do . It's this listening that motivates me , I want them to achieve their Goals and future plans they have . I'm not looking for perfect straight of the bat , I prefer to have to work for my money , it's the guiding and coaching of my Candidates I enjoy most . I always make it Fun , humour always breaks the ice and let's down the stress barrier . We all know the IDC is stressfull - Big Investment etc . I don't orientate my IDC's around the I.E , a very comprehensive IDC will take care of the I.E .I prefer to concentrate on the "Real World " of Teaching Scuba,I want them all to be ready for that Very First O/W Course as an Instructor after the I.E .
Honesty is the best policy - "telling the truth means you never have to remember " ! We don't mislead Candidates to attain business , it's not what we are about .
I try and keep in touch with ALL that I have the good furtune to teach , we all have a short shelf life. We are Born then we Die it's a known fact , and it's the bit in the middle that we all have to fill in . Make the most of it ,enjoy it to the full !
Why should I take my IDC with you ?
I've looked at the New 2010 Curriculum in detail and I've added more Workshops , more Presentations and additional Skills to Optimise Candiate time , Optimise maximum learning and Optimise their future employment possibilties . Hence my New Optimum e-IDC . Quite simply I believe I offer I very very Comprehnsive IDC and IDC related course . I'm a qualified Hyperbaric Dive Medic , so I've introduced a EFR Instructor Course with a Hyperbaric Overview to help Candidates fully understand what's involved with Chamber Recompression of a DCI Patient . "Remember to take that wrist Computer off if you every go in the Chamber ?? " I love what I do as a Course Director . I always enjoy every IDC it's alot of hard work but well worth the effort .
I offer my Candidates the VERY Best Hassle Free IDC learning Environment , ALL Inclusive A/C Accommodation with ALL Meals and drinks and LOCAL BEER - Yes we buy the BEER Everynight which means you have someone cook for you,no Washing dishes,no Grocery Shopping and NO Bloody Hassle ! The best thing to do is come along during an IDC and see for yourself .
I have 10 FULL Years as a Dive Professional and PADI Member , I've learnt a great deal working in several Dive Shops and Resorts and have many years experience and I like to pass on those experiences to my Candidates .
I've reached to Top of my Profession , and I'm very happy and very proud to have got here , coupled together with PADI and the easy access they give you to become a Pro . Life's good !
What do you do when you are not Teaching or Diving ?
I'm a parent what do ya think ! - No I like to spend time with the Family . My Step daughter loves the Water , my 3 year old Son loves to go in the water "Fully dressed "
Do you have a memorable IDC ?
Yes - my first as a Course Director in 2008 , after 5 years being involved in the IDC Process . I wasn't expecting a Hurricane to holt proceedings ! I had Two ladies who had got stuck on thier way to Houston Texas because the Airport was closed there because of a Hurricane . When all was clear the ladies arrived 3-4 days late which meant I had 6 days and 3 hours to undertake an IDC before the I.E . On the first night " A Tuesday " the ladies arrived at 6.00pm at 7.30 we started at 10.30 we finished that evening . I listened in detail to there plans of travelling and working in the Caribbean, this gave me the motivation .We averaged 12-14 hours a day from then on . The Girls were less than prepared prior to the IDC , and I can say that as a Friend . But they worked Brilliantly for the long 6 days , to make sure I added some extra presentation in on the day of the I.E we finished 1 hour before the I.E . I was paceing up and down outside the classroom like an expectant Father ..... They both passed and they deserved it .100% deserved it - Well done Laurie and Shari !!!
What do you say to any Wanna be Dive Pro's ?
" Stop procrastinating , Lifes to short for regrets . The only thing stopping you is YOU .
"It's a Big Step so treat it like a Giant Stride !"
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