Another brilliant week in the Canary Islands

Another brilliant week in the Canary Islands and most of my PADI Divemaster course ‘in the bag’.

Another Thursday and another early start to prepare for the busy day ahead. The morning began with the welcome surprise of Hannah returning to enjoy some more open water diving with her PADI DSD qualification. We all headed off to the marina and where quickly on our way to Yellow Mountain for some more underwater fun. Unfortunately I remained on boat duty whilst everyone else enjoyed the morning’s diving. Upon returning to the marina it was time for Hannah to leave us, for now at least.

Then Bungle, Alice and I had the choice of any local dive site we wanted to go too, so we decided upon Pequeno Valle. Which turned out to be a fantastic choice, Alice managed to see a Ray and Bungle and I amused our selves by generally fooling around. When we returned to the marina for the last time of the day we washed the kit and headed back to the shop. Where I spent most of the afternoon catching up on paperwork and logging recent dives.



On to Friday which consisted of cleaning in preparation for the arrival of a group of 12 on Saturday evening. Surprisingly no diving today, instead we sat our PADI Divemaster final exams in the afternoon, which both Bungle and I passed, only getting 3 of the 120 question incorrect. “sigh of relief”, and one step closer to becoming PADI Divemaster’s. To add to the day’s events, upon returning from lunch Bungle and I were told we were moving out for the week ahead in order to make room for the large group arriving Saturday. An unexpected surprise to say the least. However a benefit to moving out was the use of a car (the Pat Mobil) for the next week to get to the shop and back. Can't complain. So after some more tea drinking we finished up at the shop and headed back to the room to pack, sleep and eat.





Instead of a day off on Saturday, Bungle and I, choose to ‘unusually’ go diving to Las Eras, accompanied by Phil, Jackie and Melissa. Just as well, because both dives where fantastic, the first to a new site discovered by Phil the day before, consisted of swimming over and around a pipe line running away from the shoreline.

We found a whole host of aquatic life including Moray Eels, Sting Rays and huge Scorpion fishys. The second dive out to an existing reef dive site, again a brilliant dive and well worth using our day off to visit. After returning from Las Eras it was off to the marina to wash all of the kit, followed by a much needed breakfast at the Aberdeen. On returning to the shop my eyes lit up with the site of our new automobile, a bright red Renault Kangoo van. Life does not get much better than this. Then we headed off to our new apartment with our new wagon (aka Postman Pat Mobil) loaded with our stuff. We arrived at our new apartment, after not really unpacking we grabbed some food and an early night for the long week ahead.

Bright and early Sunday morning Bungle and I headed to the shop and didn’t get lost on route, surprisingly’. We met up with Tiede Divers (who where on time) and prepared all of the kit for the arrival of the uni students (aka the Strathclyde posse). All of us introduced ourselves to the group and let them know about the week ahead. It was then time for the first diving of the week to begin, so the group split between Dive and Sea and Tiede Divers subsequently Pete, Melissa, myself and our half of the posse headed off to the marina to kit up and go to Yellow Mountain for the Scot’s first experience of diving in Tenerife. Following two great dives, we all returned to the shop and relaxed with a cup of tea. That afternoon we discovered Alice was now the proud owner of an ear infection, which meant no more diving for the rest of the week (she was less than pleased). The day concluded with a de-brief and some more tea drinking.

The following day and another early start for the Dive and Sea team. After assembling all of the kit it was off to El Puertito with all 12 of the Sterling Posse as well as Tiede divers. Two brilliant dives included seeing the Turtles. Absolutely amazing.
After finally returning to the shop, we were redirected to the marina where we met Melissa and set about washing all 18 sets of kit. Knackered. The day concluded with a quick beer and listening to Pete moan about his ‘mangled foot’, which seemed to be solely blamed on Bungle.



Dive and Sea welcomed the Monroe family whom where with us to complete their PADI Advanced Open Water Course’s. We began their advance under water adventures with the PADI Fish Identification adventure dive as part of the advance course joined by Felix (PADI Instructor), in which I also led my first dive out to the Alien Rock dive site and managed to find the my way back to the boat. So pleased.

The second dive, and again I led the group to the Swim Through and Crocodile Rock (two dives sites at Yellow Mountain) as part of the PADI Boat Dive adventure dive, again I successfully found the boat upon return. A great learning experience for my Divemaster duties. After the very successful morning, followed a not so successful afternoon in which I managed to forget a mask in one of the kits for the Scottish group diving in the afternoon.
As a result Bungle missed a dive and I had the walk of shame down to the marina to give over the missing mask. Plonker!
The day concluded with washing kit and a de-brief of the day’s events.

It was now time in which Dive and Sea and Tiede Divers swapped the groups over making up the Scottish Posse. Surprisingly more diving, including two dives led by myself to three different dive sites.
I successfully navigated back to the boat on all occasions, a big weight off of my shoulders. Pete took us all back into the marina to unload and wash the kit. The rest of the day was mainly spent drinking tea and writing various extracts for use on the website. The day finished with a de-brief and listening to Pete reiterate just how smashed his foot was.


Finally on to today, concluding a hectic week in the Canary Island of Tenerife. Another ‘lovely’ early start prior to two more dives with the Scottish contingency. The first dive to Pequeno Valle with Bungle taking the responsibility of leading and I assisting, in which we stumbled across and angry looking Fang Tooth Moray Eel, the first I have seen.

The second dive, a short boat journey away to Starfish Bay where again Bungle led the dive and I assisted. Lots of aquatic life including a Common Ray, Octopus, Starfish, Trumpet fish as well as all the usual suspects.
After finishing the last dive of the morning, the Strathclyde Posse celebrated with a deserved can of beer.

The Afternoon began with meeting Karol and Monica a couple out on holiday from the U.K. Again two more dives in the afternoon with Bungle leading and I assisting, to Pequeno Valle and Alien rock. Being used to the cold, murky waters of the U.K, the couple found the 20 degree water of Tenerife tropical in comparison.  Both dives where fantastic and left all of us waiting to get back in the water again.

One more week completed and only 5 weeks left of the internship. I’ve gained some valuable experience this week as well as meeting some great people. I look forward to the weeks and challenges ahead.

George aka Zippy