It’s our second day, and the MIP-2017 team began our PADI Advanced Open Water training with Dive Komodo instructor Ryan. In the morning we began with the theories of Peak Performance Buoyancy and Underwater Navigation in the classroom. Ryan explained the theories and also his experiences.

Learning to use a diving compass

Then it is into the water to practice our theories near Sitere Island and Bidadari Island. Our first dive and a Peak Performance Buoyancy dive. After a bankroll entry, we completed a buoyancy check to ensure that we had the correct weight, and then descended to 7 meters of depth. First, we tried hovering in a vertical and horizontal position for 60 seconds one by one. We adjusted our BCDs slowly until we found neutral buoyancy. Next, we practised two kinds of fin kick: flutter and frog kick. Finally, Ryan got us playing a buoyancy game with 3 weights placed on the seafloor. Our goal was to control our buoyancy with our breathing and knock the weights over with our regulators, a skill that will help us avoid crashing into the reef when looking closely at creatures. Good buoyancy and finning techniques can also help us to control our air consumption.

Preparing to enter the water

Underwater Navigation began with some practice onboard Dive Komodo’s Boat, MV Tatawa. After that, we went to dive site near Bidadari Island and practised navigation at 14 meters depth. We descended in a head-up position to see all the objects and formations at the bottom and help orientate ourselves. Ryan laid out a rope on the seafloor to guide our navigation. Our first challenge was a reciprocal bearing, where we swam in a straight direction using the compass, then reversed our course and tried to return to our starting point. We counted our kick cycles to estimate our distance. Next, we tried to navigate a square pattern using the compass and counting 15 kick cycles along each side, so that we return to our starting point. These exercises will help us to improve our abilities and safety during our manta identification surveys.