Mark C - 19/10/09

Dear Steve & Linda
I would like to thank you for an awesome action packed weekend, continuously giving me something to think about whether it be physically or mentally during my training for "Rescue Diver".
Very well organised event on your part Linda and as for Steve, well where do I start? I started diving in Egypt less than a year ago and the club that I trained with had very high standards and a lot of combined experience as the Instructors were from all over the world. I spent 16 days and over 20 hours of diving with them and it began to feel like a second home and I didn't want to return home at the end. However I did return home and I joined your dive club. You guys have really gone the extra mile and have always made me feel very welcome and I have enjoyed my time so far with Polaris. Over the last few months I have gone through a lot of personal change and an extremely tight work schedule which has been quite taxing and on a few occassions I have had to let you guys down. Through all of this I still decided to to continue on with the Rescue course  you had running. I will admit that I was feeling quite inadequate to begin with and my confidence levels were low at the start of the course which is very unusual for me as I usually steam ahead and get on with what is infront of me. However with Steve's clear understanding of people and the sport we all enjoy so much along with his passion to get it right, I soon forgot about my state and quickly enjoyed and got stuck into what was going on, the intensity of the course can only be compared to my army days!! With Steve at the helm and his words at the beginning - "You will start this course thinking as individuals but by the end of it you will be thinking as a team" I really didn't think he would achieve that. Four guys of which I only knew one, I didn't think it would happen but blow me down it DID happen!!
It was proved at the end with the final scenario. Well done Steve, it has been an absolute honour to train under you, I have learned a lot about diving, myself and how to look out for other divers, how to adapt to the environment and how to think as a team in a time of need. All divers should have these skills to be able to look after each other. Once again to you both - you have shown true leadership and an understanding of what a diving community is all about!!