Jan - Scuba Instructor/Dive Master - Zanzibar

Dive Master at Mnemba Makes the Trip Bombastic

I am a little afraid of the water and the thought of scuba diving did not sit to well with me but neither did the fact that I was Mnemba Island and would be left behind when they went out for their dives, twice a day!

Making the appointment for the beginner's class that night at cocktail hour pretty much sealed my fate. Was it the cocktails or the pressure from the others that made me schedule it? I guess we will never know, but here I was, 8 AM waiting for my one on one with the instructor.

The first class was a breeze, just basic knowledge, reading and a simple quiz. Nothing to it, I passed with flying colors.

Later that afternoon though was when I was scheduled to do my first dive. My panic started to set in.

We met down at the scuba center later that day and suited up. Out to the boat we went, then on out to the reefs. The time was upon us, or should I say, upon me.

Overboard we all went. The others went with Jan's wife, Jan and I went together to do my first dive. Here was the panic again and now the hyper-ventilating. The moment of truth came, go under or back on the boat. The boat was looking darn good, believe me.

Under I went, back up I came. No way I was going back under, no way was he going to get me to go underwater and breath, no way. Where was that boat?

Jan came up beside me and got me to calm down. After a few more false starts I finally did it. He got me to go under the water and more importantly, he got me to STAY under the water!

Thanks to Jan, I received my certification enjoyed three more dives.

Jan, the scuba instructor at Mnemba Island Lodge is BOMBASTIC!