GWA Week Without Walls 2011- Our reflection

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Permalink Reply by Tony Roti on March 13, 2011 at 11:48pm

WWW Tawasul Reflection

 

Week Without Walls Tawasul helped developed skills in the following areas:

1.  Scuba Diving

2.  Filming and Script Writing

 

We were also privileged to hear from a Coastal Engineer who taught us about building an artificial reef (http://en.howtopedia.org/wiki/How_to_Build_an_Artificial_Reef) and from a Marine Scientist who taught us all we need to know about sharks. 

 

Our Director of Tawasul, Ernst van der Poll, is not only a cool looking South African, he's also a very passionate individual who is trying to spread his love, appreciation and knowledge of the environment to people, and especially youth.  One of his beliefs is that if we could enrich the youth with the power of knowledge then we could reach our goal of environmental conservation much quicker.  The youth are our future CEO's, restaurant owners, law makers and other members of society. 

 

With the work of Ernst, and his super support crew (Alena, Laurent, Jimmy and others), they were able to leave a positive imprint on ALL of our divers at GWA.  That is correct, all students on the trip did successfully complete their scuba diving course (open water and advanced open water) or completed a National Geographic and Deep Dive specialist.  I would also like to recognize the work of Heather Grace, the Director of Alchemy Films FZ LLZ.   She did a fabulous job of training 9 of our students on the use of Flip Cameras and with script writing.

 

There were many successes on the trip, but the one that left me feeling proud of our actions was the beach cleanup.  As simple as it sounds, our total crew of 18 collected over 12 large bags of garbage found on the beach.  I could not stop thinking of where the garbage was coming from.  It also made me think about whether or not our actions are a bandage or long term solution to the problem?  In essence, we are cleaning up someone's mess.  Months of litter was cleaned up in less than an hour!  Just imagine what months of education could clean up?

 

Our students are aware of the need to keep garbage out of our water to help protect the marine organisms and ecosystems.  How will our students pass this message or information on to others?   We had to literally drag our students away from any remaining garbage on the beach because they were so motivated.  What will they teach their future children or neighbours about garbage in our environment?

 

The one memory that I'd to end with my reflection with is:

 When I turned to my right to see one of our privileged students wearing a white t-shirt with the logo - clean Arabia and a white/blue hat, I thought:  "we look like a construction workers wearing one of those blue overall uniforms."  How neat was it to be feeling so proud of what we are doing without a care in the world about what we looked like.  Everyone was proud that day and worked together like a team, or a community. 

 

So in order to preserve the ocean's resources, we need to educate ourselves and others, as well as instil a passion for the environment.  Then we need to ACT.  And we did act in ways that were productive, compassionate and caring towards others and our environment.

 

Mr. Roti

GWA Physics Teacher

WWW Trip Leader for Tawasul

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Jake Dillon Digby on March 19, 2011 at 11:15pm

The whole week was an experience. Starting with the film workshop and ending with the bus trip back home where some of us passed out with exhaustion and others passed out for lack of air consumption from laughing to hard. I think it is safe to say that the week was well enjoyed by everyone!

 

Legally I'm suppose to say that I dove to 39.9 meters, which is with in the limits of the recreational dive planner. I am not allowed to say that I, Jake Dillon Digby, went down to a maximum depth of 40.3 meters, and that I may or may not have tried to go deeper, But that's hear-say.

 

I think the most eye-opening event for me wasn't when Ibrahim launched my knife over the side of the boat, my eyes were open pretty wide as I watched the knife fly through the air in slow motion, hit the water, and descend to Davy Jones's Locker, where I am convinced that it killed a rare fish. Good job buddy! In all seriousness though, the most eye-opening experience for me was the beach clean up. I never knew that much waste would end up in one place. The amount of bags that both teams filled, Team Jaqube ftw, was incredible! I don't understand why people think that throwing trash into the sea is a good idea. What if I came to their house and thew my coke can at their head face? I can't imagine that they would like it very much.

 

Over all, the trip was so much fun. Plagued with Monster, Red Bull, Power Horse, and some other energy drinks that have names so obscure I don't know how to spell them, Laughs, Diving, Filming and adventure, oh and education the funnest aspect of the whole trip... yeah...? I had a lot of fun and it was way better than school.

 

I think we look pretty fly... Like a G6

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Permalink Reply by Nick Konczak on April 14, 2011 at 11:43pm

Well, my blog is a tad bit late. But no worries! I haven't forgotten. Throughout the Week Without Walls program, I was really keen on completing my deep diver specialty course, I have always found deep dives a large thrill knowing that your so deep down underwater, and this is an opportunity not many people get as some divers do not feel so safe and comfortable to deeper depths, but I must say, you are missing out! My favorite part of the trip would of been watching the movie 'The cove' on our night there, not gonna lie here but we were all so tired and nearly passed out we slept in any position just to get the movie done with, even our instructor had a little nap with his glasses on his face to make it look like his 'watching' the movie. Was a quite relaxed and easy night.

 

Over the trip I gained a whole new knowledge on how to record videos using the FLIP software, a small HD camera which we used underwater to make a video about our dives, the shark dissection, interviews with other peers about how we are enjoying the trip and of course the making of the artificial reef. It would of been amazing if we had an extra night in Musandam and had an extra day of diving, but I still cant stay I did not enjoy this. I will be definitely attending the Dive Trip for Week Without Walls next year, and i strongly encourage others as well. Its a amazing experience.

 

After the trip, me and other divers discussed that if we went for an overseas trip for diving that would remarkable as we all would like to dive in diving paradises around the world and different locations. After this trip, it encouraged me to go and complete my Rescue Diver Course with the Pavillion Dive Centre team in the next few days, as they are fun to dive with and yet passionate about what they do daily. Just some advice to new divers.. better do your elearning otherwise your days on theory, you'll be blown away by things you wished you studied about before, trust me, I have this problem coming up D:

 

Must say these trips should be more often so we can skip on school, not saying I don't like it... but yeah, you get my point. Have fun diving everyone!

 

The best bus ride....

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