About me
OK - so I guess I’m supposed to make a few comments about myself and my life here. So here we go, for people that don’t know already. I’m Dave, a 26 year old Englishman from Yorkshire (God’s county). I’ve been in Okinawa, Japan since August 2004, working as a teacher at a senior high school. I love the work and my students here and probably the only thing I love more at the moment is diving.
In August 2006 I passed my Instructor Examinations and became a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. This is a dream come true and was the result of a year of building up and preparation. I’m teaching diving in Okinawa in my spare time, and will hopefully be continuing that line of work as a career when the time at my school comes to an end. If the weather is good I’ll be diving Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. Hopefully as this blog thing develops, you’ll learn more about my life and my diving habits. If ever you’re in Okinawa and need a diving buddy, let me know.
For you diving people out there, here’s the main equipment I use for my diving. Anything not mentioned here is just standard issue gear:
BCD: AP Valves Buddy Tekwing (customized)
Regulator: TUSA RS-230 (plus SS-10 alternate 2nd stage)
Dive computer: TUSA IQ-700 and/or Uwatec Smart Com
Mask: Mares X-Vision
Fins: Pro Force Fins
Camera: Olympus mju 600 with PT-029 underwater housing
Dave Webb
http://www.soldave.34sp.com/
http://www.soldave.thedeepstop.com/
PADI OWSI & EFR Instructor #197865
Congrats on finishing the IDC! I am a Dive Master now and plan on doing the IDC sometime in the next year or so if time permits. I am US Marine stationed here on Okinawa and also love the diving here! I’ve got about 7 years total on the island (second time here) and am going to be here for 3 more years now.
Hi Eric. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and especially for leaving a comment. It’s always nice to hear people’s thought. I envy you for having spent so much time on Okinawa - I really do love the life here. And the diving is just amazing. If you’re ever lacking in a dive buddy then get in touch and maybe we can head out for a few dives together.
Thanks again:)
For your information, Earth Island Institute also made a similar video clip. Apart from Taiji, the slaughter of dolphins also happened in fishing towns Iki, Ito, Futo and Izu.
Soldave: I think this comment was mistakenly made in the about me section. It should probably have been a comment on one of my posts.
Racist Dentist said:
It wasn’t a mistake. I couldn’t leave a comment on that particular blog entry, and I couldn’t find a place where I can leave a comment except here.
That’s a little bizarre. I know on some entries there is a problem with leaving comments, but in the dolphin article I made sure that comments would be available. Can you check again, and if you still can’t make comments on that entry, let me know what browser you have and I’ll try to investigate a little.
Nice blog. I’ll be sure to look you up if I’m ever down in Okinawa.
Konnichiwa! Thanks for the welcome! I have only been here two weeks, but I am enjoying my stay. I will be living here until mid August. I believe my group already has a scuba instrutor set up, but if it dosen’t work out I will let you know because I am 100% sure that I want to dive. How much are your services and how long does it take? Thanks!
Hi Dave,
Do you give diving lessons? I’m going to Oki in 2 weeks and thinking about taking diving lessons.
VN - thanks for the comment. Yes, I do give diving lessons. Let me know when you’re planning to come to Okinawa and how long you’ll be staying. Maybe we can work something out.
I’ve sent you an email too about this
Hi Dave,
I’m from Vancouver, Canada where the water is anywhere from 8-12 degrees - I’m heading to Okinawa for some warm water diving 2nd week in Sep with my girlfriend. I’m hoping to do a bunch of diving but unfortunately only there for 3 nights. I would like to do some boat diving but would also like to do some shore diving and if possible would like to go with a ‘local’ diver. I’m a dive master and my girlfriend is a rescue diver. Just wanted to see if you had some time to go for a dive or 2.
Look forward to hearing from you!
Oliver
hi dave! i’m from indonesia. you should try diving in “Raja Ampat” (in english it called: “king of four”). they say it is the no.1 diving place in indonesia. Raja Ampat is located in Bird’s Head Peninsula on the island of papua - Indonesia
When i was in Bali, my friend ask me to joint the diving club, so we went diving and that was the most wonderful experience i ever had!
let me know when your planning to come to Indonesia
Oliver & soraya - thank you so much for visiting my site and leaving comments! It’s great to hear what people have to say about diving all over the world. Oliver, I’ve sent you an email about diving in Okinawa - hopefully we can get together for a dive or 2. And soraya, I certainly will let you know when I come to Indonesia. I ahve a couple of friends there and everyone says the diving is beautiful:)
Nice blog&nice pictures!!
I have not Scubadaibinged it. I am very interested in Yonaguni island.
I want to write the comment more、but my English is poor …sorry.
Hey Dave,
Nice blog, so you’re the JET Dive Yak? Nice to meet you, my name is Greg, I teach for DoDDS on base. Been in Okinawa 5 years, used to be Navy, then ALT in Ginowan for a couple of years. I was good friends with Damo and Jeff before you came. At one point it seemed Jeff had just about every single JET certified through Reef Encounters. You’ve got a tough act to follow! Anyway, we need to do more to get all the JETs really into diving- you should strive for 100% participation! Let me know if you need any help, or a dive buddy or access on base.
Cheers,
-Greg Martin
http://www.intrepid-seas.com
Greg,
Thanks for the comments on my blog. Yeah - I’m a member of JET, although usually I steer clear of the majority of things connected with JET and do my own thing at my school. As I said in a recent article, when there isn’t obscene amounts of alcohol, more than 5 minutes driving, and no chance to embarrass yourself in front of Okinawan citizens, the other foreign teachers are a tough crowd to get into action.
Many thanks for your offer of help though. We should definitely meet up for a coffee or a dive sometime:)
Dave
Awesome, I actually live in Okinawa! The diving out here is fantastic.
Awesome, do you work on base or off?
I work off base. My main job is a teacher at a Japanese high school but I I dive instruct in my free time. Hopefully though, in the next few weeks I should have a working contract sorted out with Kadena Marina.
Nice blog and website. Congrats on getting your OWSI and on the teaching you’re doing. Clearly you’re passionate about this diving thing.
I’ve visited Okinawa following my martial arts passion. But I didn’t dive, and I am keen to get back both to dive and to do some more training. I’ll look you up and perhaps we can go for a dive if I’m over that way.
Cheers
Des
CD-109032
Hi Dave I saw your comments about Skype and am looking for a mailing address[prefer U.K. if pos] or a phone contact.
Many thanx Janice