Outrageous fortune: teaching underwater photography in style

I occasionally daydream about the job that I would really like.  It runs something like this: teach underwater photography to a client who can afford to travel to fabulous destinations in style and to pay my expenses.  Yeah, I hear you say; keep dreaming…

A few weeks ago I had a request to design a bespoke teaching package to help a client prepare for his forthcoming dive trip.  Initially it was to teach the basics of underwater photography in the client’s London house, just before he travelled.

The short course went well and my client showed a real enthusiasm for his subject.  So you will easily guess my reaction later that evening when one of his staff called me to ask if I would be free to travel to Indonesia for a couple of weeks to continue teaching him.

So started a marvellous adventure.  I’ve tried to capture the spirit of the trip in the mixture of still images & video below, although client confidentiality and good manners prohibit me documenting the whole experience.  But it was in essence travelling, sleeping, dining and diving in formidable style.

The sublime company of the small group of fellow travellers made it a trip to remember.  I’ve been blessed with a few recently, so somebody is smiling down on me.  I reflected afterwards on my good fortune, but also what comprised the incredible service that characterised this trip.  I think that 3 things stood out: the genuine warmth of the ship’s crew, who could not help me enough; their ability to be on the spot when you most needed them, yet in the background when you were chilling out; and an almost telepathic anticipation of needs.  Two days into the trip, the crew of the sailing ship Silolona had worked out my presumably very predictable routine and had everything ready at the right time, from my kick-start delicious morning coffee and fresh fruit, through freedom to pack in some extra early morning dives while my client was relaxing, to really helpful post-dive assistance with my cameras.  What an amazing trip.  And what a lucky person I am, although I would like to think that we all make some of our own luck.

I wish you all similar outrageous fortune at least once in your life.