You scan ahead to check your direction, look back and in the blink of an eye, almost as if they waited for those few seconds when you wouldn't be looking, it has happened. One of your divers is missing. The adrenalin surges your heart starts racing and you begin frantically looking all around for your missing protege. You look left and right up and down. In this strange 3 dimensional world there are so many places for your missing diver to hide. You become the amazing rubber-necked person as you look frantically about, imagining the worst.

It's amazing you know! You can scan 360 degrees frantically and 9 times out of ten, somehow, they have gotten into that blind spot just above and slightly behind your head. What a relief to find them, smiling benignly and waving down at you. Your blood pressure drops, the adrenalin stops surging and peace is restored. (until the next time)

One of the best ways to keep an eagle eye on students and avoid those heart stopping moments is the ability to move forward whilst on your back, looking backwards. This invaluable skill allows you to watch free swimming introductory students and open water students This may involve a frog-kick motion or knees bent and finning. Its a paradox really for to lead a dive you are out in front swimming forward with your students or dive buddies behind you or to the sides and for all intents and purposes out of your line of sight until you look around. How closely can you really supervise in that position?

It only takes a second. If you're not watching it's too late. Panic i'm talking about. Panic under the water is a diver's greatest enemy. Divers beware!