A diving internship

Hailing from a trade background, I believe in the apprenticeship system so I absolutely support internships in diving. Unlike an apprenticeship where the apprentice is paid to undertake on-the-job training; albeit paid proportionally to their output, an internship requires the commitment of paying the course fee yourself to gain on-the-job experience or alternately working for free. 

However, the longer the dive supervisor, dive controller or divemaster gains exposure to actual diving operations and the more diverse diving surroundings, the more an individual learns in a working diving environment. 

Working as a divemaster on a large charter boat, we had a number of instructors working with their class. It doesn't take long to work out who has actual on-the-job working experience and who has just moved from one course to the next. 

The bulk of their diving experience is taken under the guise of dive courses with the occasional fun dive thrown in every now and again.  

This experience really shows when planing, leading and executing dive courses; even though students change on a regular basis, experienced instructors make the class run smoothly whilst instructors with little on-the-job experience struggle to lead structured outcomes. 

The Omega Chronostop

I asked my father for his old broken Omega watch as he had previously taken it in for repairs and was informed it wasn't worth the cost. A local Swiss watch repair shop had done some work for me before and came highly recommended and I was very happy with their service and prices.

I had mistakenly thought this was an old style Seamaster, the staff at All About Time informed me this was a vintage Chronostop and he described it as a real watch.

For me, this is a mechanical watch that needs to be wound daily as opposed to the battery powered quartz watches or the automatic self winding timepieces. The serial numbers aligned to a 1967 - 1969 series watch; the Chronostop was manufactured between the years of 1966 to 1974 so I have an early model.

There were a number of variations with the original model being the Omega Seamaster Pilot Chronostop, the second version the Omega Chronostop Regatta added yacht timers with the third variation named the Seamaster Chronostop Jumbo Diver.

A driving version was available to be worn on the inside of the wrist with the watch aligned with the wrist held vertical for quick glances whilst driving at speed. The later versions were introduced as the Speedmaster became unofficially named the moon watch in 1969.

Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin wore versions to the lunar surface. Thus, with the Speedmaster driving version somewhat compromised, the Chronostop slotted into the driver's minds as the watch of choice.

The Chronostop has two movements, the 865 and 920, both are manual wind and the 920 movement has a date function with both movements featuring 17 jewels. The Chronostop has a single button to operate the stopwatch but there is no minute sub-dial so any stopwatch movements over a minute have to be counted manually.

As with most luxury brands, there is an entry-level model and the Chronostop was the third line to the Seamaster and Speedmaster. I'm looking forward to getting this vintage watch repaired and giving it back to the old man as he is retired and we all know retirees have to be more frugal with money than working sons. 

Booking.com - great hotel deals

When traveling overseas and domestically, the majority of tourists prefer to book online these days. Once upon a time, this was the domain of the travel agent, those days are numbered with the humble travel agent in decline.

A number of decent online booking sites exist, my preference is Booking.com as I prefer to deal with only one business and this site has been excellent. I prefer to not book too far ahead and instead wait for the last minute hotels to advertise on the site. 

You can pick up an excellent hotel deal on the day as hotels would rather offer rooms for highly discounted rates as opposed to a vacancy where no revenue is generated. 

On many occasions, patrons spend money in the hotel on services so this is an excellent business deal for all involved and I will continue to support this site. 

I receive no benefits from Booking.com, I am a paying customer and I don't mind naming businesses that have treated me well - these guys have always provided flawless service. 

Is strategy dead?

Is strategy dead? The curriculum currently taught at business schools revolves around an internal and external analysis seeking to identify a sustainable competitive advantage - so far so good. 

Whilst many of the strategy textbooks are similar in nature, the underlying principles of strategy formulation revolve around vision, mission and values leading to external and internal assessments leading to Porter's five generic strategies, strategy analysis, implementation and evaluation. 

It may be argued traditional strategy is dead, it may also be argued that strategy evolved from military origins of setting objectives, collecting intelligence and making decisions based on the achievement of the stated objectives. 

Adaptive strategy revolves around a rapidly changing business environment requiring a less static approach to business based on fluid interpretation and rapid implementation. The downside is that this may be too reactive relying more on seat of the pants type business management that generally leads to failure. So no, strategy is definitely not dead.

An SSB or SBS?

I was at a bar in East Perth overlooking the waterfront development with the new sports stadium in the background on a warm summer afternoon after finishing work.

My friend who I was meeting wanted an SSB, that is a semillon sauvignon blanc blend and I mistakenly ordered an SBS, a sauvignon blanc semillon before quickly correcting myself to the barmaid ensuring I got her order right. The barmaid replied "they are both the same anyway" and I thought I had misheard what she had said.

The grape variety listed first is the predominant variety in this blended and highly popular wine, then you can be assured that this is the larger percentage and after a little searching I found that there is no real standard with some blends being as close as 55% - 45% right up to 70% - 30% blends. I enjoy a semillon as the variety is fairly dry as this is more to my preferred drinking style.

For many, a semillon is a little waxy as the variety has a reputation of being a little drab. A pure sauvignon blanc on the hand is a little too sickly for my tastes, but a splash of SB in a semillon can bring the drink to life offering a fuller taste for most palettes. I'm normally happy with an SSB on a warm summer's evening if I am unable to find a semillon I like as long as the semillon is the dominant variety.

I do ask myself, did the barmaid think I didn't know the difference or did she not know the difference? Regardless, a bar is an establishment serving alcohol and their staff should be conversant in what they serve to the public.

Plenty of us know the difference in what we want, many people have discerning tastes, my friend certainly has and we shouldn't be taken for fools. Then I thought, I was sitting at one of the best bars in Perth overlooking the waterfront development on a warm summer afternoon with a longtime friend - really, what's the problem?

The last man on the moon

Eugene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon has passed away at age 82, as a former naval aviator and aeronautical engineer, Cernan was a space pioneer with three missions to space in a thirteen year NASA career.

Cernan's first mission to space was on Gemini 9 in 1966 with Thomas Stafford after the original crew were killed in a jet crash. As back-up crew, Cernan was the second American astronaut to undertake a spacewalk. 

On a trip to NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, I was lucky enough to view the Mercury and Gemini capsules and you would have to seriously respect these pilots from this era, this would not be a flying experience to forget. This was serious risk they were undertaking, these spacecraft would probably not meet today's safety standards.

Launched on the 18th of May 1969, Thomas Stafford, John Young and Eugine Cernan orbited the moon on the Apollo 10 mission with Eugine Cernan acting as the Lunar Module Pilot. This was the trial run for Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's first manned lunar landing on Apollo 11 on the 20th of July 1969. 

The Apollo 17 mission with Cernan as the Mission Commander landed on the Taurus-Littrow valley on December 1972 spending over 22 hours on the moon's surface with Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt. As the Apollo 18 mission was cancelled, Eugine Cernan is credited with being the last man to walk on the moon. 

It is incredible that in 2017, no space agency currently has the capability to get a human to the moon's surface and return them safely to Earth. Eugene Cernan not only lived through an incredible period of history - Eugine Cernan made history.

TWG Tea

On a trip to Singapore I spotted a TWG Tea outlet in the Marina Bay Sands plaza; the business was pumping and there was barely a free seat in the establishment.

The was something familiar about TWG Tea and I wasn't sure if I had ever seen this business before, the establishment had a degree of familiarity and I was somewhat perplexed. I was considering taking a table, but owing to the popularity, that wasn't going to happen that day without a lengthy wait in a long line.

A couple of months later, I was wandering through the Shangri-La Plaza in Mandalayung and spotted a TWG Tea outlet and I had to step in. Unlike the Marina Bay outlet, this well-presented outlet was nearly empty.

Regardless, the service was outstanding, the food was very good and their choice of iced tea was excellent. I am not a tea drinker but after sampling their choice of fine tea, I might just be a convert.

Needless to say, I'm more than happy to return to the Shangri-La outlet anytime and I can't believe there isn't a long line assembled out front.

Building wealth after 50

If you are seeking to build a retirement income to take yourself through to retirement and beyond; the decade from age 50 through to age 60 is the most important period to save. For many, the family home has been paid off, the kids have left home (well maybe) and most are still at their peak earning period based on knowledge, experience and education.

Whilst we have been told to put 10% of our pre-tax income into their retirement funds, many of us have now come to the realisation that this will be insufficient for a comfortable retirement. We have to make changes and we need to make good decisions that are both growth orientated and tax effective.

We now live in a low-growth, low-interest rate world with stalled economic activity in many major economies. Most governments lack the foresight to properly plan economic growth any further than the next election cycle and this issue has been detrimental to long-term growth prospects.

The United States has a new president vowing to rebuild worn out and outdated infrastructure. Whilst this announcement in itself is a positive decision, many of us are wondering where the money will come from in an already indebted society.

But with economic activity comes opportunity; with correctly targeted spending on income producing assets the potential to purchase shares, bonds and convertable notes in infrastructure projects. No doubt complicated financial instruments are being drawn up finance such projects - we all remember the collateralised debt obligations leading into the GFC.

If bonds are being offered in infrastructure projects then they are well worth a look. Likewise, shares in engineering, construction, project management, utilities, building materials and maintenance companies are looking to leverage grown in major infrastructure projects in the next four years and beyond.

The US sharemarket has already fought back to rise above pre-2007 levels; the Australian sharemarket measured by the ASX200 is well below 2007 levels.

Technically, Australia never was in recession in the aftermath of the GFC as Chinese demand and not stimulus spending ensured the economy continued along unabated. Australian GDP recorded negative growth for the quarter mostly driven by the former economic powerhouse economic decline in Western Australia.

You can pour over macro-economic statements such as balance of payment figures, CAPEX, the unemployment rate, interest rates, currency prices to seek answers. Many just look out the window to see businesses closing, friends and co-workers becoming unemployed, declining property prices based on forced sales and prices falling to base their judgement on the economy.

Blackberry - done and dusted

Blackberry is officially out of the telephone business, the Canadian phone maker stopped manufacturing handsets in 2016, so where to now?

Research in Motion as a company will survive outsourcing hardware development to external partners instead concentrating on software development with an emphasis on security and applications. Company revenue peaked in 2010 and have been in dramatic decline since then, the popularity of Samsung and Apple phones have swamped the business orientated Blackberry.

The launch of the iPhone changed the dynamics of the telecommunications market with Android powered devices commanding a dominant market share. The distinctive Blackberry keypad was rendered obsolete by the touchscreen, once the popularity of the iPhone and Android took hold.

The development of apps for the Blackberry phone pretty much dried up and all but the most dedicated users wasn't enough to arrest declining sales. Even the release of an Android powered handset wasn't going to reverse the company's fortune so Blackberry as we know it is no longer. 

I had a couple of Blackberry handsets but I along with everybody else have moved over to either an iPhone or Android powered device and Blackberry will be relegated to business school case studies.

Rottnest Island summer holidays

Rottnest Island is Perth's aquatic playground and I was lucky enough to be invited out for a couple of days on a 49 foot Riveria motor cruiser in the new year. Clearly this isn't my motor cruiser but what a great way to spend my summer holidays.

For us south of the equator - you just can't beat the beautiful summer days of the Christmas season. The days hit 42 degrees Celsius but we hardly knew, stepping off the back of the boat into the refreshing water provided a cool respite from the heat.

Powered by twin Caterpillar 3176 marine engines, this motor cruiser is luxury with a forward double berth, a starboard double berth with private head and shower whilst the port berth houses single bunks and a shared head and shower.

An onboard desalination plant generates 100 litres of freshwater per hour so you never have to pull into a jetty to replenish water supplies, the fuel tanks hold 2000 litres so when you do pull into the fueling jetty, you will know about it though.

I couldn't believe the community set up in the bays, sure there was plenty of boats moored in the vicinity and not only was everybody courteous to other boaties, but the respect shown was amazing.

All throughout the day and evening, tenders chugged ashore delivering people to the island for their daily activities, they also took people fishing and diving with a number of boats having a small transport tender and a larger utility boat to visit the bays of the island.

The local rocklobster provide a wonderful supply of easily caught local delicacies to supplement the stores brought onboard as well as the local Dhufish, Snapper and Baldchin Groper that this wonderful island provides. I still have 12 years until retirement and I think I will be counting down every day until then.

The Omega Planet Ocean 600 metre dive watch

Recently browsing through the duty-free shops at Perth International Airport, I wandered over to see their Omega wrist watch collection only to find to my utter surprise that they were running a limited Christmas special on selected Seamaster Omega Planet Ocean dive watches.

I couldn't believe it, the top of the range Planet Ocean was now priced cheaper than the next watch down in their range, the Seamaster Diver 300 as they weren't discounted.

I have to say I was tempted, my credit card was only $100 in debit and I had no major bills pending. I see myself as not a materialistic person, I own my property outright and the property is modest.

I drive a sixteen year old Toyota RAV4 2-door that recently had the roof and side panels repainted and whilst I save for and purchase reasonably good quality clothing, I avoid over-priced designer wear instead opting for quality yet I was pretty close to having a more expensive watch than the car I drive.

Had they had the style I was seeking, I may have pushed the limits of my spending limit. From my experiences being previously employed in the mining industry, it is normally the people that cannot afford the luxury items that tend to purchase them - I would fall into that bracket.

I ask myself what attracts me to quality Swiss timepieces and I'm unable to properly answer that question.

So place me in front of high quality timepieces - I lose all perspective. I just love both the engineering and style of Swiss watches and see a object of beauty in an Omega, Breitling, IWC, Rado, Longines, Tag Heuer, Fredrich Constance, Jaeger LeCoulter, Rolex and Girard Perregaux.

I don't have the funds to collect such exquisite timepieces but given the opportunity I do like to admire these from a distance.

I don't see myself as a materialistic person but the evidence would indicate otherwise. I decided not to put a sizable bill on my credit card declining this offer despite the fact that I received a reasonable tax return that I could have shifted onto my credit card to pay for this watch.

Diving with the Padang Bai submarine

As we moved from the Padang Bai cruise ship jetty to the wall on the other side of the bay, we slowly steamed past the Odyssey submarine on the surface loading guests on-board. I thought to myself, keep an eye out underwater as I might get a chance to view it underwater - that would be cool.

I wasn't disappointed, having the submarine cruise past was pretty cool, you could see the flash of the cameras from the portholes. Although it was a little difficult to actually see the faces of the people inside, it was pretty cool to see this submarine glide past - this really made for a nice dive.

Padang Bai on Bali's west coast is the stepping point for the ferry to the three Gili islands of Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air west of the island of Lombok. For me, Padang Bai is a bit of a run down village with most people here for the ferry, still, it is worth a look for a day or two for some different dives in Bali.

Departing from Manila airport

Departing from Manila International Airport is a whole lot easier now. What was once an experience that potentially deterred you ever wanting to return to the country has transformed into a fairly slick operation these days - it was not before time.

The construction of the new terminal allows a fluid movement of passengers with minimal disruption, the long lines where you thought you might miss your flight have been replaced by free-flowing check-in desks. 

Moving through immigration is painless, your departure tax is now pre-paid so that bottleneck has been removed and passenger scanning in certainly more efficient than Unites States airports.

Being a reasonably frequent traveler to not only the Philippines and South-East Asia, but also travelling through European and American airports, you develop a feel for a well organised and managed operation. Manila International Airport has vastly improved from what it used to be.