SDI Instructor David De Las Heras -

David De Las Heras

Stories from Diving with an SDI Instructor

Name: David de las Heras

Country of origin: Spain

Place of residence: Barcelona

Dive club / dive center: Southern Europe Service Center

Highest diving certifications: Trimix Diver / Full Cave Diver

Highest instructor certifications: Instructor Trainer / Full Cave Evaluator

What inspired you to become a dive instructor?

I have always had a passion for diving and sharing that passion with my friends was the first step to becoming an instructor. I started teaching more and more courses and it is very rewarding to see my students evolve as divers until they become experts. Some of them become instructors or great technical divers, who end up being good friends and dive buddies that you trust for your own dives and explorations.

What motivates you to keep teaching diving every day?

My motivation to continue teaching today has not changed since the beginning as I enjoy sharing my knowledge and helping others achieve their goals. What has changed are the courses I teach. Today, I only teach technical diving courses, cave diving or training for instructors and professionals. Courses are much more demanding for both the student and for me as an instructor, but at the same time much more rewarding once the common goal is achieved.

How do you handle fear or insecurity in students, especially beginners?

It is a matter of confidence. First you have to explain, demonstrate and inspire confidence in the student as everyone has a different learning curve and may need a longer or shorter time. It is a matter of mentorship with the student.

In the end, everyone manages to meet the minimum requirements and with time and practice, everything comes naturally. We master the techniques after having failed more times than some have tried, but only then do you become an expert.

How have you evolved as a diver and instructor over the years?

I have always tried to surround myself with the best instructors in each specialty. I have never gone to take a course with the instructor closest to my home, rather I have traveled to other continents to train with the instructor I considered an expert in a particular field. I have even brought instructors to my home to give me training.

There are also courses in which I have participated as a student repeatedly. The reason is to keep up to date with the latest trends while learning diving or teaching techniques from different references in the diving world. In addition, I travel continuously to participate in dive shows, forums and events where leaders share knowledge and the latest trends.

Why did you choose SDI as the diving agency you work with?

I started in TDI when SDI did not exist yet. At that time, TDI was the technical diving agency of reference in training, with the best instructors and the best courses. From this experience and group of extraordinary professionals, SDI was born as a response to the growing demand for recreational diving.

Instructors capable of diving in the most demanding environments on the planet were the ones who developed the SDI courses, as well as its standards, providing a plus in safety and all the knowledge and experience that comes with technical diving. Over the years, I ended up being the representative of SDI/TDI in our country, something I am very proud of after almost 20 years at the head of the regional office in Spain.

Which courses do you enjoy teaching the most and why?

Cave diving is definitely my specialty. I have been diving for almost 37 years and I am passionate about the challenges that technical and cave diving in particular, can provide to the diver. I believe in the best personal training and in offering the highest level of demand, commitment and dedication to students.

My philosophy is to understand who the student is, know their experience and help them to meet their expectations. I evaluate their skills in order to perfect those they have mastered and work intensely on those that have room for improvement. Keep in mind that cave exploration is a tremendously demanding modality and that’s why good training is so important or motivational.

How does it feel to see your students grow as divers?

Seeing your students grow as divers, and seeing their satisfied faces at the end of an intense course that usually lasts several days and involves many hours of training, fatigue and sometimes frustration, is certainly the best reward for the effort that they and myself as an instructor put forth.

As instructors, we have to push our students to get the best out of themselves and sometimes they did not know they would be able to accomplish the task. But with our help, our students can master the training. At the end of each course, I like to think that they will look back and think that it was worth so much effort and they will keep a special memory of a time we have spent together that has been very intense.