We’ve got a lot happening at Sub Sea Systems– we’re developing new products, opening new Sea TREK locations, and doing quite a bit of international travel! In March, our Director of Water Operations and Safety, Carl Hanson, took what can only be described as a “lengthy journey.” Carl traveled from our home base in California to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and then to Australia. He returned with stories to share, and some amazing photos and videos, too.
Where did you go?
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, then to Cairns, Australia.
With stopovers in:
- San Francisco, California
- Chicago, Illinois
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Chennai, India
- Singapore
- Bali, Indonesia
- Sydney, Australia
- Los Angeles, California
(yes, all in one trip!)
How many miles did you travel?
21,837 miles in 13 days (FYI: the circumference of the Globe is 24,901 miles)
What was the purpose of your travels?
I traveled first to Dubai, where I did a site inspection of the Sea TREK program at Atlantis The Palm. I made sure that they are current with safety standards, and updated them on our product line. I also offered some ideas on how to improve their program. Atlantis The Palm is an award-winning location, and was the 2017 Sea TREK Operator of the Year; so it was nice to be able to meet the hard-working staff that made it happen. I also visited the Dubai Aquarium, and talked to them about potentially adding Sea TREK to their lineup of aquarium activities.
In Cairns, Australia, I worked on installing a brand new Sea TREK system for Reef Magic Cruises, replacing their outdated Sea Walker system. I worked with staff to ensure they were trained on our system and well versed on our safety standards. I also visited the Cairns Aquarium and talked about the potential of adding Sea TREK to the aquarium.
Did you have any down time? What did you do?
I didn’t have much down time, but I got to dive the Great Barrier Reef every day that I was in Cairns– a big ticket item on my Bucket List! I also got to enjoy my Easter holiday with a nice dinner and great company– the new Training Coordinators at Reef Magic.
What was the highlight of your trip?
Walking off a steep drop off (intentionally), in the Ambassador Aquarium at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, while wearing a Sea TREK helmet. It was about a 32 ft (10 m) free fall! Awesome!
The highlight of my Cairns trip was learning how a different helmet diving program was run, teaching the staff about our amazing Sea TREK product, and seeing them get excited about this new opportunity.
Did you encounter any unusual sea life?
Nothing really new, but I met a huge Maori Wrasse named Wally! He's a Great Barrier Reef native.
What was the most surprising cultural difference you encountered?
In Dubai, I did not realize it is against the law to kiss your spouse in public!
What were the people like in each location?
The people of Dubai were very friendly, however, everyone I met in Dubai was not from Dubai! I met people from India, Philippines, Kenya- all over the world, but not from the region itself!
The Australian people are very laid back, very relaxed. They're also hard-working!
What was the first thing you did when you got home?
I went to work!
("We told Carl to go home and rest, but sure enough… within a couple hours after landing, he showed up at the office. He’s extremely dedicated and enthusiastic about his job! However, we encouraged him to go home and get some sleep. We needed him rested for the remainder of the workweek!" –Hannah de Bie, VP of Marketing)
Where are you headed next?
In just a few weeks I will be headed to the brand new Atlantis resort in Sanya, China with Keenan Mayfield, Sea TREK Field Operations Specialist. We will be installing and setting up a new Sea TREK operation, as well as training and certifying the staff. This will be the third Atlantis property to offer Sea TREK!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comment!