Have you met or heard of our two most recent campus residents, Sam Coté and Audrey Moïse? Sam, our new diving instructor, and his partner Audrey, both originally from Quebec, joined us on campus in October 2021, along with their cat Percé and their home, the Octobus.
The ‘What please’, you ask?
The Octobus, a former school bus turned recreational vehicle, has not only been Sam and Audrey’s house on wheels for the past 16 months, but also their trusted adventure travel companion/home base while touring the North American continent.
Admittedly, we are creating more questions than we are answering here, so let’s take this story from the beginning and things should become pretty clear then.
Back in the spring of 2020, Audrey, a nurse, and her partner Sam, a certified and experienced diving instructor/accountant, planned to go on the biggest adventure of their lives and travel in a converted school bus through Australia and New Zealand. They had everything ready to go, including know-how of how to turn an old school bus into a recreational vehicle, when the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic forced them to alter their plans.
Rather than putting their dreams on hold, they decided to travel through Canada and the United States instead. After six months of hard, hands-on work and many skills tried and tested, the Octobus was ready to launch Sam and Audrey into their adventure.
And why is the bus called the Octobus? Well, in the past, Sam and his father once converted a boat into a houseboat, called the Octopus. Therefore, it was only a small leap to finding the perfect name for their bus when they converted the school bus. Read more about the Octobus on Sam and Audrey’s blog.
Sam and Audrey traveled all the way through Canada, into the United States, back up to Yukon and then decided to settle on Vancouver Island. “The first day we arrived on the island we tried to find an inexpensive spot to park our bus, but for a vehicle of that size, it is quite a challenge”, explains Sam.
It turned out that they managed to find a spot for the Octobus at the Sooke Potholes right behind long-term faculty members Laura and Christie’s Westphalia Van. Since both vehicles are covered prominently with images and art of marine life, the vehicle owners soon started chatting with each other. Sam shared that he is a passionate diver with teaching certifications and Laura shared that the College was looking for a diving instructor at that time, and the rest is now history.
“Diving is possible on the B.C. Coast all year-round,” Sam told us. “This is something we always wanted to experience ourselves, especially all the marine wildlife that live here, like harbour seals, sea lions and elephant seals. It is a dream, really.
“Audrey had already gone through the licencing requirements to work as a nurse in BC and by the time I was hired at Pearson, she had her first day at the Victoria General Hospital. The College offered us a ‘parking spot’ for the Octobus and the community welcomed us most warmly. This feels like home.”
Despite (re)-starting the diving program late in the academic year, Sam is guiding 20 dedicated students on their diving journeys. “Approximately half completed the open water training in the Molson Pool on campus and are now ready and eager to test their skills in the waters of Pedder Bay. The rest already had completed their certification before coming to Pearson. I am excited to take them out into the ocean,” Sam told us.
“Going into the ocean will change the students view and perception of their natural surroundings and of course their own capabilities and skills. They will hone their leadership and collaboration skills while diving in pairs, where each person depends on their diving buddy for safety,” he added.
Donor Generosity Supports Waterfront
With the support of our generous donors, the College recently invested in new equipment for the entire waterfront program, acquiring 12 new wetsuits, 12 new regulators and a new air compressor. Learn more about the recent improvements we made to the Pearson Waterfront program.
Place-based learning is a key component in the Pearson experience. Being in the water, experiencing these animals and their natural habitat, gaining and expanding skills and knowledge hands-on is what makes this UWC education transformative and meaningful.
When asked about how the diving program adds to the students experience in a meaningful way, Sam echoed this notion.
“Having access to this location, land, forest, sea, combined with the equipment and dedication faculty and students bring to the table, creates a highly meaningful learning experience. Under water, your senses are heightened, you depend on each other, and safety is our number one priority. Once that is covered, your mind opens to a world we cannot experience on land. Meeting a curious seal, swimming through kelp forests, and moving in three dimensions all add to it. This all leads to an increased appreciation of and respect for our natural environment.
“We want our students to have that meaningful experience. We want them to be safe, grow their confidence, have fun, and then do it all over again. I am looking forward to getting them out into the waters of Pedder Bay, and the new equipment will make all the difference in our diving program.”