HUET

I'm going offshore on a helicopter next week, and I've had to renew my safety training. Today it was Helicopter Underwater Escape Training. You are strapped into this can and dunked six times simulating different accidents. Being turned through 180 degrees, with the water gushing up your nose, counting to seven before you can push out the window and escape, is not one of life's more pleasant experiences.

Still, at least I can swim and am comfortable in water. Most of the people on the course (Emiratis and Indians) couldn't swim. I would imagine they were terrified especially as they were made to watch all the swimmers go first.

I really liked the course evaluation of one of the Indian non-swimmers: "breathing under water is very difficult. Please teach techniques for breathing under water". Now, you really could make some money if you could teach that!