Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Pond Inlet (July 15/02) - Jobie Atagootak watched from the sidelines over the last few years as search and rescue officials in Pond Inlet got involved in drowning-related missions.

He wanted to help out by diving under the ice, but couldn't because he didn't have the right kind of skills.

But, just a few years later, Atagootak, 30, is on his way to becoming a fully trained commercial diver.

Atagootak said he was listening to local radio at home in Pond Inlet when he heard the wildlife officer was looking for one more individual to apply for SCUBA training.

"I applied and I got approved. It was my one time chance and I got it," said Atagootak.

He arrived in Iqaluit earlier this month with three other residents of Pond Inlet (Norman Kyak, William Atagootak and David P. Arnetsiak) to begin the extensive training program.

Four Panniqtuuq residents are also participating: Simo Kilabuk, Johnny Kuluguqtuq, Mosesee Duval and Jupee Akulujuk.

The program

Organized by Iqaluit resident Eric Doig of the Nunavut Dive Institute, the three-part, $100,000 course was sponsored in full by the Kakivak Association, the training arm of the Baffin region's Qikiqtani Inuit Association. Doig said the eight participants would spend five days in the city undergoing training to become certified recreational divers.

Both teams flew home this past weekend and are expected to spend the next six weeks practising by diving in their home communities.

They return to Iqaluit in September to take part in a five-week course that will provide them with their commercial diving licenses.

All training materials are translated into Inuktitut and are taught by instructors with Inuktitut language skills or with an interpreter on hand.

Atagootak is completely in awe of the new skills he's developing.

"My first time underwater, breathing was kind of scary, but you get used to it. I was kind of panicking ... but it was awesome. You see all these little animals," said Atagootak.

He said he's already getting calls from people back home who want the group of four to begin to harvest clams and seaweed as soon as they get home.

For Panniqtuuq's Simo Kilabuk, the course fulfils a dream he's had since childhood.

"My dream came true. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted this. It feels very good," he said.

While a sense of panic seems to be a common theme among the new divers, fellow Panniqtuuq resident Johnny Kuluguqtuq said remembering classroom lessons helps him think clearly underwater.

Kuluguqtuq took the course for the experience.

He said television piqued his interest and made him curious about what diving feels like.

"Some of the classroom work is hard, but it's very helpful because you remember all the things you learned in class and you start to relax," he said.

"What we learn in class, we experience underwater," added Kilabuk.

Doig said he came up with the idea to offer the course because of widespread interest around the territory and because it offers Nunavummiut a viable source of income.

"We identified a need for this and there are a lot of people interested," said Doig.

"We'll train these guys and they'll go back to their communities and start a harvesting program. They can generate another source of income for themselves," he said.