#dive instruction

[sohannabarberaesque]

Meanwhile, at some summer camp where Hokey Wolf is serving as a diving trainer as much as counsellor

HOKEY WOLF, getting down to basics: If I may explain, fellow campers, it's preferable to start with snorkelling before going to SCUBA; after all, you don't want to rush too headlong into things! A CAMPER, somewhat stunned: So that means we have to start with holding our breaths while diving! HOKEY WOLF, continuing: Right, and using a snorkel to that end--not to be confused with a certain Snorky from The Banana Splits there! [Cut to Snorky doing some of his more obvious honking exercises, then back to--] HOKEY WOLF: What did I just say? [The audience laughs]

[sohannabarberaesque]

We can just imagine what a diving lesson led by Pam Potamus, the rather gentle and patient dive instructress niece of the legendary Peter Potamus, must be like

[Obvious laughter and guffaws from the students assigned her]

PAMELA "PAM" POTAMUS: I can admit that many of you would find it odd for a hippopotamus like myself to introduce you to that very magical sensation and experience known as diving underwater, or even instruct you in the essentials for that matter ... but still, know that hippopotami are rather agile in the water themselves. Which may explain why I, Pam Potamus, a close niece of a certain Peter Potamus--how many of you have heard or seen him, especially in diving-related vids?

[A modest show of hands ensues]

Not bad a response there; anyhow, this particular niece of Peter Potamus is rather proud to have discovered diving herself, and is equally proud to want you to discover diving yourself. Proud enough, understand, to be a diving instructress in her own right.

A DIVE STUDENT, slightly irate: Uh, shouldn't that exactly be "instructor"?

PAMELA "PAM" POTAMUS: Actually, sir, "instructress" is the correct feminine form ... but anyhow, in discovering diving with yours truly, do expect to discover it with patience and kindness. As it ought to be, especially with a rather fascinating and at once dangerous sport such as skin diving--and is actually my style, as a matter of fact. Know this for a fact in advance. And with me, learning to dive is certain to be a rather delightful and positive sort of experience....

(Just as reminder, Pam Potamus is my own original Hanna-Barbera-inspired character in the vein of a certain Peter Potamus. Any of you with some interesting design ideas for such dive-mad cousins of Peter--not just Pam, but also her fellow niece, Peggy ("Peg") or nephew Patrick ("Pat")--especially in the fan art mould, please to share them here.)