A couple of extra things you can add to the lesson ....
Even if you can't see your Phantom and don't know exactly where it is, you have an instrument that helps.
The radar display shows you where your Phantom is and which way it is pointing.
Here the Phantom is out in front of the operator and just a little off to the right. It's pointing straight out to sea away from home which is at the centre of the radar display.
It's a simple matter to use the left stick to turn the Phantom until it's pointing directly at the centre of the circle and then push the right stick forward.
Or you could use RTH.
Ding ding ding - that's ringing alarm bells
Never launch or attempt to land on a steel (including reinforced concrete) surface.
I'm not sure how you've managed to get away if you do this regularly. If I put my Phantom on a car roof, I get a compass error every time.
Also if I bring the Phantom down close to a steel roof, reinforced concrete etc
There have been lots of lost or crashed Phantoms as a result of messing up the compass by launching from on top of steel
If you are planning some beach flying, use a folded towel, some cardboard etc as a launch pad.
(One of those big plastic saucers for big plastic plant pots works very well)
As mentioned above, hand catching is perfect for situations where a landing is not a good choice - long grass, rocky terrain, sandy areas, on a boat, etc.
If flying offshore 30% probably isn't conservative enough - it's an unforgiving environment out there.
The sort of lesson that has you holding your breath and watching the battery indicator ticking down is the kind of lesson that has a lasting effect on you.
You had a memorable flight, learned something and possibly got some memorable images?
ps ... by now southern hemisphere humpback whales have just about finished their warm water holiday and most are already heading south, back to Antarctica where they can eat again. (They don't eat at all during their time up north)
The mothers with calves are the last to go back south.