15 students certified as PADI Open Water divers

Fifteen students of secondary and post secondary institutions in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have been certified as PADI Open Water divers.

The students received their official certificates, which are recognized worldwide, at a ceremony held last Friday, November 17.

The course, which began over the summer vacation, was sponsored by several businesses and organizations and was the brainchild of Vaughn Martin, owner and manager of Serenity Dive.

Martin said he felt it was important that young people be given another career option.

“We have some of the best dive sites in the world and we need to have this generation of young people more aware of our oceans and how to preserve it,” he said.

To ensure that the programme was more affordable for the students, the programme was sponsored by SG DeFreitas, Canash Beach Apartments and SOL, each of whom sponsored one student from the St Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua. The Rosewood Apartments sponsored one student from the St Vincent Grammar School, while the St Vincent and the Grenadines Preservation Fund sponsored 10 students.

Martin said he is very proud of his graduates and plans to revive his Dive Club, of which the newly certified divers will be members.

“They will also rotate as interns throughout the various dive shops to get more experience, as well as aid in underwater beach clean-ups and lionfish culling. I am very proud of these students that took on the challenge of learning to dive, which opened their eyes to the under water world,” Martin said.

Serenity Dive is looking forward to the New Year, and according to Martin, potential sponsors have already been identified to make the opportunity and experience a bigger one.

“Besides being able to mentor these new students, a lot of friendships have been built within the group and I look forward to having it grow into a big family of local divers,” Martin said.