7. On a scale of 1-10 how much do you enjoy your job?
11... I love what I do, I do what I love!
8. What has been the most rewarding moment?
I’d have to say teaching two young ladies how to dive that had life long fears of water! Sensational! Never in my 10 years of teaching in mass tourism did I see or have a chance to do something so amazing. Taking our time, breaking down the teaching and learning steps to get people through something they NEVER thought was possible. It was a life changing experience for all of us. Can you imagine how they felt and how I felt when I received an email saying one of the girls was diving with sharks in Palau and that I had changed her life! Doesn’t get much more rewarding really!
9. How many divers do you have in your team? Do you all teach all levels?
We have 4 dive instructors in our team here in Mallorca but we also have a network of experienced and like-minded instructors and centers that we work with. Keeping the high quality together making it easier for our clients to enjoy diving at its best. Also yes between us all we teach all levels and also offer SSI as well as PADI courses.
10. Have you had any hairy moments with scary sea life?!
It’s funny, from my point of view, how people generally call sea life scary! I get more scared going into Palma in peak hour. Have you seen how those bus drivers "control" their buses? That’s scary! I guess its all about understanding and the human trait of fearing what we don’t understand! More people should dive, snorkel and enjoy the marine environment. Its great for all the family, awesome time for friends and means less people would think marine life is scary. What scares me the most in life is how far removed many people are from nature, be it sea or land! Very scary!
11. As an inexperienced diver, how long would it take me to become a confident to diver? Do you find that some people struggle more than others to get the courage to do it?
The most important factor for any person who wants to become a competent diver is the introduction that they receive - this is the game breaker! Even someone with huge natural abilities will be put off for life if they receive an unprofessional and impersonal introduction to SCUBA. I have seen this so many times before! I truly believe that anyone who is fit and healthy and wants to dive can - with the right training of course. Recreational SCUBA is a relatively easy thing to do once people have overcome their psychological obstacles.
12. Where is the best diving around Palma? How long does one session of diving last?
For the best diving in Palma I suggest you give me a call and I´ll show you! We are very lucky to have 5 marine reserves here in Mallorca, 7 in total for the Balearics plus Cabrera, which is a national park.
Within these marine reserves are some very impressive sites and that’s coming from someone who has dived in some of the most amazing places in the world! One dive lasts around 45 minutes, depending on depth and air limitations. Courses run from as little as a day through to a few weeks.
13. Is there any specific times of day/night that you prefer to go diving?
Night dives are by far my favourite types of dives. It’s absolutely mind blowing what you see underwater at night. I have done a few dives where we start just before sunrise, so in the dark, and then surface after the sun has risen. These are also very cool dives.
14. How old do you have to be to go diving? What are the most popular ages for people to dive?
Kids can start at 8 years old with a pool session and then from 10 years people can start gaining certifications. I have dived with 8-year-old kids and 70-year-old men, so the range of ages is pretty large.
15. What is yacht scuba safety?
Yacht Scuba Safety is a SCUBA procedures & operations-based program that assists yachts confidently and safely manage their SCUBA diving operations. There is no reason that diving should be of any less quality to everything else offered from luxury yachts, hence we have produced a pioneering program that not only establishes yachts SCUBA ops but offers continued support internationally.
We assess yachts equipment, crew and experience, create a custom Operations and Procedures manual. Followed by two days training on board for the crew to understand and execute their new SCUBA procedures. We recommend that all deck crew who are involved in SCUBA in some way hold a minimum certification of Rescue or equivalent. We also provide guides, instructors, marine biologists and dive operations managers internationally. We also establish PADI and SSI registered dive centers on board luxury yachts. SSI (Scuba Schools International) have even created a world first dive center rating, SSI Superyacht Center, the first dive center rating in the world specifically for luxury yachts. Combining our Yacht Scuba Safety Program and this new rating really brings the recreational dive industry standards up to a superyacht level.
16. Does ONDINE escape do anything for ocean conservation?
Ondine Escape was where Asociacion Ondine began. We have always held marine life education, research and conservation as an integral part of our business. So much so that when we created the Mallorca Stingray Survey and found the funding we established Asociacion Ondine, a registered NGO working on local marine research and conservation in and around the Balearic Islands.
www.AsociacionOndine.org
So, yes, yes we do and we do it with passion and drive!
17. When is the best time of year to go diving in Palma and why?
Summer time is nice and warm and a couple of the marine reserves are heaving with life. When we are asked on board a luxury yacht as a private guide or rendezvous style we recommend mid week dives so as to beat the crowds. April and May we have one of the largest populations of common stingrays I have ever seen to dive with, but I must admit the water is a little chilly then.
18. Which yacht has been your favourite to teach on so far and why?
Every yacht I have been on to guide, teach or establish Yacht Scuba Safety has been different, all of which have been hugely enjoyable. This is going to sound pretty bad but yachts/boats in my point of view are simply a means for divers to get where they need to go! Yes it’s a divers view not a yachtie or owners view that’s for sure! Having yacht guests and owners making comments like "it’s the best dive and snorkel experience we have ever had" is a very nice thing to hear considering we are in the Med. The Balearic Islands are one of the best places in the Med to dive! Taking yacht owners, guests and crew diving is hugely satisfying when they don’t find it easy and we get them though. After seeing the complete and utter fear in their eyes at the start and then seeing complete and utter joy, sometimes even tears of joy, is one of the most amazing experiences a human can be part of. Adding diving to a yacht charters services really creates an extra hugely positive experience for the people involved. Creating life long positive memories is what dive instruction is all about, particularly when the instructor is passionate about what they do!
Bluewater are in affiliation with ONDINE escape through our ONE Account affiliates program, how this works is when a yacht signs up to our ONE Account, we give an amount back in vouchers with our affiliates depending on the payment of the yacht. For more information on our ONE Account or booking diving courses please contact our bluewater crew and training office:
training@bluewateryachting.com
+33 493 34 47 73
