My scuba journey – the condensed version

As you might have picked up, my main passion is scuba diving. I was certified in 1997 in Quebec, Canada through a college-level physical education class. The open water certification dives were in a cold dark lake, yet I was hooked. 

I later continued my diving education with my Advanced Open Water in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, on a liveaboard no less! I got to scuba dive with turtles and it is to this date one of my most memorable memories. I may have seen many turtles since then, but ‘my’ first time is forever etched into my memories.

Upon return to Geneva, Switzerland where I was living at the time, I signed up for my PADI Rescue Diver course. I also enrolled in a few specialties like Deep, Night, Nitrox, Drysuit, Navigation, Emergency Oxygen Provider therefore also earning my Master Scuba Diver rating.

With a bit of prompting from an amazing mentor, I then continued with my Divemaster and Instructor training. I dove regularly in Switzerland as well as dive trips to the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and even a quick dive in the Black Sea.

When I was laid off my “real” job in Geneva, I lived a year in Koh Tao, Thailand where I had the opportunity to live, eat and breathe scuba, as well as make some fantastic friends. There, I also obtained my Master Scuba Diver Trainer and IDC Staff Instructor qualifications.

I have finally achieved my Master Instructor rating in May 2017, exactly twenty years after starting my diving journey! And in July 2018 I obtained the coveted title of PADI Course Director after a grueling but extremely fun CDTC in beautiful Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

I continue to share my passion with others, as well as dive locally and abroad, and hope to continue to do so for as long as I possibly can.

I’m thinking of writing a blog post for each level or so of my journey, what are your thoughts?