1. UNLEASH THE DIVER IN YOU!
On 30 May, we had a very successful PADI Try Dive Event at Male' Swimming Track, organized by aspiring marketeers from MAPS college. We had a blast allowing fun-seekers to experience what it is like to breathe underwater!
2. The very first clean-up event!
The very next day, Team Dive Desk was off to Villingili to take part in the The Clean-up Challenge 2014 organized by Save The Beach Maldives. Reef cleanup was not part of the challenge and, as the only dive team to show up to the event, we were able to remove a good amount of trash from the ocean.
3. The first PADI Dive Centre in Maldives get Green Fins certified!
An initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme and Reef-World Foundation, Green Fins is the only internationally recognized environmental standard for dive and snorkel operators, helping to ensure the long-term sustainability of coral reefs, recreational scuba diving and local livelihoods. It was a well-received environmental education for Dive Desk staff, students and divers who took part in the training.
4. Reef Check Maldives Network Kick-off!
Reef Check Foundation is an international network of volunteer citizen scientist divers who help to survey the health of coral reefs around the world. The results are used to improve the management of critically important natural resources - tropical coral reefs in the case of Maldives. Reef Check programs provide ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions to save reefs, by creating partnerships among community volunteers, government agencies, businesses, universities and other nonprofits. Dive Desk is happy to have played an instrumental role in the implementation of the work of Reef Check Maldives right from the launch of the Maldives network.
5. Mobile camp at Kuda Bandos!
One of the most fun and memorable experiences of the year was setting up mobile camp at Kuda Bandos. Kudos to all the members of the Dive Desk Team for pulling through!
6. Certified our very first Divemaster!
Training dive professionals to the industry is at the core of the work that we do at Dive Desk. The first DiveMaster that #DiveDesk certified was a commercial pilot who came in for a Discover Scuba Dive. So taken was Sushant Joshi by the underwater world that he came back to Maldives to do his PADI Open Water Diver, Advanced Openwater Diver, Emergency First Response, Rescue Diver and Divemaster courses. He went onto become an instructor and served as the base leader at The Taj Exotica Resort.
Eventually he moved back to his hometown Mumbai to set up his dive start-up Scuba Reels that allows city folks to learn diving by conducting confined water sessions in the swimming pools in the city and complete their open water course in exotic dive destinations around the world! His start-up also provides underwater photography and videography services for film shoots in India and the Maldives along with participating in educating the youth about saving the seas.
It is our pride and joy every time we play an instrumental role in turning a young person into a knowledgeable, hard-working and disciplined dive professional, ready to enter the workforce of the diving industry!
For aspiring dive professionals out there, Sushant says,
"Be passionate and focused about what you would like to do. Life begins out of one's comfort zone."
The first year of operation at Dive Desk was a truly blessed year! Heartfelt thank you to all who have supported us and made beautiful memories with us!