Kids in Action Summer Diving Program – Learning to scuba dive is a fulfilling, life-changing, and educational experience and PADI is thrilled to be supporting a kid’s dive program in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize! This summer, PADI, the largest diving organization, in collaboration with the San Pedro Tourist Guide Association (SPTGA), the Diver’s Alert Network (DAN) and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve gave local kids the opportunity to explore the underwater world.
A total of 34 local students got the opportunity to explore the underwater world and learn of its wonders; joining the children were four police officers of the San Pedro Police Department. Students were presented with their manuals and introduced to their dive instructors on Monday, July 29, 2013, at the San Pedro High School.
For two weeks they had to study and carry out dives with their instructors, working towards their Junior Open Water Diver certifications. This had them engaging with marine life, building character and self-confidence and forming a greater appreciation for the planet.
On Thursday, August 15, 2013, the students were taken as a group to do their last dive to one of the many dive sites here on the island. The group was taken to Hol Chan Marine Reserve courtesy of Hugh Parkey’s Belize Dive Connection and Lady Grace of Ramon’s Village.
Children had a great time in company of each other and demonstrated that they were quite skilled and very knowledgeable of what they were doing, when it came to having their gear ready and listening to their dive instructors.
PADI assisted the summer program by providing certification to the participants for a reduced cost from what it would be for a regular certification course. Also, for the first time, the participants were medically insured for one complete year by DAN (Diver’s Alert Network).
Congratulations to all the students who partook in this diving summer camp and a huge thank you to PADI, DAN, the San Pedro Tour Guide Association and Hol Chan Marine Reserve for having the children of San Pedro at heart and giving them this awesome opportunity to learn about the magnificent wonders of the underwater world.
