In August 2025, our very first Eco-Diver program came to a proud conclusion as five incredible young Antiguans — Aunjelique, Hilah, Iman, Lizandro, and Skylie — became certified Advanced Open Water Divers. Over several months, they not only mastered their dive skills but also dove into fascinating lessons on marine ecology, coral restoration, sea turtles, plastics, and fish identification.
Each day began with inspiring talks from guest speakers, followed by afternoons in the water honing their diving abilities. By July, all five had earned their PADI certifications and proved themselves to be natural divers with a real passion for protecting our reefs.
Now, as new members of the ABOT Volunteer Diver group, they’ll continue diving alongside experienced mentors, building confidence until they’re ready to lead reef cleanup dives themselves. We can’t wait to see them grow into “Lead Divers” soon!
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Dive Carib team — Louis Evans, Leigh Cunningham, Mona Walsh, and Burton — whose guidance and support made this first course such a success.