There is a lot that Splash Dive Center does in and around
Placencia Village but to name one that is close to Patty’s heart and to Splash
Dive Instructor Team is the Juniors Club. Patty founded the Splash Kids Club,
which helps kids from the local community to get certified as PADI Junior Open
Water divers. “Not only does this help the kids enjoy the rewards of scuba
diving, but it gets them started on a potential career as a local guide or PADI
Instructor, and more importantly educates them about the importance of long
term environmental conservation and even better as the classes are free.” says
Patty.
So with that said Splash Dive Center is very proud to
congratulate and announce its first Dive Master Graduates, Norman & Edwin
Leslie. They are the first graduates of the Junior Club and are now Certified
Dive Master. Their Patience, along with
team work of the instructors and their determination they did it. The Instructors (Mark Castillo, Sean Faux,
and Warren Garbutt) were very pleased with the outcome of they’re performance.
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| Norman, (Proud Momma) Jodie, and Edwin Leslie |
Norman and Edwin started off in 2005, when they were just in
Standard 5, attending St. John’s Memorial Primary School; doing the PADI Junior
Open Water. After graduating in 2006 the boy moved to Florida, Miami Dade
County, where they started High School. Returning home for summer vacation in
2007, they continued with their Advance Open Water Certification, and in 2009
they finished off with their Emergency Frist Response & their Rescue Diver
Certification… Both boys did not want to stop there they had to top that by
taking it to the next level, in diving and becoming a Dive Master, getting
certified this year in August. If you look at the time frame and wonder why the
years gaps in between certification, the boys used this times to practice their
skills, and make up their dives, before advancing on to the next stage. This is
good practice.
Mrs. Jodie Leslie, is proud momma of both boys, and was with
them every step of the way, lending her helping hand. She could not be more
proud of the boys. When I asked her for a message for the boys or what she
thinks of them for becoming dive masters she said… “I am very proud of my boys
and thankful to Patty for giving them this unique opportunity for keeping them
in tuned with what they like doing and that’s being on the sea. The boys took a
spark to diving and realizing that diving and snorkeling is a part of the
living environment in Placencia. I am so proud of them for taking it to the
next level. I have always encouraged my boys to do their best at what they do
and I can see them as future guides and dive instruction in Placencia or
anywhere in the world.”
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| Norman & Edwin Leslie |
Splash encourages all young teenagers to join the Juniors
Club. They can choose to do the classes during the school year on Saturdays or
during the summer on their free time. Teenager must come in with a parent and
sit down with Patty to discuss class & time frame and parent must give
their consent allowing their child to take the classes. For more information on
the Juniors Club give us a call at 523-3080 or 523-3058, or e-mail Patty at
patricia@splashbelize.com
Splash would also like to thank the sponsors for making the
Juniors Club a success, without your financial support we would not be able to
give these kids a chance.
