Scuba Schools International (SSI) starts a unique project “Scuba on Schools”

Bonaire is well known as one of the most beautiful dive destinations in the world. Most divers appreciate it when going on holiday that they will be guided and served by local people to taste culture of the country they visit.
But for most young people it is not within their reach to become a dive instructor because of the cost of this training.

There for Rob van de Vechte, Area Manager of SSI Dutch Antilles and Aruba Area Office initiated the Project “Scuba on Schools”. This project gives local students the opportunity to learn the profession of Dive Instructor, in the biggest industry of Bonaire, at the SBO department of the SGB.
In a study of 3 years they will learn diving up from Open Water Diver to Divemaster or Open Water Instructor. Next to that the school will also teach the students the languages Dutch, English and Spanish. Also technical training in welding, outboard engines and compressor maintenance is part of the study.
With this project SSI want students to be able to learn a profession on their own island and be able to work there also. With these qualifications they have also the opportunity to work all over the world at one of the more then 2.500 SSI Dive Centers.
All SSI Dive Resorts on Bonaire (Bonaire Dive and Adventure, Wannadive, Tropical Divers, Black Durgon Inn and Toucan Diving) will support this project by internships and other activities.
As an addition on the magical words of the SSI founder Bob Clark, Rob van de Vechte would like to say: “Let Them Start and Never Let Them Quit”.

SSI Dutch Antilles & Aruba
Rob van de Vechte
Area Manager
Bonaire

Rob
A great program and I'm glad to see that you're getting support from the local diveshops. I know there's a lot of us divers that follow Bonairetalk and I was wondering if you have need for used ...but good condition.....gear. I'm sure that there are more like me that have gear that we've upgraded or outgrown (I have a 3 mil full wetsuit that shrank in storage....that's my story and I'm sticking to it) that I'd love to offer if you have need for gear. Just let me know where I can drop stuff off and you'll get a package from Cheezy Joe in mid april.

Keep up the good work.

CJ

Hi CJ,
Your response makes people happy. We get so much positive response on the program and YES we can use all kind of support since because of the fall of the Dutch Government any funding is unsure for now, and we don't want to disappoint the students. This program will work. You can contact me when you are here at 701 0900 or rob@ssi.an. Thx for your support.

Sounds like a great opportunity for all involved!

That's very good news.

Cmon DIVERS
I dropped a "little too small" wetsuit (I swear it had shrunk in my closet between trips) off at BDA for this program when we were on Bonaire last week. Got a nice email of thanks back from Rob at SSI.

I don't know bout the rest of you but I seem to accumulate gear and never let anything go, this would be a way to make room for new stuff.

This seems to me to be a great idea for helping local kids learn an avocation and a vocation and it cleaned out some luggage space for me. I'd also hazard a guess that this could maybe even somewhere down the road get a youngster a good job and keep them out of trouble, maybe with some impact on the "crime situation" on the island.

Gotaloadoflaundry

Joe