First Ni-Vanuatu Dive Instructor Certified

Vanuatu Daily Post, May 13, 2005

Henree Brown Worek has become the first Ni-Vanuatu Dive Instructor to be certified in Vanuatu. It has been Henry’s dream to become a dive instructor ever since his first dive experience in 1999 but the course and exams required to become an Instructor have never been available in Santo, where Henry lives.

Barry Holland, Managing Director of Aquamarine, has been a long time supporter of Henree and played an active role in making the IDC and IE available to Henry.

Earlier this month, Henree’s dream became reality when a group from Aquatic Adventures dive shop in Melbourne, led by David Ballard, came to Santo to run a PADI Instructor Development Course. The course was held at Deco Stop Lodge with dive support services provided by Aquamarine and Henree was presented with his certification as an Instructor on April 17.

Henree was born on Mota Lava and has lived on many of Vanuatu’s islands. He completed High School on Ambae before attending INTV in Port Vila and Honiare Technical Institute in the Solomon Islands. Henree then traveled around various parts of Australia while working as an engineer with the Vanuatu Navy and Royal Australian Navy. Throughout his life, he has held a strong respect and love for the ocean.

In 1999, Henry began working with Aquamarine dive shop in Santo. It was here that Henry first put on scuba gear and saw a whole new world underwater. “I couldn’t believe what I saw,” says Henry. “There is so much life in the oceans and so much to see.”

While working with Aquamarine, Henry completed his PADI Open Water Diver course, his Advanced Diver Course, First Aid training, PADI Rescue Diver training and a PADI Divemaster course. All of this training is required before becoming an instructor and provides a vast array of knowledge in the physics and physiology of diving as well as how to work with and help other divers.

After completing this training, a diver must complete a 10-day (full time) Instructor Development Course (IDC) taught by a certified PADI Course Director and then pass a 2-day Instructor Examination (IE) in which the student is evaluated by an Examiner from one of PADI’s head offices.

“Aquamarine was fantastic. I felt completely confident with the guides and they are all so professional and friendly.”

PADI, the Professional Association of Dive Instructors, is one of the world’s most popular dive agencies and is well know for its professionalism and safety in diving. PADI is very interested in seeing Vanuatu continue to develop as a world famous dive destination and so the decision was made to run both an IDC and an IE in Vanuatu.

Although an Alternate Location IDC, the course came under the umbrella of Aquatic Adventures in Melbourne. Deco Stop Lodge, owned by Cathie de Koyeur, was the perfect alternate site for the IDC course with its conference room, swimming pool, restaurant and easy access to the Coolidge, Million Dollar Point and all of Santo’s open water dive sites.

As the most highly qualified dive operator in Vanuatu, Aquamarine was asked to provide logistical and diving support services. Aquamarine has been diving on the SS President Coolidge for over 17 years. Their guides are well trained in deep and wreck diving procedures and they take extreme care to look after their guests.

When the IDC candidate weren’t in class, Aquamarine took them diving on the Coolidge. They were all amazed at the diving available in Santo. “Diving the Coolidge was the most incredible diving I’ve ever done,” said Steph Lawlor, one of the IDC Candidates, “and Aquamarine was absolutely fantastic. I felt completely confident with the guides and they are all so friendly and professional.”

Henree was accompanied on the IDC by six other candidates from different parts of the world. Jen Spry was one, originally from New York City and now a resident of Vanuatu and Manager of Aquamarine. Other candidates were Deena Lipkies, an Australian ex-pat now residing in Costa Rica, as well as four candidates from the William Angliss Institute of TAFE in Melbourne; Stephanie Lawlor, Jacqui Price, Kat Vcelka and Joel White.

PADI Asia-Pacific sent experienced Instructor Examiner Richard Evans to officiate the exams. After two days of exams, presentations, rescue evaluations and skill circuits, all the candidates together with Henree were celebrating their graduation as PADI Instructors.

Henree is hoping to use his new status as a Dive Instructor to help train other Ni Vanuatu divers. Dave Ballard said “I believe that Henree is a great role model and that with his help, more Ni-Vanuatu will be introduced to diving and I expect that some will take their diving to leadership levels.”

Barry Holland, Managing Director of Aquamarine, has been a long time supporter of Henree and played an active role in making the IDC and IE available to Henree. “I am certain that Henree will succeed as a Dive Instructor,” he said. “His enthusiasm for diving is truly infectious and his teaching style puts students at ease.”

This was just the first IDC and IE that PADI have conducted in Santo and it was a true success. We hope there will be many more to come.