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Katie’s Top Two Dive Sites

Katie Alpers completely changed her career path at an age when many of us are resigned to our working fates. A creative and energetic chick from the UK, Katie discovered that she would rather be outdoors in the Caribbean sun every day than in an office sitting behind a computer. Go figure.
 
She was born in Nottinghamshire and studied graphic design at university, yet the course didn’t appeal to her and she left a year later. It’s amazing how one can gain perspective six months after such decisions, particularly when one gets a job as a bartender at Centre Parcs holiday village in Sherwood Forest. Yessir, the mint green uniform, complete with mint green bowtie and hideous tan tights certainly had Katie cutting a stylish figure – did I mention the puffy sleeves? She stuck it out for three years before happily packing away the costume forever. Time to head off to London for a course in window displays and virtual merchandising.
 
From there she found employment with a company in Battersea, creating window displays for Tiffany & Co., Dunhill and Wedgewood. It wasn’t long before she was able to strike out on her own as a freelance designer and she spent eight years in the area before moving north to Lythan to work for an import company. While there, Katie went on vacation with her parents to Egypt, which led to her introduction to diving. Despite some hiccups in the learning process, she ended her trip with an open water certification under her belt. She continued her studies through a dive shop in Blackpool and completed her instructor training with an exam in Malta.
 
Throughout this period Katie was still working as a designer in the UK, but once she had finished her dive certifications, she began to consider the benefits of moving to warmer climes. She took an instructor job in the Red Sea for a month whilst applying for positions elsewhere. A spot opened up in Grand Cayman at Red Sail Sports in July 2001 and she happily flew over to the Caribbean with a new life in mind. Unfortunately 9/11 happened three months later and she found herself out of work due to a downturn in business. Luckily Captain Don’s Cayman Diver came along to hire her, which worked out in two different ways: She had another job and she was about to meet her future husband who worked for the same company.
 
Although Katie took a break from the dive industry a couple of years later, she and her now hubby Chris realised that they wanted to start their own business. Indigo Divers was born in August 2004, and it was a bumper first month until Hurricane Ivan hit the Islands. As she puts it, it “suddenly went horribly quiet.” They weathered the storm and have gone from strength to strength ever since.
 
Katie prides herself on the personalised service that Indigo offers. A maximum of six divers can luxuriate on their 28ft Sea Ray Bowrider, rent gear and enjoy the best sites around with Katie and Chris as their guides. Indigo does not provide training, choosing to concentrate instead on giving certified divers the vacation they’ve dreamed of. They must be doing something right, as their repeat business increases every year.   WH