Sidebar:
Jeni's Tips"
Working as a dive instructor isn’t for everyone. You have to be willing to get up early in the morning, lift heavy tanks, and be outdoors rain or shine. But the benefits… imagine never having to wear a tie again, imagine the sand between your toes and the crystal clear sea just awaiting your arrival. It’s not for everyone, but those who do the job are some of the happiest people on earth.
Take Jeni Chapman at Divetech for example – the very definition of enthusiasm when she talks about her Scuba diving life. Born in the UK, she and her family moved to Australia when she was six years old. She grew up in Melbourne and did indulge in some recreational swimming, but the waters off the coast of the southernmost state were less than warm and therefore not always inviting. She took an early interest in Environmental Science, but ended up working in IT when she left school, first with HP and then as a team leader on the Australia Post National Helpdesk.
As all Aussies seem to do, she took a six-week vacation that ended in Thailand. She had taken a couple of resort courses in the past, but here in Thailand she decided to take her Open Water Certification course. The bug immediately bit, and before she made it back to Melbourne she got her Rescue Diver as well.
There was no doubt that Jeni’s priorities shifted on that trip. Even before she looked at six weeks of backlogged emails she was booking her next diving course at a shop on the northeast coast. It wasn’t long before she took a six-month sabbatical so she could intern as a Divemaster at a dive company in Thailand. She might have stayed longer if she hadn’t had to return to Australia for a major project, but the minute it was finished she was back to Thailand… for three months supposedly. Six months later her boss called to say that her job was still open, but did she still want it? Jeni decided that diving was the path she wanted to take and had friends pack up her office.
In December 2007 Jeni applied for a job through the PADI website, and got offered a place in the Cayman Islands. She accepted and flew to Grand Cayman and Resort Sports Divers at Beach Club on Seven Mile Beach.
A year-and-a-bit later, Jeni switched companies, which brought her to Divetech in West Bay. She relishes the position there because it brings lots of variety. She particularly likes teaching young children about the underwater world, but it’s a close contest with every other aspect of her job. She looks forward to getting up in the morning – can you imagine? It must be love! WH