In 2026, PADI marks its 60th anniversary — six decades of helping millions discover the underwater world, explore new horizons and pass on traditions. This is also a celebration of shared connection underwater, and the Wijnands family in the Netherlands is one example of just that – three generations sharing a love for scuba diving and memories underwater together.
Otto: The Spark of Adventure
It all began with (grandfather) Otto in the early 1990s. A business partner already dived and took him along to a local dive center. Otto completed his PADI Open Water Diver course and was instantly hooked. He quickly went on to earn his PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification, and he had his sights set on the Maldives. There, he experienced a drift dive that still makes him smile, “I just let go. I was flying.”
He has dived all over the Netherlands, but the wreck of the Aboukir in the North Sea still stands out above the rest. Although Otto always appears utterly unflappable, he admits, “I was genuinely nervous about diving in the North Sea.” Then came the day when the water was exceptionally clear; the visibility was unlike anything he had ever experienced. He could see farther than he thought possible — and from that moment on, the Aboukir became his firm favorite.
For years, Otto was the only diver in the family. But the sea was always part of their lives. In Croatia and later in southern France, his sons Dennis and Ramon spent hours snorkelling. Later, grandsons Bram and Thomas followed in their footsteps.
The highlight came in Thailand, 2023: Otto finally dived with his children and grandchildren. “I’d wanted that for so long!” he said. It left him wanting more. Now he dreams of diving in some of the many lakes in the Netherlands with his grandsons.
Bep: Curiosity Triumphs Over Cold
Otto’s wife, Bep, took up diving, because she wanted to see what lay beneath her snorkeling mask. “I’d always been curious about the deep,” she told us. Otto’s stories of the Maldives helped, too.
She earned her Open Water Diver certification in winter, in freezing Dutch waters. It was snowing. Many students dropped out. Bep didn’t. It was tough, but she persevered. “I regretted it with every fibre of my being, but I’m glad I stuck with it,” she remarked.
Her favorite dives are warm and colorful — sardines and turtles in the Philippines and manta rays in Egypt playing with her bubbles. “I’ll never forget that,” she said.
But the moment that truly touched her was in Thailand. She saw her husband, her son and her two grandsons diving together along the reef. “I was so proud. And above the water, those boys’ stories left Grandpa beaming.”
Dennis: The Eldest Son and Proud Father
Dennis always thought it was cool that his dad dived, and he wanted to be part of it, too. In 1995, he earned his certification alongside Ramon and a cousin at the same dive school where their parents had learned to dive. Egypt, southern France and countless dives followed.
His most memorable moment was in Thailand, where three generations hovered together. As he remarked, “I’ll never forget it.”
When his sons Bram and Thomas were born in 2009, the cycle began anew. By age five, they were snorkelling four meters deep, and by eight, they were Bubblemakers. “Every fish was fascinating,” Dennis said, clearly enjoying their enthusiasm.
They dive less now — not for lack of interest, but because diving in the Netherlands is a logistical puzzle. Gear, transport, planning — and a dad to make it all happen. Meanwhile, the boys are growing up. Their schedules are filled with sports, friends, school and teenage priorities. They still want to dive, but it has to fit. Thailand remains a touchstone. “We’ll always carry that with us,” Dennis said.
Ramon: Active Family, Active Hobbies
Ramon, the younger son of Otto and Bep, grew up in a family that was always doing something — fishing, boating, skiing. Diving fit right in. “With young parents, you’re outdoors a lot. Diving was a natural step,” said Ramon.
He remembers the dive tables from his first course vividly. He and Dennis were competitive — no one wanted to score lower on the final test. Ramon remembered, “We gave it everything.”
His favorite dive? The Philippines — the same one his mother speaks of so fondly – where they watched a turtle gliding through a massive school of sardines, light filtering perfectly, the fish parting like a silver curtain. “That image is etched in my mind,” Ramon said.
When Bram and Thomas began diving, Ramon saw himself and Dennis in them. “They’re so much like my brother. That enthusiasm — I recognized it instantly.”
Bram and Thomas: The Future of the Tradition
The grandsons talk over each other, matching each other’s energy.
Thomas recalls Vinkeveen, a lake close to Amsterdam. During the course, a large fish suddenly appeared. “I was really startled,” he laughed. His favorite moment? Seeing the coral in Thailand, while diving with his dad and granddad. “That was really cool,” he told us.
Bram especially remembers the buoyancy exercise they completed while hovering above a shipwreck’s hull and, of course, the sharks in Thailand. “At first it was scary, then super relaxed,” he remembered.
Both want to dive again — in the Netherlands, southern France, anywhere. And whenever the dive club that the whole family belongs to organizes something, they’re there.
Share the Adventure With Someone You Love
Stories like this remind us that diving is even better when it’s shared. Whether it’s a partner, a child, a parent or a lifelong friend, introducing someone you care about to the underwater world can turn a single course into a lifetime of memories.
Through PADI’s Refer-A-Friend program, it’s easier than ever to invite someone into diving and start building your own shared tradition beneath the surface. When you share a referral link with someone, they get 20% off the PADI Open Water Diver eLearning course on padi.com, and you get 20% continuing education eLearning courses for 30 days. Seek adventure, save the ocean and help someone you love take their first breath underwater.
This article was written by guest blogger Hanno Weima. Hanno is the co‑owner and travel blogger behind the Dutch travel website grijsopreis.nl. A ‘retired’ PADI Master Instructor, he still teaches the occasional course, but most of his dives these days are purely recreational — sometimes in the chilly waters of the Netherlands, though far more often in the tropics. His writing blends a love of travel with years of diving experience, offering readers practical insights, honest reflections and a touch of adventure from destinations near and far.
