At the age of eight, Sashaan Fernando took his first breath underwater through the PADI Bubblemaker program. Decades later, his lifelong pursuit of diving led him to become a Sri Lankan PADI Course Director. The PADI Course Director rating represents the highest level of professional achievement in the recreational diving industry, with fewer than 1% of dive professionals worldwide earning this prestigious distinction. It reflects exceptional expertise, leadership and a commitment to developing the next generation of diving instructors.
“From a young age, I was drawn to the ocean, and by 18 I became a PADI Divemaster, beginning my professional journey in diving. After gaining experience as a PADI Instructor, I wanted to take the next step in training dive professionals. My motivation was to bring instructor-level training to Sri Lanka and help local divers grow without needing to go abroad. My goal now is to train confident, high-quality dive professionals and conduct regular PADI IDCs (Instructor Development Courses) in Sri Lanka, contributing to the growth of the local dive industry,” says Fernando.
A Journey Built on Passion and Purpose
A dedicated PADI Member since 2013, Sashaan comes from a family of generational dive professionals. His parents are a PADI Master Instructor and a PADI IDC Staff Instructor, so it is no wonder that Sashaan carries forward a deep-rooted passion for the ocean and diver education. As a tec diving instructor, he also contributes significantly to Sri Lanka’s ever-growing tec diving community. For Sashaan, being a PADI Course Director is about more than credentials. It’s about the responsibility of guiding future dive leaders to uphold the highest standards of safety, professionalism and environmental awareness.
Sri Lanka, an Emerging Dive Destination
Sri Lanka has long been a famous tourist destination and is now an emerging premier diving destination for good reason. The island nation offers a remarkable variety of dive sites, from vibrant coral reefs to world-famous shipwrecks with a year-round diving season and rich marine biodiversity. These conditions make Sri Lanka an ideal destination for all levels of diver education. And, as marine tourism grows, so does the demand for highly skilled PADI Professionals.
A PADI IDC in Sri Lanka provides a well-rounded experience both in training and diving. Candidates benefit from diverse underwater environments while receiving personalized, high-quality mentorship. Fernando strongly believes that diving can be a sustainable and rewarding career path in Sri Lanka. With proper training and guidance, many local divers now have the opportunity to build successful careers as PADI Instructors, not only within the country but also globally.
Sashaan aims to inspire and mentor the next generation of PADI Professionals as the future of diving in Sri Lanka looks brighter than ever.
