Every day, PADI Professionals change lives. They introduce people to the underwater world and give them a new perspective. Recently, Ayn Cando, became one of these life-changers. Here, she shares her story of becoming a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.
For 10 years, the corporate world left me feeling empty, unsatisfied and always stressed out.
Trying to escape one weekend, I got out of the city to de-stress. I went to a remote island and figured I might as well try the PADI Discover Scuba Diving program.
I loved it.
Naturally, I took the next step straight away and became a PADI Open Water Diver. I was still working 9 hours a day in a cubicle, staring at a computer screen and just diving on the side. The water constantly called to me and eventually I gave in to it.
So I quit the corporate world, dropped everything and moved to an island. Then I worked my way up to be a full time PADI Divemaster and the idea of living in the city was a distant memory. I couldn’t imagine going back to that way of life.
I live pretty simply now – no fancy clothes, make-up and shoes, no fancy lifestyle and all that goes with it – but I’m so happy.
It hasn’t been an easy ride. I struggled with physics, but my PADI Course Director, Bas and Staff Instructors Jose and Mark went the extra mile to help me understand and make sure I was ready – for this I’ll be forever grateful. There were sleepless nights and it was hard work but it was absolutely worth it.
It’s not just my work environment that’s changed. Being a diver has changed my whole outlook on life. Now, I make a conscious effort to be more environmentally friendly and am more cautious about not damaging and marine life and living things in general.
I never knew how amazing the underwater world could be. I never could’ve imagined that today I would be a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor – and it all started with the PADI Discover Scuba Diving program.
Now, I have the chance to show others and educate them about how to take care of it too!
