Syed Abd Rahman, PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and Director of Kids Scuba in Malaysia, paid a visit in late May to the PADI Asia Pacific office.
Kids Scuba, a PADI 5 Star Dive Centre, have been providing children in Kuala Lumpur access to the great sport that is scuba diving – along with an education about the importance of marine conservation.
PADI Asia Pacific executives, Henrik Nimb (Vice President, Marketing, Education & Business Development), Danny Dwyer (Senior Director, Marketing & Business Development and Sales & Field Services) and Mike Holme (Director, Training & Quality Management), took the opportunity to present Syed with an award for Kids Scuba’s Outstanding Contribution to Diver Education in 2014 – in recognition of their ongoing quality of diver training, initiatives and achievements.
Mike Holme acknowledged, “Kids Scuba has been responsible for introducing scuba diving to children in a safe and enjoyable manner and in addition, allowing them to interact with the marine environment by actively participating in turtle research. This means the kids will hopefully go on to become certified PADI divers and at the same time, pass on an important message about caring for the marine environment. The quality of the training they have received from Kids Scuba will facilitate this transition to certified diver.”
Syed explained to PADI the difference in teaching kids to scuba dive as opposed to training adults in the activity. “To train kids, you need dedication, perseverance and a totally difference approach. We make it fun for them with cartoon characters such as ‘Nemo’ anchored in the pool and colorful things they are familiar with in the water. When kids are excited about something – they find mastering skills and discipline easier. We also engage the parents in our program. The incentive for the kids to do well – not only with their scuba training but also their academic work in school – leads to the possible reward of them joining Kids Scuba Camp with their families at the end of the year in the fabulous diving locations of Sabah. Here they get to experience clown fish colonies and see the real underwater world that spectacular Mabul and Sipadan Islands have to offer.”
Syed has been organising Kids Scuba Camps at end of each year since 2005. The camps provide an excellent opportunity of bringing children, parents and other individual divers together to not only dive in great locations such as Tioman Island, Perhentian Island and Mabul & Sipadan Islands, but to provide a great social atmosphere where the fun of diving and Project AWARE education combine.
“We would like to express and record our sincere appreciation to PADI Asia Pacific for the tremendous support and kind assistance to the Kids Scuba Dive Team and students for PADI’s Outstanding Contribution to Diver Education Award 2014”, added Syed. “It was certainly a pleasure to meet the PADI Asia Pacific staff this week. Your assistance, contribution and the personal touch from your professional team members and all the PADI professionals throughout – has given us the opportunity to enhance and extend the sport of scuba diving to many new juniors student divers. Again, thank you and we could not have made it possible without your support!”
PADI Asia Pacific again congratulates Kids Scuba on receiving a PADI award for “Outstanding Contribution to Diver Education – 2014”.
You can find more about Kids Scuba by visiting kidsscuba.com
(L to R): Danny Dwyer (Senior Director, Marketing & Business Development and Sales & Field Services, PADI Asia Pacific), Mike Holme (Director, Training & Quality Management, PADI Asia Pacific), Syed Abd Rahman (PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and Director of Kids Scuba in Malaysia) and Henrik Nimb (Vice President, Marketing, Education & Business Development, PADI Asia Pacific).
