Kidz At Sea SXM Coastal Cleanup Project Successfully Hosted Scuba Dive Opportunities for St Maarten Youth

Kidz at Sea’s SXM COASTAL CLEANUP project hosted 2 different Discover Scuba Dive days last month, in which a total of 24 youngsters were given the opportunity to try scuba diving for the first time.

As part of the SXM Coastal CleanUp project which trains young St Maarten adults to scuba dive perform underwater cleanups around the coastline, this extension of the programme gives 12–21-year-olds a chance to experience what scuba diving is about.

On the 8th of October, under the guidance of three PADI dive instructors in the pool at The Scuba Shop, 18 kids took part in a Pool Try Dive and were able to breathe underwater for the first time. This was the second Pool Try Dive held by Kidz at Sea’s SXM Coastal CleanUp project this year, with the first event having taken place in June.

The following Saturday, along with Dive Adventures, the SXM Coastal CleanUp project hosted 6 kids on the dive boat to complete a full PADI Discover Scuba Dive out at Divi Little Bay. This group learned and practiced some basic scuba diving skills under the guidance of the dive instructors and then enjoyed diving along the Divi peninsular amongst schools of fish and over the many starfish dotted over the bottom.

“Having St Maarten youth in the pool and out in the ocean trying scuba diving is super exciting” said Kim of The Scuba Shop. “Along with our 2 wonderful regular volunteer dive instructors I would like to extend a big thank you to dive instructor Leo of the MV Caribbean Explorer who also volunteered for this last Pool Try Dive day and look forward to more collaboration with this liveaboard dive vessel based here in St Maarten.”

The Kidz at Sea SXM Coastal CleanUp project is part of R4CR’s rebuilding of a stronger and cleaner Sint Maarten under its Trust Fund (administered by VNGI and overseen by The World Bank).