2018- A quick review for Dreamers Dive Academy Timor
Intro
This time last year (2018) Dreamers was a concept already in existence, created by Kate Barker and Ivan S.Loria Shelley. However, Dreamers Dive Academy Timor was still in it’s planning stages. The very very early planning stages, so much so it didn’t even have it’s name a year ago.
Luckily, we have come a long way since then!
Courses
From Timorese open water students to Timorese Rescue courses. Enjoyable Solo diving, Sidemount, Nitrox and deep packages with students coming all the way from the States.
Mentionable are the Rescue and Cprox combinations. A great way to learn to take care of other divers
Deep diving, navigation, night and TDI nitrox specialties to expand divers experiences and levels.
We leveled up to teaching TDI Advanced nitrox and TDI decompression procedures courses and certified a good number of students too!
Additionally, 2018 saw us train the first SDI divemaster in East Timor! Then she become a full staff member helping the company to thrive in fun diving and private guiding.
Workshop
Regulator and BCD services have become a regular request.
Visual inspections of 100s of tanks from 3 different companies and more individulas. Completed the first hydrostic testing in Timor Leste. Testing more than 50 tanks.
Tailor made trips
Planning courses mixed with fun dives mixed with family time and friendships. Primarily just a great way to be reinspired by diving. Secondarily the food and juices offered are approved by our divers. Not to mention exploring all that Timor Leste has to offer. Including Atauro island. Diving and sightseeing whilst learning more about the ecosystem. We love to make combinations of things that interest you.
Although the year mostly started out with friends and contacts visiting us (thank you everyone who did) eventually we began having people booking because of our social media or website. Also comments on sites like TripAdvisor began to help too. Hopefully, more of those testomonials are coming in 2019.
Environmental education
Firstly important to note our presentations and snorkeling with local youths of ENVAC.
Plus we have been going into schools to give short presentations.
Presentation topics; Waste management education combined with beach clean ups. Also the best and worst sides of tourism and the relevence in East Timor.
Additionally, we organised various snorkelling trips with “youth off the streets” to teach them all about their marine environment. We are excited for more ventures like this in 2019.
DDAT is also looking into expanding this area of focus by moving more towards teaching diving to locals.
To the future
Some of our aims and focuses for this coming new year;
Expansion of our technical diving courses and equipment
The certification of Melky as a dive master and hopefully upgrading him and Kayla to instructor level
Opening an office front
Hiring of a company driver and potential for more staff
More outreach, sponsorship and training of local Timorese in Martine conservation and aquatic activities
Continuation of workshop activities
Expansion of equipment and retail services
Although it has only been three months we are so looking forward to the next and the next and the future!!!
Contact Dreamers Dive Academy Timor
To find out more about what we do; courses or snorkeling and diving in East Timor check out our…
OR email us; info@timordiveacademy.com
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