Roatán Marine Park Makes a Splash

Roatán Marine Park has introduced a new program aimed at teaching underprivileged youths how to dive in open water. The name of this program is ‘Creating awareness and providing an alternative to the youth of Roatán through diving.’

Founded in April this year, the program has a number of goals: to get youths off the streets and into doing something positive and constructive and to teach them awareness of the environment and conservation, especially as Roatán is home to some endangered species such as sea turtles. These include giving youths a skill that may not have been accessible to them before.

As a result, the program gives these youths proficiency in something that may help with future employability in the long run as the program also aims to provide economic alternatives by giving local young adults (approximately between 18 and 25) the opportunity to become divemasters. The qualifications that are awarded allow them to become Certified PADI Open Water Divers and Divemasters.

So what exactly is open water diving and why is it so important that one be qualified? Open water diving is a flexible term but it is basically when one person is certified to go diving along with another person. This means people can dive recreationally in an environment other than a swimming pool but with no overhead obstacles; examples include lakes, rivers and oceans. This is important because it allows divers to dive independently without needing the supervision of other qualified divers.

PADI instructor Julio A. Gutierrez spent five days teaching teenagers as part of the pilot program. He explained that it was important for them to have instructors to explain important technical terms such as water density as well demonstrating water safety issues. The course involved practical and theoretical lessons and the students had to demonstrate competency in the water. This was done through exercises in a calm environment and then the final examination dive is done in open water. The children he taught were between the ages of twelve and seventeen. While the program is aimed primarily at teenage boys, girls are also accepted.

At this moment, this program needs more volunteers, especially Spanish speaking instructors. Again, it is important to have instructors who can explain the rules and regulations of open water diving in laymen’s terms. Instructors are paid a small stipend for their time, thanks to the sponsorship of Roatan Marine Park, as well as different dive shops from West End (Native Sons, Ocean Connections and West End Divers).

There is sufficient funding to instruct another four divemasters and eighteen open water divers but in order to remain a long-term program; Roatan Marine Park needs continuous funding. Roatan Marine Park is looking at this as a long-term program that aims to build role models in the community. While the program is still new, there is hope that it can be expanded into other areas of benefit for the community.

For more information, please visit the Marine Park’s website at www.roatanmarinepark.com