Diving the Blue Hole in Belize had been a dream since getting certified in 2016, so when the PADI Club trip to San Pedro was announced in 2023, I knew it was my opportunity. What I didn’t know was the impact Belize would have on me.

I arrived on my own, but I wasn’t alone for long. I immediately connected with the rest of the group—great people from all walks of life. I continued to build connections; the shop staff were personable, approachable and interactive. As I got to know them more, I started asking questions about the culture and what it’s like to live in Belize, and our evening trips to town introduced me to the culture and community through the local cuisine.

Belize was different from other places I’d traveled. The people were so genuine, and I could not believe how warm and helpful they were. At first, I thought it was just because I was mostly engaging with businesses that are in the tourism and hospitality industry, but after more than one stranger actively engaged me just to say hello or provide a helpful suggestion, I knew it had to be part of the Belizean culture.

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I felt a connection with one of the divemasters on the boat, Andy. Andy’s passion was contagious. From sharing in the excitement with us when we saw something cool to the level of detail he provided in his dive briefings, you could just tell that he loved his job and enjoyed creating a memorable experience for those who dive with him.

When the last day of diving came to an end, I knew I wanted to stay in touch with him. When I got back home, I sent Andy a simple message to thank him for the amazing time I had in Belize. What started with a simple thank you has now grown into a great friendship. After returning from Belize, I couldn’t stop thinking about how amazing that trip was.

Fast-forward nine months: I had been laid off from my corporate job and was thinking about going into business for myself. And then I got an idea. What if I also took this opportunity to just move to Belize? At first, it seemed a little crazy; more like a fantasy than a plan. But as I started looking into what it would take to turn this dream into a reality, I realized it wouldn’t be as hard and complicated as I originally thought. I was planning to start a business offering leadership coaching and development services, which can be provided online, meaning I could live anywhere I wanted. With that realization, I got to work.

Now I’m on a journey to make this dream happen. Since that first trip to Belize, I’ve made two additional trips and found new Belizean friends on each one. My goal is to combine my passion for scuba diving with my professional passion for leadership development and launch my own leadership development company called Dive Deep Development, where I can help leaders become the best version of themselves while drawing upon lessons from scuba diving.

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When I signed up for the PADI Club trip to Belize, I had no idea it would change the trajectory of my life. If someone at the time had suggested leaving my corporate job and moving to Belize, I would have thought they were crazy. But now, that’s the dream I’m pursuing. It’s been a wild ride, but I have enjoyed every minute of it and look forward to whatever happens next.

Q & A With the Writer

Question: Tell us about your experience getting your Open Water Scuba Certification?

Answer: The first day was rough. I’m not gonna lie. Both my brother and I were good swimmers. However, neither of us had been snorkeling or through a PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience or anything. Underwater mask skills and learning to mouth breathe proved particularly challenging. I remember asking my instructor if it is even possible to breathe just through your mouth and not at all through the nose without pinching it or having a mask on? The dive instructor assured us he’d help us achieve our skills, provided we didn’t give up. The following day, we spent an additional 45 minutes before our confined water training started building confidence in our mask and breathing skills. By the end of the weekend, my brother and I successfully advanced to our open water dive training.

Q: What other courses have you taken since getting your Open Water certification?

A: Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver and Master Scuba Diver. Dive specialtie courses I've completed include Enriched Air (Nitrox), Deep Diver, Digital Underwater Photographer, GoPro PADI Distinctive Specialty, Underwater Navigator, Mine Diver (specific to Bonne Terre Mine in Missouri), Peak Performance Buoyancy and Wreck Diver.

**Q: Tell us about one of your most memorable dives. **

A: My all-time favorite dive was the Corsair wreck off Oahu, Hawaii. I actually hated history in school because it was more about facts and figures. But as an adult, I love going to see or personally experience history. It's not the facts and dates that I enjoy learning about, but the stories and what it was like. Not many wrecks are true wrecks, and as a WWII enthusiast, the experience of diving a real WWII era plane wreck was an experience I just couldn't pass up. The divemaster shared that the wreck area can have some heavy current, and while the viz is usually good, the water is often hazy. The day I dove the Corsair, there was hardly any current, and the water was crystal clear. I was in complete awe as I swam around the fuselage of a real fighter plane now resting on the bottom of the ocean. Then two days later I had the honor of visiting Pearl Harbor. That is a dive experience I will never forget and always cherish.

Q: What do you enjoy about being a PADI Club member?

A: One of the biggest reasons to belong to PADI Club is to be a part a community of people who are just as passionate about diving and the ocean as you are. Particularly for someone living in a landlocked state, like I do now, PADI Club helps me feel connected to the scuba community between dive trips. Since then, though, the discount on courses for additional training has been very useful. The amount I saved on the Rescue Diver course paid for a full year of PADI Club membership.

PADI Club Member Spotlight

This story is brought to you by Tyler Clapp, a PADI Master Scuba Diver. As a PADI Club member, he takes advantage of the trips and magazine subscription: “Originally, I joined for the discounts and to receive a physical copy of Scuba Diving magazine. But after joining, I really appreciated the community of divers that PADI Club brought together.” He loves to dive into the gear content in the magazine. “My favorite column is ScubaLab. I enjoy learning about new gear, and Robby’s tester reviews have helped me in a number of scuba gear purchases.”

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