Kralendijk, Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean, April 2012

Dive Friends Bonaire, a PADI Five Star Instructor Development Center, has issued their 10,000th PADI certification.  The lucky student diver completed a continuing education program that is unique to Dive Friends Bonaire – the PADI Shore Diver Distinctive Specialty.

Amber Sills, a 28 year old accountant from Colorado, visited Bonaire with her fiance and parents to enjoy a dive vacation.  She was already a certified PADI Open Water Diver, but was looking for an opportunity to refresh her skills and become familiar with Bonaire’s shore diving sites.

The PADI Shore Diver Distinctive Specialty was the perfect course for Amber and her fiance to sign up for.  This two-dive specialty teaches divers to plan and conduct independent shore dives. They learn how to pick their dive sites, plan their dives, choose entry and exit points, navigate and problem-solve.

To celebrate this landmark achievement, a commemorative plaque was issued by PADI and Amber was awarded a new Litehawk BCD and MK2/R295 regulator system, compliments of Scubapro.

Even though Dive Friends is a busy dive school, the student-to-instructor ratios are kept low to ensure that individual students receive the attention that they need.  The majority of certifications issued by the experienced instructors of Dive Friends are Open Water.  However, last year alone, they certified hundreds of students in various continuing education programs such as Full Face Mask Diver and Shore Diver.

Dive Friends Bonaire is one of Bonaire’s premier diving facilities offering full diving and snorkeling services while still providing personal attention. Three retail stores are available in Kralendijk, in addition to four diving facilities. For additional information about all their services contact Dive Friends Bonaire: Phone +(599) 717-2929, Fax +(599) 717-2929 Web: www.dive-friends-bonaire.com, Email: [email protected]