Meet today’s featured diver, Wendy Saes, 33 year old Master Scuba Diver Trainer from the Netherlands who certainly has a passion for the underwater world of scuba diving!
When and where did you start diving?
I finished my first diving course in July 2011 in the Netherlands
Why did you start diving?
Since I was a 12 year old girl I wanted to dive. I adored everything that had anything to do with water. Unfortunately I only started diving when I was 28. Diving opened a lot of knew opportunities for me. I met a lot off nice people with the same passion, needed to learn how to trust others in the buddy system and breathing underwater is so special to me that I appreciate every breath I can take there.
What made you choose to become a dive professional?
In 2012 I did a rescue course in Malta. My instructor at that time asked me to think about doing a divemaster internship with the company he worked for. I started thinking about traveling and doing my DM course somewhere and after a few months of investigating I decided to do my divemaster and instructor course in Malysia. Why did I do it? I was ready for a new challenge in life and addicted to diving so it made sense to improve myself. I never expected it to be this wonderful, being in the water every day, giving people an experience of a lifetime.
Which is your favourite dive site and why?
I have a lot of favourite dive sites wolrdwide depending on the country.
In the Netherlands we have fresh water lakes and also salt water. I think my favourite divespot there is Boschmolenplas. A freshwater lake with lots off fish, good visibility and perfect place to educate new divers. In Malysia I dived in Sipadan with reef sharks which was amazing. In the Phillipines I saw a Sardine run and the pygmee seahorse. In Malta I dived a lot on wrecks. So I guess depending on what the country has to offer me I have a favourite place in every country where I travel.
What has been the most memorable dive of your life and why?
I guess the most memorable dive was in Abu Dabab Egypt, where I was diving around 10 turtles who were just enjoying their seagrass meal!
If you would come back as a marine life form in your next life, what would that be?
The mimic octopus would do it for me. This a fantastic animal who is very good in hiding and change into different fish.
Who is your dream dive buddy?
I guess my dream buddy would be my partner. Sharing the same underwater experience is amazing.
What dive locations are on your dream “bucket list” and why?
Wow, I have many dive locations on my bucket list and the more I travel and hear about nice diving places the bigger my list gets
But okay, I just name a few dreamplaces from my bucket list;
• I would love to dive in Bali, Indonesia with Manta rays and Mola Mola
• I would love to dive in the Galapagos Islands
• I would love to dive in Coron since wreck diving is one of my favourite things to do
• I would love to dive in Truck Lagoon in Australia, also wreck diving
• I would love to dive in Iceland to dive between two continents
What is on your bedside table right now?
Usually my phone and some creams to take care off my skin after every dive in the salt water. 🙂
What is your favourite piece of diving equipment and why?
All of my diving equipment is important to me because I trust it with my life. But the most important one is I guess my regulator, which is suitable for cold water diving. I did this a lot in the Netherlands. In Aqaba I’m happy to have my dive knife with me to remove illegal fishing lines and nets.
If you were to launch a campaign to raise awareness on a specific issue that affects divers, the oceans or marine life, what issue would you target and why?
I would do this about pollution and waste in general. Plastic pollution is a really big problem especially in the country where I live now.
Where will you be in 10 years and what will you be doing?
My dream would be owning or managing a dive center with a few cabins around. Where we can enjoy beautiful diving and have stunning landscapes around. It would be a place where families could stay and could enjoy a combination holiday of diving and other activities.
