Sandton SCUBA

FEATURED DIVE OPERATOR OF THE WEEK : SANDTON SCUBA We are a PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre situated in the Riverside shopping centre in Bryanston. We have a dedicated team of professionals, from instructors to sales staff waiting to cater for your every scuba and snorkelling need. Our team is aided by full on-site facilities, incorporating training pool, classroom equipped with audio visual training aids and comprehensive, well maintained school scuba gear. Nitrox and Air Filling Station. All training is done on site. We have one of the best-stocked retail scuba gear shops in Johannesburg,. Come and visit us or go to our website at www.sandtonscuba.co.za. Our aim is to provide the best quality training while keeping it fun. We offer courses ranging from Open Water Scuba Diver to the Instructor Development Course. Specialists in Land and Underwater Photography and Videography.

Q.	So Simon, how did you get into the diving game?
A.	Well I grew up in Pretoria and did a ‘Master Frogman’ course as a scout back in 1986. It’s an old NAUI course, and the equipment was basic back then – and no wetsuits. I remember we did our navigation in Roodeplaat dam, cold and not much viz. But I was hooked and have been blowing bubbles ever since.

Q.	And how many dives since then?
A.	Somewhere between 6000 and 7000. I stopped counting a while back.

Q.	And you’re still enjoying it?
A.	Yeah, yesterday I was cleaning the pool and ended up spending an hour and a half at the bottom. Best part of my week!

Q.	And professionally?
A.	At one stage I was running a fish & chip shop and decided that there has to be more to life than this! Did my instructors course, sold up, and headed off to Mozambique for a life of beaches, sunshine and diving.

Q.	How long did that last?
A.	A month (laughs).

Q.	A month? One month?
A.	Yeah well I got sick and had to come back, but the experience taught me that just diving just one spot wasn’t for me. So I came back to Joburg and Gabby and I started a small dive operation. We decided better to be based in Joburg and get to travel to different diving destinations. We ran that for a number of years and then bought Sandton Scuba in 2007. Been here ever since.

Q.	You’d recommend the diving life?
A.	For sure. Look, its hard work and long hours, and running a business can be stressful. But if you get it right you can make a decent living, and the lifestyle is great. We get to travel a lot and dive some very cool spots.

Q.	Any interesting trips coming up?
A.	Yeah, to India and the Andaman Islands. I’ve heard about this diving elephant in the Andamans (well, freediving anyway) and once saw a photo of it taken from below. I thought that would make a cool shot, so made some enquiries. The guy tells me “Yes he still dives, but he is a grumpy old fellow and only dives when he wants to”. So we will have to see if he’s in the mood (laughs)

Q.	Any message for our readers.
A.	YES! Guys, please use your dive operators! I know that there are sometimes good deals from international internet sites but dive gear and dive travel are personal things, not like buying a new ipod. You need support and back-up, and that is where we come in. When one of our guys has problems with gear, or on a trip, we make a plan and sort it out. The web is a big and pretty cold place really, and there is no-one to turn to when things go tits-up. Diving is something that needs to happen in a supportive community, and that’s where we come in.

Q.	Cheers Simon, thanks mate.
A.	Thanks guys, looking forward to the next issue.

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