PADI EMEA has recently announced the winners of the Elite Instructor My PADI Challenge: 15 PADI Professionals who certified more people between July and October than they did during the same four-month period last year.
Considering the tough times Egypt diving industry is facing (due to the lack of tourism) it is a source of pride to have, among the winners, two Egyptian Instructors both based in Dahab!
It is with great joy that I present you Asharaf and Hassan: respectively winners of the ‘100 level’ and ’50 level’.
Let’s start with Asharaf!
Asharaf, tell us about your diving background:
I did my first dive ever in 1997 …I liked it a lot, so i decided that this was my career: I took my Open water course and Advanced in 2001. Then PADI Divemaster 2004 and enjoyed working as a PADI pro until 2009 when I upgraded my level to PADI instructor. I loved it so much and I am making the best out of it by trying to help all divers to become a professional and to enjoy it.
How do you feel to be part of the exclusive group of Elite Instructors?
I am the happiest person on earth !
What helped you, personally and professionally, in achieving the goal of winning the challenge?
Long time teaching and learning and diving. My crew and colleagues. And the great way and materials that PADI provides me.
Which message would you like to deliver to those who are reluctant to visiting Egypt?
Come back now!! It’s great fun and safe here in EGYPT.
…and now we want to know something about Hassan!
Hassan, tell us about your diving background:
I started diving in 2001; I always had a passion for underwater discovery, it was a passion that ignited once I first set foot into my suit and had my first dive, after finishing my studies I was determined to finish my DM course; which I got done in 2006. As I grew more experienced with diving, my passion grew with it. But I wanted to do more. I wanted to teach people how to dive so that I can help them discover and share the wonders of scuba diving so I decided to get my OWSI + MSDT done in 2011. Eventually I became a manager at Seven Heaven Divers. I wanted to develop a more fun approach to diving where it took the whole experience to another level; One where the diver could further enjoy the courses. My next goal is to be a CD so that I can pass on my methods to IDC students whom are going to help enhance the whole experience for generations to come of curious divers.
How do you feel to be part of the exclusive group of Elite Instructors?
Happy! To say the least.
It really is a matter of pride for me to know that all the hard work that I put into the dives has paid off:It brings me joy and self worth to know that I am a member of the group of Elite PADI instructors!
What helped you, personally and professionally, in achieving the goal of winning the challenge?
Perseverance and a never quit work ethic, I was relentless, I always wanted to make sure that I did the best possible job so that my students always had the best experience. I want them to be special and distinguished among divers. That way when I saw how successful they were, it always gave me the power and energy to keep going. And I can’t go without mentioning that I wouldn’t have done it without my Seven Heaven Divers Team. I want to give them a huge shout out and say that I couldn’t have done it without them!
Which message would you like to deliver to those who are reluctant to visiting Egypt?
I would like to send this message out from my beloved country Egypt and take the chance to say that. Mainstream media and social media have made it seem like we are at war and that Egypt is not safe to visit. When in fact that is not the case. Yes, there have been a number of terrorist attacks but the same has happened in France, England, Belgium and the USA. Regardless that has not stopped tourism in these places and the same should apply to our beautiful country; it makes me sad to see the major difference that has resulted from these ongoing rumors about how “Egypt is not safe”. We have beautiful weather, and many forms of history and entertainment that should be visited and admired by people from all over the globe. Diving in the red sea could be an exhilarating and breathtaking experience that I would recommend to any diver worldwide. I can only hope that my message has some kind of impact and gets a message through about how “Egypt IS safe”
Thank you Asharaf and Hassan for your amazing achievements, your dedication in teaching the world to dive, and for creating more ambassadors for the ocean.
