Bassel shares with us his journey:
Freediving is so natural, that’s why so many people don’t consider it a sport!
I start freediving when I was a kid, I raised up in an environment where the only way to discover the underneath of the blue is to take a big breath and descent.
I went to university, I studied business administration, then I started working in optical business; of course the connection with water remained, but the life style was office time, stress, meetings and so on.
A civil war started in my country where I had to leave everything, carry my new born baby and look to safe oasis where I could ensure a brighter future to him.
In Dubai I started being involved in Freediving courses and spearfishing, as I used to do in my home town; with time I start enjoying different freediving disciplines (either in the pool or in open water) each time I dove, I learned more about myself: freediving is a journey where each individual do it by his own way.
This change allowed me to reconsider my priorities, life is really short to waste it in an office doing routine work, chasing a passion is a big adventure but the payoff is unique: live the life of your dreams.
Finally a chance raised when a Freediving Trainer came to Dubai; I contacted him to grab this chance and step into the profession. I didn’t expect that sharing the knowledge or teaching is something so enjoyable, my biggest goal was to stay in contact with water, go outdoor and meet new people, but after I finished the Instructor course and I started my Pro journey, I discovered that learning is 2 ways! I learn a lot from the individuals which train with me and I started to enjoy seeing their progress and their happiness once they achieved their goals.
I was too passionate into my new job, I was aiming to increase my income from what I love and not rely on my business which I left it behind.
During Dubai International Boat Show I meet Teo – PADI Regional Manager: from the moment I met him, I really felt so close. PADI was known as the leader for scuba diving industry however, I never been a scuba diver before (in my home country nobody does recreational scuba diving); Thanks to Teo I learned that PADI had introduced FREEDIVING: I found this as a great opportunity, because in our community in UAE every single scuba diver is proud to be PADI; I thought it will be more easy for me to develop my business under their umbrella and introduce the freediving course to their current divers.
That really give me a big push, and again I was too much pleased to be paid for doing what I love to do, it’s really enjoyable to earn money from something you enjoy, then it will never be a work …it’s a passion which will make you go further and further! With such a feeling a build a good network with PADI Dive Centers and started cooperating with them offering PADI freediving courses.
Being a PADI Pro, made me experience the feeling that I’m not standing by my own, there’s always someone to back you up in anything; I always get a great support and encouragement which really made my journey more enjoyable and rise up from my confidence to go forward in my career. That’s something I didn’t experienced it before.
Then a day come where I had a call again from Teo (the PADI Regional Manager): <<Hi Bassel, why not considering becoming a PADI Freediver Instructor Trainer>> – wow! Yes, I couldn’t believe it!, I told him <<what!?!>> He replied << there’s a course going to happen in Dahab in September, I would love you to join …. Think about it>>.
Here was another lesson learned through my PADI experience: DREAM BIG!
….and a new journey began, I know there’s a demand in the market, I’m in the market and being an IT will give me the opportunity to offer Instructor level courses to some of the dive center I cooperate with; they will be able to have their in-house Freediving Instructor increasing their business, the business of freediving in the region and consequently my business as well!
It wasn’t easy …as I faced many challenges due to visa issues: being Syrian, I had to go through some tough bureaucracy. First my visa to Egypt was pending and couldn’t get a clear picture on when/if it could be issued. After talking about this with Teo, he informed me that another option could have been to attend the course in July in Mexico: I did run to the embassy, I applied and get a visa immediately. When I thought everything was sorted, I discovered that I couldn’t fly to Mexico as my flight was transiting to USA and I didn’t have a transit visa. I then tried to fly through UK but same problem …no transit visa for me.
Chasing a dream has never been an easy journey: sometimes small things may stand between you and your goal, but never give up, at that time I never lost the hope and I didn’t lost the support from Teo, who always find way to cheer me up and convince me it’s okay.
Last chance was for me to try again to get the visa for Egypt, I used the help of some connections to re-apply …and it looked I was ready to fly to Egypt!
The day I went to the airport, they kept me waiting at the check-in counter as they couldn’t get a confirmation of my travel documents …at the end I have been told <<you can fly to Cairo but if we don’t receive a confirmation it may happen that you cannot enter Egypt and therefore you will be asked to fly back to UAE>>.
When I landed in Cairo, they took my passport and asked me to sit and wait …this was the longest hour of my life …but finally an officer came with my passport and told me ….Welcome to Egypt!: here the fun and exciting 10 days has just started!
When I finally reached Dahab, I was welcomed by a great team: Eric, Rich and Kostas (they were the mentors for the both IT courses the EFR and the FD).
During the course I learned a lot! We went through a lot of workshops, we learned how to do proper presentations, evaluations, meet pool and open water requirements, we had to wake up early every day and at the end of the day we had to go back to our rooms and prepare for the next day … this reminded me my college life of 20 years ago, where I had to study hard to earn a score ….but here was something different I’m working to earn a dream!
Through this intensive course we developed a lot and we learned not only from all the candidates but also from our great mentors which have been all the time correcting encouraging and inspiring us.
It was really a tough course, just few hundreds all around the world have passed this stage; it’s really a unique experience. We went through ups and downs, stress and joy…we experienced different feeling but they were all great moments.
Every day we learned more, we became more confident and more excited; I learned a lot and shaped my teaching skills, I become more expert in the art of teaching …without leaving behind the people I met and the feeling I experienced, which will never be forgotten.
Unfortunately the final day came and the conclusion of this unforgettable experience came to an end …with an amazing celebration ceremony!
Participants all had different background, different languages and nationality but we share same passion the love of FREEDIVING!
…I owe a lot to this sport: it made me meet really great people all around the world, completing this course was really unique and it gave me the freedom to be able to live from something I love whenever I am. I’m not attached to a specific business place, because my business is run in the BLUE, which I adore!
All this happen because I always had someone on my side, from the 1st moment I step into PADI he never save any effort to support and help, Teo THE Regional Manager: humble, dynamic and fast responder who always find solutions and inspire me! I’m grateful because I met him, without Teo I would not be able to reach where I am now.
Thank you really for everything you did….and shared with me.
.. I am now waiting for my flight back home and I am already thinking about the next step of this amazing journey after this achievement …specially now that I have even bigger responsibilities towards my passion!
Congratulations to Bassel for successfully completing his FDITC !
