By Reinhardt Witbooi
Career Development Student 2026
Discovering the underwater world turned my curiosity into a passion for scuba diving—and set me on the path toward becoming a dive professional.
I always wanted to experience the underwater world, and Scuba Diving was my door. I came to Just Africa Scuba to learn, experience, and become a dive pro.
Curiosity Got Me Underwater
I expected Scuba Diving to be amazing but scary, a whole different world that I had not really experienced yet. What could be, and what could happen down there? I thought, I was curious, so I tried it. I also thought that the gear and skills were going to be so complicated, but I learned about them and got super comfortable.
Taking My First Breath Beneath the Surface
My first time Scuba Diving in the Atlantic Ocean. As I entered with my gear on, I felt the cool water through my wetsuit; I was excited. It felt like it told me that it was time to enter a new world. After putting on my mask and fins, it was time to dive! I put my regulator in my mouth, deflated my BCD, and descended. I looked around, and I could already see things I had never seen, like the different environment and different marine life; it amazed me. I got used to breathing underwater and the calm, cool water flowing around my body; it was not scary. It was a feeling that I had never experienced; I fell in love with it.
My dive buddy, Gap Year student Liam, and I getting ready for a dive in Simon’s Town.
A Whole New World to Discover
Something that surprised me was the beauty of the underwater life. I thought it was going to be simple, like fish and sand everywhere, but I was wrong. You should have seen my first time seeing a nudibranch, I did not want to move and kept on looking at it. It fascinated me. I had to snap out of it. The sea life is beautiful. Also, something else that surprised me is the variety of courses and dive sites that you can experience and explore.
More Than Diving: Finding My Future
I learnt a lot about myself through scuba diving; I learnt that scuba diving is something I enjoy and I could turn it into a career. I never really liked working with people, but ever since I have been diving at Just Africa Scuba, diving with my buddy and clients, I really appreciate having those relationships, having someone to trust and people to look out for. It made me realise that if I keep on doing my best, I could teach people about Scuba Diving, showing them what they have been missing.
Marius and I taking a selfie at Paarl Girls’ High, where we presented PADI Discover Scuba experiences.
An Underwater Hello I’ll Never Forget
My favourite moment must be the time when my buddy and I went on a fun dive, just diving around to learn the dive site. We came across an octopus sitting in its house; I came by and waved at it, and it popped its head out like it was saying hello back. For a moment, I was floating there looking at it, with the cool water around me and the ocean sounds; it was really relaxing and like a reset button. It felt amazing.
Thinking About Scuba Diving? Go for It!
If you are thinking about learning to Scuba Dive, I would say go for it. It can be scary at first because breathing underwater feels unnatural, but once you get comfortable, it is one of the coolest experiences you can have. You learn everything step by step with an instructor, so you do not have to know everything before you start. Just stay calm, listen to your instructor, and do not rush. You get to see a whole different world underwater, meet amazing marine life, and build confidence along the way. If you have ever been curious about what is beneath the surface, I would recommend giving Scuba Diving a try.
From Student Diver to Future Instructor
Learning to Scuba Dive has been one of the best experiences I have ever had. I started off curious and a little nervous, but I ended up discovering a whole new world and a new side of myself. Diving taught me to stay calm, trust the people around me, and step outside my comfort zone. It also showed me that something I started as an experience could become something I want to do as a career. I am excited to keep learning, explore more dive sites, see more marine life, and continue growing as a diver. Scuba Diving has become more than just going underwater for me; it has become something I enjoy and something I can see myself doing for a long time.
Read more about the PADI Career Development program.
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