Holly Wakely, age 16
Holly ‘s 10th Sassy snorkel, age 4, Kids Sea Camp Photo by David Wakely
KSC AMBASSADOR: HOLLY WAKELY
team and help out as a training student for Max Lavinsky and Jacob Schafer, who were then completing their PADI Dive Master certifications that week. Though I was acting as a diving student, I was fortunate enough to experience the dive master program, grasping the concepts and training at such a young age. I realized how much I truly loved scuba diving; my parents weren’t there, so I knew it wasn’t their passion. It came from within. I had taken a risk and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Fast forward three years to 2020, I have had 600 dives, traveled worldwide with Margo, Tom, and my KSC family, saw whale sharks in the Philippines, sunken wrecks in Palau, and gained valuable lessons in all aspects of travel and life. Margo invited me to attend a few dive
shows where I could speak with people from different sectors of the Scuba industry. This was where I heard about the creation of the PADI Jr. divemaster program, which would allow divers age 15 to pre-train for the professional side of scuba diving and be able to assist dive professionals. This program launched in July 2020, and I was the first pilot PADI student. Margo took me back to where it all began in St. Lucia. On my way home, I was certified by Margo Peyton, my KSC mom, as PADI’s first-ever Jr. Dive Master, and I couldn’t be more grateful. She inspired me to look at my life from a different perspective and to follow my heart. I returned to St. Lucia with KSC in November after my 18th birthday and became a PADI Pro DM. My scuba diving career was well on its way!
Fast forward again: Feb 2021: I became a PADI Dive Instructor in Bonaire at the 2nd Buddy Dive KSC IDC. I also completed my PADI STAFF Instructor in 2022. I hit my 1,400th dive in Australia, where I now live and teach, with Sun Reef in Mooloolaba. I started college this past fall, as well. Mark Wynne, a PADI Course Director and my dive Buddy. It has been a fantastic journey with KSC that I will never forget. We will continue to travel and dive with KSC. Thank you, Margo, Tom, Mom, Dad, and my dive buddy Mark Wynne. Story by Holly Wakely, PADI STAFF Instructor
www.familydivers.com 803-419-2556 dive@familydivers.com
www.oceanwishes.org
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