BUSINESS EDU
From First Breath to Full Circle: My Journey to Owning a Dive Center in the Islands by Jeff McNutt , Chief Operating Officer/Owner of Dive BVI
I N 1996, WHEN I FIRST signed up for a scuba class at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, I had no idea that a simple elective would set the course for the rest of my life. I was a college student just looking to try something new, unaware that the decision to step onto that pool deck would spark a lifelong passion and ultimately lead me to the British Virgin Islands and ownership of Dive BVI. orous and deeply rooted in solid training principles – safety, dis- cipline, situational awareness, and a profound respect for the underwater world. My first open-water dive is still vivid in my memory: the strange yet thrilling sensation of taking a breath underwater, the quiet that settled around me, the shift in perspective as the surface faded above. That moment changed Learning to dive at SFA was nothing short of transformative. The university program was rig-
everything. I progressed quickly, working through my certifications one by one, driven by a newfound desire to understand everything
about the sport. By the time I completed my Divemaster course – also at Stephen F. Austin – I knew diving would always be more than a hobby. The Divemaster training introduced me to leadership, responsibility, and a deeper un- derstanding of what it meant to support and guide other divers. It was the first real step toward a professional future I hadn’t yet envi-
sioned. My first big adventure as a dive pro was a 2-week stint at the Boy Scout Sea Base in the Florida Keys over the Christmas holidays. Talk about a lifestyle change from East Texas! But it further ignited my passion for boating, island life, and making the most of my opportunities. In 2000, I earned my Open Water Scuba Instructor certification,
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