Luka Apps from Wiltshire has achieved his PADI Master Scuba Diver certification and completed his 100th dive – just a month after turning 12.
The young diver completed his Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver courses at Bandos in the Maldives, and it became a double celebration when he completed his 100th dive just two days later.
“Luka clearly has diving in his blood, and it was a pleasure teaching him,” said his instructor Wong Chen Yet, who had also certified him as an Open Water Diver two years earlier.
Luka’s love for diving began with a Bubblemaker session for his ninth birthday in his local swimming baths. He went on to do his Seal and Seal Master and, after a family holiday snorkelling in Cyprus, his parents Simon and Maxine also caught the bug and qualified as divers.
Since then the family have dived together many times in Malta, the Maldives and Bonaire, with Luka notching up PADI Drysuit (at Wraysbury in the UK), Enriched Air, Fish ID and Naturalist, Coral Conservation and Coral Restoration specialities along the way.
To be able to dive safely with their son, Luka’s parents are also now MSD-certified.
Luka is now back at school, and particularly keen to master a second language to help him become an instructor in the future.
“Diving has taught me so much about the underwater world and how important it is for future generations to look after it,” he said.
“I’m not sure if I’ll be a marine biologist or a dive instructor when I grow up, but my life will always involve diving. Thanks to all the instructors who’ve helped me so far, and my parents for their encouragement.”
The 12-year-old is hoping to see mola mola on an upcoming trip to Bali – and looking forward to doing his Divemaster internship as soon as he turns 18!
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02-May-17
