As you know, Dressel Divers is celebrating its 25th birthday this year. Two weeks ago we introduced you to one part of our team you don’t meet every day, but who also make you enjoy your diving vacation so much, our managers. But, today is time to introduce you to another really essential part of Dressel Divers’s structure, our dear Base Leaders.
They are the persons in charge of applying our principles of safety and customer service, customer relations, staff planning and staff training. Definitely, they ensure that all our water activities reach the quality levels that our clients deserve. Of course, all of them are avid divers with thousand of dives on their dive logs. Let’s know more about them!
Bettina Schade – Base Leader in Playa Paraíso
1. Where are you from? How old were you when you joined Dressel Divers? How long are you in the company?
Germany. 31 years. Since June 2014.
2. What did you want to become when a kid? What did you do before you joined Dressel Divers?
Teacher, wine waitress, Restaurant Manager.
4. At what point did you realize you wanted to be a Dive Instructor?
I always wished to be a teacher, why not being a Diving Instructor? As soon as I decided to move to Mexico and I started to work for Dressel Divers.
5. Where and with whom did you do your instructor course?
Mexico. Paul Flower.
6. What was your first function in Dressel Divers and how did you progress from there?
Public Relations at Barceló. Public Relations at Hard Rock Riviera Maya. Dive Boss in Puerto Aventuras. Base Leader in Playa Del Carmen, Base Leader in Paraíso.
7. What is your diver level and how many dives do you have?
IDC Staff Instructor Application for Master Instructor is on its way 😉 Uff, I would say around 500.
8. Why did you chose the PADI dive federation over others and what recommendations would you have for them?
It’s the most famous one and most recognized Scuba Diving organization.
9. What is the best advice you ever gave to your students?
Hard to say, but nobody is perfect! With every dive we achieve more experience and we will never be a perfect diver because with every situation we continue learning and gaining more experience.
10. What is your most memorable moment with students?
Going with a Discover Scuba Diver participant on the optional Open Water Dive and seeing a bull shark in 12m/40ft.
11. How would you convince someone to go diving if you only have 1 sentence to do it?
Diving is like meditation underwater, calm & relaxing while seeing the incredible life underwater of animals and coral reefs. Let’s go and try it out, you will see all this by yourself.
12. What is down there that is not up here?
The marine life, the calm and piece of the ocean and especially in the Cenotes the light beams, formations and the historical background.
13. Which kind of scuba diving and what dive sites offered by Dressel Divers are your favorites?
Drift diving in Barracuda & Tortuga, Day & night dives at the reefs of Cozumel. Cavern diving in the Cenotes.
14. What is the most incredible dive you ever did?
A dive in Tortugas with Pepelu seeing a Hammerhead.
15. What other destinations would you like Dressel Divers to expand to next?
Cuba because it’s close to travel to from Mexico 😉
16. Do you have a partner? Are you married? Do you have children? Are your partner, wife or kids involved with diving?
I have a boyfriend, he says leasing is cheaper than buying 😉 We have a dog and two cats, these are our kids… My boyfriend is a full cave instructor that’s why our destination is Playa Del Carmen cause his working place is the Cenotes.
17. What other sports do you practice? What other passions and hobbies do you have.
Being a workaholic doesn’t give space for a lot of other things 😀 Cooking is one thing I really like, especially German dishes to introduce them to friends.
Marcello Aldera – Base Leader in Playa Del Carmen
1. Where are you from? How old were you when you joined Dressel Divers? How long are you in the company?
I’m from Italy, I joined Dressel Divers in 2012, when I was 27 years old.
2. What did you want to become when a kid? What did you do before you joined Dressel Divers?
When I was a kid I dreamed of working in a natural park as Ranger. Before joining Dressel Divers, I actually had the chance to work in two different parks among other small jobs.
3. At what point did you realize you wanted to be a Dive Instructor?
I realized I wanna be a Dive instructor after not diving for a full year. I missed it a lot and I decided I wanna make a living out of it.
4. Where and with whom did you do your instructor course?
Dominican Republic, with the Course Director Cristian Maffione.
5. What was your first function in Dressel Divers and how did you progress from there?
I started from the very bottom, as an intern. Then after I finished my Internship, they offered me the Dive Boss position at the Dressel Divers Bávaro base. The following year I was the Base Leader. After 3 years they offered me to come to Mexico, where I worked as Dive Boss at Dressel Divers Barcelo and Dressel Divers Paraíso. Since this January I’m the Base Leader at Dressel Divers Playa Del Carmen.
6. What is your diver level and how many dives do you have?
At this moment I’m PADI IDC Staff and Full Cave Diver. I would say around 1000 dives.
7. Why did you chose the PADI dive federation over others and what recommendations would you have for them?
PADI is the most famous and important diving federation. So thanks to the brand recognition and the support that they offer, it is obviously the best choice.
8. What is the best advice you ever gave to your students?
Keep diving, and keep learning.
9. What is your most memorable moment with students?
The most memorable moment with students is every time we start the dive and we reach the bottom of the sea and I can see the fear and worries changing to happiness and wonder.
10. How would you convince someone to go diving if you only have 1 sentence to do it?
It is the most life changing experience you can ever do.
11. What is down there that is not up here?
Once you deflate your bcd all the problems stay at the surface.
12. Which kind of scuba diving and what dive sites offered by Dressel Divers are your favorites?
Definitely, the cenotes.
13. What is the most incredible dive you ever did?
In Socorro Island with mantas, dolphins and whale sharks.
14. What other destinations would you like Dressel Divers to expand to next?
Our business has the luck to always be in beautiful places, so, any place is good.
15. Do you have a partner? Are you married? Do you have children? Are your partner, wife or kids involved with diving?
Girlfriend and, yes, she is also a diver.
16. What other sports do you practice? What other passions and hobbies do you have.
Football, mostly.
Madelene Lyzell – Base Leader In Cozumel
1. Where are you from? How old were you when you joined Dressel Divers? How long are you in the company?
Sweden. 29 years old. About 3 years.
2. What did you want to become when a kid? What did you do before you joined Dressel Divers?
Horse trainer. I worked as a Divemaster.
3. At what point did you realize you wanted to be a Dive Instructor?
About 4 years ago.
4. Where and with whom did you do your instructor course?
Playa del Carmen, Dressel Divers.
5. What was your first function in Dressel Divers and how did you progress from there?
From Public Relations to Base Leader.
6. What is your diver level and how many dives do you have?
OWSI 2400+
7. Why did you chose the PADI dive federation over others and what recommendations would you have for them?
Dressel Divers works with PADI.
8. What is the best advice you ever gave to your students?
Humm if you are nervous.
9. What is your most memorable moment with students?
Students first time seeing a turtle.
10. How would you convince someone to go diving if you only have 1 sentence to do it?
Try.
11. What is down there that is not up here?
Seahorses.
12. Which kind of scuba diving and what dive sites offered by Dressel Divers are your favorites?
Punta Dalila, Cozumel.
13. What is the most incredible dive you ever did?
Cabo San Lucas Lands End Diving with Humpackwhale mother and a calf.
14. What other destinations would you like Dressel Divers to expand to next?
Afrika.
15. Do you have a partner? Are you married? Do you have children? Are your partner, wife or kids involved with diving?
Yes. No. No does my dog count? Yes.
16. What other sports do you practice? What other passions and hobbies do you have.
Horseback riding.
Vincenzo Maffione – Base Leader in Bayahibe
1. Where are you from? How old were you when you joined Dressel Divers? How long are you in the company?
Italy. The first time I was 24. The second time, 34.
2. What did you want to become when a kid? What did you do before you joined Dressel Divers?
Dentist. Before Dressel Divers I also was a Diving Instructor.
3. At what point did you realize you wanted to be a Dive Instructor?
When I was 17.
4. Where and with whom did you do your instructor course?
19, in Italy.
5. What was your first function in Dressel Divers and how did you progress from there?
First Dive Instructor, then Dive Boss, then Base Leader.
6. What is your diver level and how many dives do you have?
Master Instructor, almost 4000.
7. Why did you chose the PADI dive federation over others and what recommendations would you have for them?
Because of their professionalism.
8. What is the best advice you ever gave to your students?
Never stop learning and get used to know your Dive instructor manual.
9. What is your most memorable moment with students?
Every moment is memorable.
10. How would you convince someone to go diving if you only have 1 sentence to do it?
It is better than anything else, and nobody speaks underwater!!!
11. What is down there that is not up here?
An incredible new world.
12. Which kind of scuba diving and what dive sites offered by Dressel Divers are your favorites?
St George, and cavern dive.
13. What is the most incredible dive you ever did?
Every dive is incredible.
14. What other destinations would you like Dressel Divers to expand to next?
Cuba!!!!
15. Do you have a partner? Are you married? Do you have children? Are your partner, wife or kids involved with diving?
No.
16. What other sports do you practice? What other passions and hobbies do you have.
Biking, running, swimming.
Sergio Fonseca – Base Leader in Montego Bay
1. Where are you from? How old were you when you joined Dressel Divers? How long are you in the company?
I’m from Portugal. I joined Dressel Divers at 27, about 4 years ago.
2. What did you want to become when a kid? What did you do before you joined Dressel Divers?
Growing up, I always wanted to do something related to the sea, but even though I kept diving as a hobby, when it came the time to choose, I ended up studying something completely different, so, I actually came from an engineering background.
3. At what point did you realize you wanted to be a Dive Instructor?
A couple months into my Internship, it started to become a more and more enticing opportunity so, I took it.
4. Where and with whom did you do your instructor course?
I did my IDC with our own Cristian Maffione, in the Dominican Republic.
5. What was your first function in Dressel Divers and how did you progress from there?
Well, I started as an intern, and from day one I just felt right like I belonged, so it’s been great having my hard work recognized, specially when I was offered the Diveboss (and afterwards the Base Leader) position in Jamaica.
6. What is your diver level and how many dives do you have?
I’m currently a MSDT, and I’m not sure about the amount of dives, but in the 2000 something region, I suppose.
7. Why did you chose the PADI dive federation over others and what recommendations would you have for them?
PADI is the most popular and recognizable diving agency in the world, the quality of their materials and their reach/support make it a very easy choice.
8. What is the best advice you ever gave to your students?
Dive more! There’s no special trick, just dive as much as you can, and the rest will come.
9. What is your most memorable moment with students?
I once taught an AOWD course to a student who was in a wheelchair, with very reduced mobility, and it was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had, seeing someone overcoming a situation like this is incredible.
10. How would you convince someone to go diving if you only have 1 sentence to do it?
Water makes up for 71% of our planet, why miss out instead of enjoying it all?
11. What is down there that is not up here?
Mermaids!
12. Which kind of scuba diving and what dive sites offered by Dressel Divers are your favorites?
I’m a particular fan of caverns and caves, and the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico is the absolute best place in world to see these wonders, so, that’d be my suggestion. If you happen to not like closed spaces, then cozumel, that has some of the best diving in the world.
13. What is the most incredible dive you ever did?
There’s a lot, but if I could choose only one, it’d be the Thistlegorm wreck, in Egypt.
14. What other destinations would you like Dressel Divers to expand to next?
Answer
Maybe Belize, it’s still in the same relative area as the other main Dressel Divers bases, and with amazing diving, with lots of untapped potential.
15. Do you have a partner? Are you married? Do you have children? Are your partner, wife or kids involved with diving?
Yes, I am married, we both dive as much as we can, and funnily enough, me and my wife met while we were doing our Dressel Internship!
16. What other sports do you practice? What other passions and hobbies do you have.
I practiced sport climbing for quite a while, but here there’s nowhere to climb, so running is pretty much all I do. Hobby wise, it’s mostly traveling and eating nice food!
Karim Khamis – Base Leader In Punta Cana
1. Where are you from? How old were you when you joined Dressel Divers? How long are you in the company?
Italy, 28, 3 years in the company.
2. What did you want to become when a kid? What did you do before you joined Dressel Divers?
I wanted to become a Dive Instructor or Superman. Before I joined Dressel Divers I did all kind of jobs in the dive industry.
3. At what point did you realize you wanted to be a Dive Instructor?
When I was a kid.
4. Where and with whom did you do your instructor course?
I did my Dive Instructor course in Sharm El Sheikh, with the course Director Massimo Casabianca.
5. What was your first function in Dressel Divers and how did you progress from there?
My first function in Dressel Divers was Dive Instructor. I was always working hard to arrive to my current position. I had a goal and I achieved it.
6. What is your diver level and how many dives do you have?
My current diver level is IDC staff with over 11.000 dives.
7. Why did you chose the PADI dive federation over others and what recommendations would you have for them?
Worldwide recognized. High safety standards.
8. What is the best advice you ever gave to your students?
Stop, think and act.
9. What is your most memorable moment with students?
A Junior Open Water who was very smart and now she has become a Dive Instructor.
10. How would you convince someone to go diving if you only have 1 sentence to do it?
You will discover another dimension.
11. What is down there that is not up here?
Everything.
12. Which kind of scuba diving and what dive sites offered by Dressel Divers are your favorites?
Wreck diving and the St. George in Bayahibe.
13. What is the most incredible dive you ever did?
Diving with mantas and dolphins…
14. What other destinations would you like Dressel Divers to expand to next?
Liveaboards.
15. Do you have a partner? Are you married? Do you have children? Are your partner, wife or kids involved with diving?
Yes I am married, and my wife is a diver, but lately she does not dive too much.
16. What other sports do you practice? What other passions and hobbies do you have.
Cooking.
Sergio Chiosso – Base Leader in Puerto Aventuras
1. Where are you from? How old were you when you joined Dressel Divers? How long are you in the company?
I am from Italy. I joined Dressel Divers in October 2008, I was 41 years old. I have been in the company for 10 years
2. What did you want to become when a kid? What did you do before you joined Dressel Divers?
Since I was kid I have always dreamed of adventures in the wild Nature. I spent many years climbing, skiing and doing a lot of trekking on the mountains. I worked for 15 years for a commercial company
3. At what point did you realize you wanted to be a Dive Instructor?
I was satisfied with my life but I was longing to make my passion for the adventure and the Nature a way of living.. Growing up on the mountains, the oceans were for me a great magic mystery, mainly still unknown to me. When I was 34 I took a new challenge and I became a diving instructor
4. Where and with whom did you do your instructor course?
I did my instructor course in Malta, with Rita Vella, the owner of Diveshack Diving School
5. What was your first function in Dressel Divers and how did you progress from there?
I started with Dressel Divers as a Dive Instructor in Puerto Aventuras. Soon after I moved as a Base Leader in Playa and after two years I returned to Puerto Aventuras.
6. What is your diver level and how many dives do you have?
I am a Master Instructor and I have done 8,000 dives
7. Why did you chose the PADI dive federation over others and what recommendations would you have for them?
I have always thought that the quality of an instructor make the difference, no matter which diving organization. PADI is for me the best option as it is the organization more present worldwide and dedicates a lot of effort in keeping the training standards updated with the most innovative training tools.
8. What is the best advice you ever gave to your students?
My best advise is in the Open Water Manual: Stop, Breathe, Think and then Act.
9. What is your most memorable moment with students?
It’s memorable to me the smile and the look of awe of every diver after their first dive, on the surface while waiting for the boat to pick us up.
10. How would you convince someone to go diving if you only have 1 sentence to do it?
In our existence there are things that make us experience the beauty and the mistery of living on our Earth and diving is certainly one of these. What are you waiting for?
11. What is down there that is not up here?
I can tell you what is not there that is up here: all the little thoughts that distract you from finding your real self.
12. Which kind of scuba diving and what dive sites offered by Dressel Divers are your favorites?
Chacal Al Deep at 27 m (90 feet) on Nitrox. It will really show you how pristine and huge is our Coral Reef.
13. What is the most incredible dive you ever did?
An unexpected one as often in scuba diving. One dive in Pedregal when we found our self in the middle of a kilometer long fish ball with lot of bull sharks hunting on them.
14. What other destinations would you like Dressel Divers to expand to next?
Red Sea, perfect for all our European divers.
15. Do you have a partner? Are you married? Do you have children? Are your partner, wife or kids involved with diving?
I am married.
16. What other sports do you practice? What other passions and hobbies do you have.
I love mountains and all the related activities.
