Dive The World
About Us
Despite that our strong web presence might lead you to think otherwise, Dive The World are real people with a wealth of diving experience. Our aim is to ensure your happiness and convenience both on your scuba holiday and during the booking process.
So who are we? To put a face to the names behind Dive The World and what we value, see how your booking can help worthwhile charitable causes, and who our award-winning dive operators are ...
Your Diving Buddies
You sometimes tell us that you find the online booking process a bit impersonal so we'd like to introduce ourselves and give you opportunity to put a face to the name you've been corresponding with.
Like you, we are all enthusiastic about diving and the underwater environment but we also realise that your valuable vacation time should be as much fun as possible. Therefore we take the time and hassle out of finding you the best value trips and diving experiences available.
Dive Buddy (in alphabetical order):
Detlef Sarrazin (Beef)
Nationality: Holding on to German traveling documents
Dive The World position: An important part of the sales and enquiries gang that makes all your dreams come true if possible, and if not he will die trying in front of his computer. Apart from that he is also responsible for the artistic outcome of the Dive The World's merchandise, as if he doesn't have enough to do already.
Bio data: Being an avionics engineer by trade, Beef has been lying in front of mantis shrimp holes across the Andaman Sea since 1996. Teaching and guiding people for the past 11 years, his extensive knowledge encompasses the area of the world from Hin Daeng / Hin Muang to Phi Phi Islands, around Phuket, Similan Islands, Sipadan, Raja Ampat and Myanmar.
Language skills: German and English (her Queen's English, that is).
You can contact Beef at beef@dive-the-world.com
Enrico Toso
Nationality: Italian
Dive The World position: Enrico is our Sales Team Manager, and he is also the primary Dive The World contact for Italian enquiries. Enrico has also been a great help on keeping the Italian versions of our websites up to date.
Bio data: Enrico was "Made in Italy" few years ago. He is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer who wanted to find a way out of the boring life that his studies were offering to him, but now he has found Dive The World instead! He has passed through dives in South Africa and Maldives, and jobs on liveaboards around the Similans Islands, Phuket and Myanmar. He can't stay too far from the sea, and if not wet, he is probably helping you on booking your next diving holiday or playing tennis with Beef.
Language skills: Italian and English.
You can contact Enrico at enrico@dive-the-world.com
Gavin Macaulay
Nationality: Born UK, though likes to think he comes from Ireland
Dive The World position: Is responsible for keeping in touch with all Dive The World's operators making sure we have as much of our information accurate and complete as practical. Looks into new diving destinations and also does a lot of the flowery writing you read on the site. Also spends too many hours downloading music from the internet and can be seen sitting at his PC playing air-drums with his headphones on.
Bio data: Gavin is a devoutly warm-weather recreational diver who having done his open water in Australia 10 years ago has since dived throughout Asia as well as in Europe, the Red Sea, the Pacific and South Africa. A qualified PADI Divemaster he is proud never to have worked a day as a DM preferring to dive for fun. He lives and occasionally works in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
Language skills: English, French - fluent once, now not so, Spanish - again peaked at schoolboy level. Currently getting to grips with Bahasa Malaysia.
You can contact Gavin at gavin@dive-the-world.com
Jim Spellman
Nationality: British
Dive The World position: Jim is our finance and accounts guy. He number crunches our spreadsheets and creates our financial reports. He also makes sure we keep track of your payments so we can confirm those bookings as soon as possible.
Bio data: Jim comes from a computer programming background. After many years in the UK IT industry, he found his way to Dive the World. When he is not in front of a computer, Jim enjoys travelling, spending time with his family and is an occasional leisure diver. He also enjoys his sport, especially football and he still manages to play regularly, although a lot slower than he used to be.
Language skills: English and passable Thai (and forgotten more computer languages than he cares to remember).
You can contact Jim at jim@dive-the-world.com
Karen Johnson
Nationality: South African
Dive The World position: Our Public Relations Manager, Karen communicates with our customers through the Dive The World Blog, newsletters, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. If we have any special offers or news you need to hear, then she will get it out on the world wide web for you as quick as possible. She's also involved with developing new liveaboards and dive resorts on the website as well as researching and writing articles to pique your interest in all things diving.
Bio data: Previously involved with marketing in financial services, Karen grew tired of the rat race. Her favourite activity is escaping to the Cape Peninsula on her bike, surrounded by the sea and mountains. Having participated in 7 Cape Argus cycle tours, she recently completed her PADI Open Water Diver course where she spotted a giant, short-tail ray in Simon's Town.
Language skills: English and basic html.
You can contact Karen at karen@dive-the-world.com
Michelle Leadbitter
Nationality: She was born in the UK, but has emigrated to South Africa more times than she can remember; her current location is 1 hour ahead of GMT in Cape Town, South Africa
Dive The World position: As an addition to the team in March 2010, Michelle's role as Database Administrator reveals new challenges on a daily basis. However, she is here to ensure that the enticing liveaboard diving cruises and resort stays you see on our websites are all present and correct.
Bio data: As a mother of 1 and a very mature (in age only) copywriting student, Michelle seems to live life in true rat-race style with stress levels constantly peaking at unstable. Previously a marketing manager/travel writer for a golf travel company, Michelle has had the privilege of visiting some of the more picturesque countries around the globe, with Thailand being a particular favourite.
Language skills: English and passable Afrikaans.
You can contact Michelle at michelle@dive-the-world.com
Napassamol Panchalard (Natty)
Nationality: Thai
Dive The World position: Natty joined Dive The World in November 2009. She is our Financial Accountant and is responsible for paying our bills and salaries so that we can all afford lunch each day.
Bio data: Nat is a born and bred Phuket native. She did secretarial and accounts studies at college and has been working in accounts ever since. She has 2 children and in her spare time she likes to visit Thailand's beaches and waterfalls. She also likes to eat Muslim food. She is currently doing a part time tourism management course. She is a not a scuba diver but has done a little snorkelling.
Language skills: Thai, English and just a little German.
You can contact Natty at nat@dive-the-world.com
Pascal Baulois
Nationality: Belgian
Dive The World position: Pascal joined our sales team in late 2009. He deals with enquiries for Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Maldives and Burma.
Bio data: Pascal was born in Germany from a German mum and a Belgian French-speaking dad. Most of the time, everyone believes he is from France which he doesn't hesitate to correct. He is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer for the last 10 years and was teaching diving to a 1,000+ students in Thailand, Central America and the Caribbean. After so much diving, he decided to get 'dry' again and started at Dive The World so that he can use his experience in giving the best advice to our customers. Pascal can not stay longer then 2 weeks in a row in Europe's cold weather climate so he decided to settle down in Thailand a long time ago.
Language skills: French, German, English and some Dutch.
You can contact Pascal at pascal@dive-the-world.com
Philippa Gower (Pip)
Nationality: Australian
Dive The World position: Pip is a member of the sales team. She can help you with your enquiries regarding the Red Sea and Malaysia.
Bio data: Pip went backpacking around Thailand in 1997 and loved the friendly people and warm weather so much that she decided to stay. Her mum still wonders where she's got to. She has been working in the diving industry for more than 10 years and has spent her time in Phi Phi Island and on Phuket. Now is very happy to call Dive The World home. Being a hippy at heart, she will be out saving the planet if she is not answering your enquiries.
Language skills: Aussie mate and some very bad Thai.
You can contact Philippa at philippa@dive-the-world.com
Sheldon Hey
Nationality: Born UK, though South Africa is now home
Dive The World position: General Manager and Web-wiz. The founder and inspiration behind the Dive The World concept. Very much the (search) engine room of the business, Sheldon gets things done and likes to stay one step ahead of the rest - to such an extent that he's normally left by the time anyone else arrives.
Bio data: Sheldon is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer - which means he's wasted more money than most on PADI cards. Diving in northern and southern Africa, South East Asia and the South Pacific, his passions are for adventure, adrenaline, (very amateur) underwater photography, animal and environmental issues. Having dived with Great Whites, Tiger Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks and Zambezis, as well as Mandarinfish, Blue-ringed Octopus, and Pygmy Seahorses, he enjoys the big, the bad and the ugly, as well as the minute and magnificent. "I feel it's important that those with a passion for marine conversation do try all they can to protect that environment. After all, we can't expect others that are not interested or don't know to do anything about it".
Language skills: English and all the Thai he would ever want to speak. Also html and java script (written, not spoken).
You can contact Sheldon at sheldon@dive-the-world.com
Vichai Lamkijja (Vic)
Nationality: Thai
Dive The World position: Vichai is a member of our sales team. He deals with enquiries for Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, the Maldives and Burma.
Bio data: Vic was born in Thailand but he grew up in Singapore. He is most of the time mistaken by people as Japanese or Korean. He fell in love with diving when he was on a snorkeling trip in Malaysia and decided to go for the Open Water Diver course instead. His love for diving and spicy Thai food (which he never gets enough of) grew stronger after a few trips to Phuket and the Similan Islands in 2005. This is where he decided to quit his job in Singapore and settle down in Phuket as a PADI Open Water Instructor. If he is not assisting you with your enquiries you will certainly see him decorating his house or planning for his next diving holiday.
Language skills: English, Thai (spoken only) and Mandarin, plus a few Chinese dialects.
You can contact Vichai at vic@dive-the-world.com
ScubaZoo - Official Image Supplier
SCUBAZOO is a team of professional underwater cameramen based in Sabah, Malaysia. They have filmed and photographed marine life throughout the world, particularly in South East Asia.
Their photographic work has featured widely in various diving magazines and publications and can be enjoyed in their own book: 'SIPADAN, MABUL, KAPALAI - SABAH'S UNDERWATER TREASURE. Their underwater film work has including projects with the National Geographic, BBC and Discovery Channel. Many of the images featured on the Dive The World websites have been kindly supplied by Scubazoo.
If you want to know more about Scubazoo or to take an underwater photography / videography course under their expert guidance, please visit their website at www.scubazoo.com .
Our Annual Dive Operator Awards
Dive The World's Annual Awards: Each year 1 liveaboard and 1 dive resort receive a special award in recognition of outstanding service to our customers. These awards are the result of many comments from customers all over the world about all aspects of their dive holiday experience, from accommodation to food, diving safety to staff service.
We listen to your feedback and communicate with the dive operators that we promote in order to ensure they are providing you with the best service they can. So you can be sure that recipients of these awards have exceeded your expectations and received positive reviews from many divers just like you.
2009
Liveaboard of the Year: SY June Hong Chian Lee
This Thailand liveaboard is a deserving recipient of our inaugural award since it receives consistently high praise from Dive The World customers and stands alone as a unique liveaboard experience in the Andaman Sea.
"The movie we made last year 'Shang Hai', its release has been postponed again. The producers promised me it will win an Oscar. This hasn't happened yet. But winning the 'Liveaboard of the Year' award from Dive the World feels like winning an Oscar because they are our greatest and most reliable agent. It is great to see customer feedback recognised in this way and we are delighted that the comments about us, from Dive The World customers, have been so positive. Thank you Dive the World. We will work even harder this year to stay on top for as long as we can." - Frank De Groot, Managing Director, SY June Hong Chian Lee
Dive Resort of the Year: Sipadan Mabul Resort
Enthusiastic customer reviews and a consistently high level of service has pushed Malaysia's SMART resort into 1st place for our resort award for 2009.
"It is an honor to receive the unexpected award from Dive The World. Thank you for the recognition and to all the staff for their hard work and loyalty." - Michelle Teo, Director of Sales & Operations, SMART Resort
Our Chosen Charities
Your bookings make a difference ... Dive The World makes charitable contributions on a yearly basis and by booking with us you are contributing to our chosen charities:
Sharklife Conservation Group
A registered non-profit organisation, Sharklife addresses the alarming exploitation of both shark populations and ocean fisheries in South African waters. The organisation actively engages the urgent need for research and protection of many marine species.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
PeTA is the largest animal rights organisation in the world. It works towards the prevention of cruelty and exploitation of both land and marine species. PETA works through public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns.
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