White Sands Dive Shop's Newest Employee Ruby Martinez

Ms Martinez is White Sands Dive Shops Comptroller and office manager.
She is currently getting certified PADI Open Water Diver. On returning from her first dive in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve we asked her if it was fun?, she replied, " Its more than fun!!".

E-Learning, The hottest new way to learn to dive ever!

E-Learning to dive on line is a hot new program by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. About the program PADI Staff Instructor Elbert Greer said,” In my twenty years of experience certifying tourists for SCUBA Diving in Belize I’ve learned that the difficult part is not getting my students to jump into the warm, clear Caribbean water with a tank on their back, It’s getting them to read and study the manual or sit and watch a DVD in the classroom while they are distracted by being on vacation near that warm, clear Caribbean water. Instructors call this book work and study part of the course Knowledge Development, and it’s the hardest part of my job.
With this new Knowledge Development online, student divers will have done this part of the course at home with me guiding then through as a instructor, wasting no time after arriving before they get to the warm, clear Caribbean part. E-Learning is not a short cut. In many ways it’s more thorough. Computer-based learning can result in increased retention and a stronger grasp of the subject matter, because many elements - like audio, video, quizzes and interaction - are combined to support learning.
Completing knowledge development online is different from using the open water book. The online knowledge development portion of the course is an enhanced version. What differs is that in addition to text and video content, the online version incorporates audio presentations, graphics and animations that clarify information as well as interactive assessments with me, your virtual instructor.
Student divers sign up for the course online at . Once a diver signs up, I receive an email notification that a new student diver has enrolled in the course. From that point I can interact with the student diver by phone, email or chats - depending upon individual preferences. This allows me to answer any student diver questions, provide local diving information, discuss dive equipment or what ever the student needs to feel comfortable, confident and prepared for their Belize diving experiences.
As student divers move through each section of the course, they show that they are meeting learning objectives by answering Quick Quiz questions throughout the section or the Knowledge Review at the end. To reinforce learning, the system provides the correct answer and further explanation or review. When they are ready, student divers take the quiz for that section and again receive prescriptive feedback for any questions they answer incorrectly. This way, student divers are required to achieve 100 percent mastery of the subject matter prior to moving on to the next section.
Student divers are linked to interactive tutorials and online versions of the RDP (those tables that tell you how deep and how long you can dive). I track the student diver progress and help them along the way as necessary. Students have access to an online version of the PADI Open Water Diver Manual for reference during and after training.
After Student divers have successfully completed all online knowledge development segments they receive a PADI eLearning record, that’s a document that states the independent study portion of the course is complete and my job is suddenly a whole lot easer.
Do I sound excited? Just imagine what you will feel like with that E-Learning record in your hand looking out at the reef from under a coconut tree on Ambergris.”

The Great Blue Hole

The Great Blue Hole in Belize
Approximately 45 miles from Ambergris Caye, the almost perfectly circular Blue Hole is more than 1,000 feet (305 meters) across and some 400 feet (123 meters) deep. The hole is the opening to what was a dry cave system during the Ice Age. When the ice melted and the sea level rose, the caves were flooded, creating what is now a magnet for intrepid divers. Today the Blue Hole is famed for its sponges, barracuda, corals, angelfish—and a school of sharks often seen patrolling the hole’s edge.

First Splash into the Adventure

just wanted to send you a quick note to say thanks again! Junior did a wonderful job with Jocelyn. It was a very good experience for her and she is so excited to be certified! As an instructor with 20 years of teaching experience I believe my daughter had a wonderful experience with you and your staff! Thanks again!
Take care and stay healthy!
Thanks again!
Larry

White Sands Dive Shops newest edition Juan Carlos Montejo

Juan Carlos is a Master Boat Captain, PADI Divemaster and Licensed Tour Guide. He brings with him years of experience in Ambergris's waters, He is known locally as 'The Chosen One' for his ability to calm rough seas.

Giant Loggerhead Turtle

Wow
One of our divers took this today on the 9:00 dive.
An ancient Loggerhead Turtle we call Godzilla. 'He' (for those of you who don't know turtle anatomy) visits once and a while and doesn't seem to mind divers present.

White Sands Dive Shop Affiliates with Belize Recompression Chamber

White Sands Dive Shop Is now a member of the Belize Recompression Chamber Network
http://ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/hyperbar.html
What this means to our divers is that for $1. dollar a tank the diver is provided with hyperbaric chamber treatments for decompression illness with no prepayment or deposit should the need arise.
This $1. per tank contribution does not go to the dive resort, operator or boat in anyway, but is solely to support the Belize Recompression Chamber in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye.

White Sands Cove from the air

Divemaster Tony Rivera goes digital underwater

New 34'Deep Water Hull

25' Mexican Lanchon snorklers boat

White Sands Dive Shops Newest member

Samuel Lin is a Boat Captain from Corozal Town and White Sands Dive Shops Newest member