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 tour 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 scuba diving tours 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 people how to dive, acting as a diving tour guide and arranging diving holidays for the past 16 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, Myanmar, the Red Sea and Maldives.
Language skills: German and English (her Queen's English, that is).
You can contact Beef at: beef@dive-the-world.com
Enrico
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 our dive tour operators, making sure we have as much of our information accurate and complete as practical. His job includes a lot of travel, mostly for management meetings and visits to many of our international destinations. 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 in 1996, 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. When not jet-setting around working for Dive The World, he lives 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
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
Philippa (Pip)
Nationality: Australian
Dive The World position: Pip is a member of the sales team. She can help you with your enquiries regarding Australia, Thailand and Fiji.
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 industry and selling dive tours 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
Sally Horn
Nationality: Born in the UK, but emigrated to Spain at age 18 and spent several years living in India.
Dive The World position: Sally's role as web editor and public relations manager means she is responsible for Dive The World's blog, to provide you with the latest up-to-date information on our special offers and latest diving news.
Bio data: Completed her PADI Open Water Diver Course in 1996, now a Rescue Diver. A keen underwater photographer. Sally has been a yoga teacher and complimentary therapist for 19 years. She is passionate about marine conservation and animal welfare issues. Loves travelling and has done quite a bit worldwide especially through her own tour company running small private yoga tours and retreats. Spent a lot of time in SE Asia.
Language skills: English and Spanish.
You can contact Sally at: sally@dive-the-world.com
Sheldon Hey
Nationality: Born UK, though South Africa is now home
Dive The World position: The founder and inspiration behind the Dive The World concept. Some people get the impression that Sheldon lives the life of Riley, jetting off to all corners of the globe to visit our destinations on familiarisation visits and attending the occassional company meeting. However, we believe he makes a valuable contribution.
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, Central America 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 it from 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 and is also our Database Administrator.
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 .
What Our Customers Say About Us
We know the places we sell and the operators that will take you diving there, so we are confident that we can help you find what you are looking for. Our knowledge, experience and impartialty can help take all the hassles out of your dive holiday planning and you can avoid the disaster of ending up in the hands of some sub-standard company, ruining what should have been a dream dive vacation.
But don't take our word for it. We have helped thousands of people book diving holidays that were perfect for them. Read what they have to say on our customer testimonials page, or see what they say about us on TripAdvisor.
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.
2012
Liveaboard of the Year: MV Mermaid I
"Mermaid Liveaboards goes from strength to strength here in Indonesia. The diving is spectacular at all our destinations and all our crews are very happy working and diving these waters on board 2 awesome boats. We are able to attract and keep a high calibre of staff on board both vessels and this shows through in your guests feedback from their dive trips with Mermaid Liveaboards." - Kay Golding, Director, Mermaid Liveaboards
Dive Resort of the Year: Bastianos Bunaken Resort
"Thank you to Dive The World for this great award. We are delighted to be Dive Resort of the Year. Since starting as a small family business 25 years ago, our motto has always been to keep the family atmosphere, but maintain professional standards. We want our customers to have fun and feel safe and comfortable above and below the water. We are very pleased to have our efforts recognised with this award." - Yvonne Schwarzer and Lutz Hoffmann, Managers, Bastianos Bunaken
2011
Liveaboard of the Year: MY Emperor Elite
"We are delighted that our flagship MY Elite has been declared the winner of the Dive The World Liveaboard of the Year 2011. The award is testament to the hard work the whole team put into making our guests trips as rewarding as possible; this award recognises their hard work. Also a big thank you to our guests for providing the positive feedback that wins awards like this but also allows us to maintain our high standards." - Mike Braun, General Manager, Emperor Divers
Dive Resort of the Year: Tulamben Wreck Divers Resort
"Dot, Wayan and I are very happy receiving this award. But most of all we are very proud of our staff, as we train them well and then they are able to give that service to our clients. Thank you all." - Tony Medcraft, Manager, Tulamben Wreck Divers
2010
Liveaboard of the Year: MY Sachika
"Thank you so much for this award. This is such a great and unexpected honour. It is gratifying to know that our professionalism and hard work have contributed to Sachika becoming your Liveabord of the Year! This award distinguishes our company as a premier company that always puts at first place its customers satisfaction and the relationship with its reliable agents worldwide, as you are. Thank you once again for this important recognition." - Corrado Scaburri, General Manager, Top Class Cruising
Dive Resort of the Year: Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort
"We are indeed very honoured to be selected as the 2010 'Dive Resort of the Year'. We thank you for having recognized and appreciated our efforts and we shall strive to continue to maintain our resort to the highest standard." - Veronica Lee, Director, Pulau Sipadan & Tours
2009
Liveaboard of the Year: SY June Hong Chian Lee
"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
"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
By booking with Dive The World, you are helping us donate to charitable causes that help protect the marine environment (see our Why book with Dive The World page for more details).
Join Our Social Community
If you're the social type that likes to meet fellow divers, you can join our Dive The World Facebook page. Through our Facebook page you can check out all the latest information plus competitions, customer photos, meet like-minded people and more.
Check out our Dive The World Blog for all the latest news, special offers and other goings-on in the world of diving. You can sign up for email updates to make sure you stay in touch.
You can also subscribe to our newsletter (see our sign up feature in the right hand margin of this page). We send out monthly emails to our subscribers with special features and items of interest. Twice a year these are fun and informative web-based newsletters - a great way to transport yourself to the underwater world.
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