by Lorena Estrada

Several semesters and more than 250 open water dives later, four students from the University recently became certified scuba diving instructors.

The National Association of Underwater Instructors came to the University January 22 and certified Anthony Zayas, Russ Waddy, Alex Carreno and Jorge Bello after evaluating their diving experience, a 100-question examination, and their logs with the number of dives they have completed throughout the program. The master divers also gave several classroom and pool presentations to prove their in-depth knowledge and ability to teach.

“The exciting thing is that they all started as basic drivers, went to advance training, got their master divers and now they are professionals– all within FIU,” said Bob Weisman, FIU Boating and Diving Safety Officer.

Now that these four students have reached the instructor level, they all look forward to pursuing a profession related to their ultimate passion—diving.

Carreno, who graduated from the University in 2005, has worked with Weisman as an assistant instructor for six years. He said it’s a big relief to have finally become a certified scuba diving instructor but it doesn’t end here.

“I plan to continue to take classes and get even more certifications in other special training,” he said.  “It’s a hobby of mine but at the same time a passion of mine, and if I can do something with it job-wise, that’s awesome.”

Carreno is no stranger to the water. He got certified at the age of 13 and went shark diving in the Bahamas with a well-known scientist Erich Ritter. He was infamously bitten in the calf by a shark.

Bello also became a certified diver in his early teenage years. The recent graduate majored in marine biology and eventually crossed over to scientific diving. For some time, Bello assisted the FIU labs and obtained some samples for the professors.  He said it was around that time when he became interested in leading groups and teaching.

Teaching is nothing new to the newly certified dive instructor Anthony Zayas.  He is a chemistry teacher at Braddock Senior High School. Zayas received a Bachelors and Masters from FIU and is pursuing a second degree in Asian Studies. According to Weisman, Zayas will soon be teaching at the University.

Thanks to the latest accomplishment of these four students, Weisman  said he wants students to realize that “all these opportunities are here in Florida.”

An opportunity students like Russ Waddy, a senior finishing his last semester, can take advantage of.  Waddy said he has been free diving all of his life and has a lot to look forward to this spring. He will be graduating with two major achievements: a scuba diving instructor certification and a bachelor of arts in psychology.

Since its inception in 1996, Weisman is proud the FIU Dive and Safety Program has come a long way.

“When the program first launched they only had 12 scientific qualified divers. Now they have 56,” he said. “I have students who are now in Australia, South America, the South Pacific and others working in the Caribbean and throughout the Keys.”

The program is a collaborative effort among the Environmental Health & Safety Department, University College, Marine Science Department and the College of Education.

Students interested in the joining the program can visit the website http://fiudive.fiu.edu/about.html.