PADI ASIA PACIFIC MEMBER AWARDS 2007
TWIN BROTHERS in FIJI AWARDED ‘YOUNG ACHIEVERS IN DIVING’

In May this year PADI Asia Pacific announced the winners of the Member Awards Program for 2007 at ADEX, the Asian Dive Expo held in Bangkok, Thailand. Winners in the category for the Young Achiever in Diving Award were twin brothers, Harrison and Taylor Koens who live on Beachcomber Island in Fiji.

The Award recognises a young achiever’s contribution to the development of a vibrant diving industry through their local Dive Centre or Resort. Both Harrison and Taylor play pro active roles at Subsurface, a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre in Fiji.

Mike Holme, PADI Asia Pacific’s Director, Training and Quality Management was in Fiji earlier this month and took the opportunity to visit the boys on Beachcomber Island and present them with certificates acknowledging their Young Achiever in Diving Awards.

The 14 year olds were introduced to diving at 11 years and embracing the sport, eagerly continued through their PADI courses. Harrison and Taylor became Junior Master Scuba Divers at 12 years of age and are now avid photographers who are rarely without their cameras. Through their love of diving they enthusiastically contribute to the education, environmental awareness and under water activity on Beachcomber Island, inspiring visitors into participation. One of their most notable achievements has been the gathering of data on coral reefs for the Reef Check Network with the Mamanuca Environmental Society (MES). They have also initiated a Crown of Thorns Starfish collection routine with Subsurface Fiji dive centre staff. Voluntarily collecting hundreds of COTS they have created a specific COTS density map highlighting the areas in the Mamanuca’s that need urgent attention. Earlier this year the boys were invited by the principle of the International school in Nadi to address Year 12 students on the damaging effects COTS have on the local coral reefs.

Their commitment and enthusiasm contributed greatly to the success of Subsurface Fiji winning a Project AWARE 2006 Environmental Award.

Mike Holme comments, “It is truly remarkable what the boys have accomplished within a few years of learning to dive. Their achievements are precisely what the PADI Young Achiever in Diving Award is all about and I have nothing but admiration for them. It was a great privilege to present Harrison and Taylor with their award certificates and I am sure that their efforts will have a considerable affect on the future of diving in the Mamanuca Islands and indeed Fiji.

 

 

 

 

Mike Holme, PADI Asia Pacific’s Director, Training and Quality Management
with Taylor (left) and Harrison Koens in Fiji.

 

 

 

Taylor (left) and Harrison Koens, winners of the PADI Member
Award in the category of Young Achiever in Diving.

 

About PADI
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the world’s largest recreational dive training, certification and membership organisation. PADI Members (dive centres, resorts, educational facilities, instructors, assistant instructors and divemasters) issue nearly 1,000,000 certifications worldwide each year, making underwater exploration and adventure accessible to the public, while maintaining the highest industry standards for dive training, safety and customer service.

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