When Sony Boa returns to Sandals Royal Bahamian from Jamaica, he will be a certified dive instructor. He will be joining four of his team members - all Bahamian - as a highly-certified diver. His manager, Reggie Vickers, insisted Mr. Boa and others on their team reach the top of their profession.

“I won’t let them settle for less,” said Mr. Vickers, who oversees the entire operation of the resort’s Aqua Centre.

Continuous personal development is greatly encouraged throughout the Sandals brand, and at Sandals Royal Bahamian’s watersports centre, Bahamians are being pushed to fully develop themselves.

Mr. Boa began his career at Sandals as a beach attendant. For several months he beautified the beach by removing seaweed and ensured lounge chairs were in place for the resort’s guests. He was so diligent and hardworking, that his manager placed him on pool duty and began to pull him closer into the operation of the Aqua Centre. Mr. Boa was then encouraged to learn to dive and soon joined the dive team after earning his dive master certificate.

Mr. Vickers said he pushes all his staff to continue learning.  He arranges numerous training sessions for his team throughout the year, including lifeguard training, sailing instruction and dive training.

“These are good people,” he said. “And I take it personally.”

It’s no wonder, then, why Sandals has been recognized as one of the top dive destinations, not only across the Caribbean, but across the world.

Mr. Vicker’s team recently received certificates from the American Sailing Association after they completed training to become certified sailing instructors.

Sandals Emerald Bay recently certified 15 of its team member in various levels of lifeguard training. The training was conducted by the Life Saving Society of Ontario.  Five of the team members received the National Lifeguard Certificate, making them certified lifeguards.

“I encourage you to continue,” Jeremy Mutton, Sandals Emerald Bay’s General Manager told his team. “Don’t take it lightly, it’s a professional certification. The more you choose to put in the greater success you will have.”

 

Sony Boa in Jamaica training as a dive instructor

 

SRB Sailing: Sailing instructor from the American Sailing Association gives Sandals Royal Bahamian’s Aqua Centre Team instructions.

 

SEB Water: 15 members of Sandals Emerald Bay’s Aqua Centre team holds certificates showing the completion of their lifeguard training.