MEET THE NEW TEAM – HOPE CHENEY, ANTONIO GULISANO
Welcome Hope Cheney
I am one of this year’s scholars at Andark to do my PADI Divemaster training this year. I have just finished my first year at the University of Southampton studying Marine Biology with oceanography so for me diving is not just a hobby but will hopefully be a career in the future, that’s why I am doing the scholarship, as it is the perfect way to spend my summer…
I am mostly interested in gaining experience from the scholarship as working with Andark means we are learning about the day to day running of a dive centre so in future we will be ready to work and know what we are expecting. We are also helping with many non-diving related courses which is providing loads more industry experience to better prepare us for our futures in diving. For me, the scholarship is the best way to get experience in all aspects of the industry to set me up for a scientific diving career (hopefully in a nice hot country with interesting coral reefs) and I couldn’t think of a better place to be learning!!
Welcome Antonio Gulisano
Hello, my name is Antonio I am twenty years old and very pleased to be one of the scholars this year. Finishing college, I had no desire to go to university, and was looking for a career or general path. Around this time my family and I decided to get our open water qualifications at Andark to perhaps go on holiday as my dad had enjoyed diving at around my age…
I cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed my Padi Open Water (OW). By far the greatest reason I enjoyed my OW was as someone who enjoys new experiences from paragliding to 4X4 off-roading, my OW allowed me to push myself in a new direction using skills I had and those I didn’t know existed.
I chose to apply to Andark’s Scholarship program as this is an excellent opportunity to get a look inside the industry with hands-on experience. Being in this environment with so many people each of which has a wealth of knowledge in a slightly different area has allowed me to learn a wider breadth of understanding. Part of this experience for me was the opportunity to try lots of different pieces of gear to see what I prefer and what fits me best. Examples of this would be my Beuchat Maxlux mask which I enjoy as its light weight gives a good field of view and low profile. Also, I have greatly enjoyed diving in a Scubapro T-ONE. I’ve the T-One to be light, comfortable and reliable however lacks suitable “D-rings” for mounting equipment.
My favourite dive by far was my dive at Vobster Quay this was incredible as there was so much to see from sunken planes and boats to submersed cars and vans.
In the near future I hope to dive with a wingset as this seems incredibly fun and allows for twin cylinders. In the more long-term future, I’d like to do my instructor qualification and teach both in the UK and abroad before doing my commercial qualification.