Learning to Dive in Paradise

10/20/2017

Chatham Hall

This summer, Charlotte Jannach '19 spent fourteen days sailing around the British Virgin Islands with a group that trains and certifies high school students to scuba dive. We sat down with Charlotte to learn about her trip.

So, what exactly were you doing this summer? Give us an overview of what you were working on.

This summer I had the wonderful opportunity to go on a summer camp in the British Virgin Islands for two weeks. During this experience, I lived on a 50-foot catamaran and sailed with 7 campers and 3 crew members from around the world. While living on the boat, we stopped at a different island almost every day to go scuba diving, do some community service, or learn about the wildlife or sailing.

What was your favorite part of the experience?

My favorite part of this experience was getting my diving certification. At first, it was annoying having to do small repetitive skills but as we practiced I began to appreciate that preparation. I am grateful for having the chance to dive in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I got to dive in amazing coral reefs with wildlife literally at my fingertips.

What is one takeaway from the summer that you will never forget?

I will never forget the late nights on the catamaran. We would sit at the front of the boat with all our sleeping bags and pillows as the boat drifted on the ocean. We would either tell scary stories or play the ukulele and sing. We were not allowed to use our phones during the whole camp, which made the experience even more special. The whole boat crew bonded over making meals and playing games.

How do you plan on using what you've learned in the future?

I also passed a sailing test so I would love to be able to sail more boats in the future with my family! At first, sailing seemed difficult, but after spending two weeks doing it every day, it became second nature.

Do you plan on continuing to study what you've learned in the future

I plan to continue increasing my diver certification. Currently, I have the lowest level of certification, but I hope to become more advanced over time. I would love to get the Wreck Diver certification and the Rescue Diver certification.

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