Leadership Through Adventure Fund
A Deep Dive Journey of Confident and Personal Growth
In May 2024, Venturer Scout Lily from ACT embarked on a transformative journey to become a Junior PADI Dive Master, with support from Dick and Pip Smith – Leadership Through Adventure Fund (LTAF). This experience turned out to be one of the most exciting and challenging she has encountered yet. It combined online learning, training with both students and instructors, and plenty of hands-on diving.
Before starting this journey, Lily needed to meet certain qualifications that laid the foundation for advancing to the Junior Dive Master (JDM) certification. The road to JDM was demanding and rewarding, pushing her to grow both as a diver and a Leader.
Communication is the Key
Communication became a key component of the journey. Lily not only needed to communicate effectively with her instructor and team, but she also learned how to communicate clearly underwater, how to be approachable, and how to set a positive example for students and fellow divers.
One of the biggest lessons Lily learned throughout this process was the amount of time and dedication it takes to build experience and knowledge in diving. “I’ve been lucky enough to log over 70 dives now, and every time I dive, I discover something new – whether it’s about the underwater environment, diving techniques, or myself as a diver,” Lily shared.
Through these extensive dives, Lily has become better at spotting sea life, identifying different species, and has developed a deeper appreciation for the costs involved in the sport. She’s also realised the importance of continuing to invest in improving her skills and maintaining her equipment.
Safety is the Top Piority in Diving
Every dive carries inherent risk, but through careful risk assessments, proper planning, and clear instructions, those risks can be minimized. Lily recalls one memorable experience of going into the water alone to set up a dive flag. While it was a reasonable risk, she took every precaution, staying on the surface and remaining in sight to ensure everything went smoothly.
Perhaps one of the most challenging experiences Lily encountered was addressing a panicked diver underwater. She learned just how quickly things can escalate and how crucial it is to stay calm, focused, and clear-headed in order to resolve the situation. The experience taught her valuable lessons in risk management, adaptability, and how important it is to remain emotionally steady when others are relying on your expertise.
Lessons Encountered
Throughout this journey, Lily has taken away valuable lessons about Leadership. She shared, “I’ve learned what it means to be a role model and how to guide people – some of whom may be older than me—into feeling comfortable and confident in the water. It’s about creating a connection, making them feel safe, and always being approachable, especially when they have questions or concerns. Communication is key and there is no room for uncertainty in high-risk environments like diving. Phrases like ‘It’ll probably be fine’ or ‘It might work’ are not acceptable. Confidence is critical, and people need to see that I’m a leader who is both skilled and trustworthy.”
“Throughout this course, I’ve learned so much more than I expected. As a Dive Master, I now assist instructors, guide and support more experienced divers, and help run training sessions,” Lily shared.
Every dive, challenge, and experience on this journey has helped Lily become a more confident diving assistant. Her path toward becoming a Junior Dive Master is just one step in an ongoing process of growth, discovery, and responsibility. The journey is far from over, and Lily is eager for the future, ready to dive deeper into new lessons, challenges, and underwater adventures yet to come.
Are you Ready for your own LTAF Adventure?
The Leadership Through Adventure Fund (LTAF) helped make Lily’s journey to become a Junior PADI Diving Master possible. If you have an adventure that you would like to embark and ready for new challenges and experience. Find out how the Leadership Through Adventure Fund can assist you in making the plan into reality. Click below button to find out more about the fund and more.
