Coast Guard officers certified as PADI dive master instructors

By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)

BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 10, 2026

   Two Belize National Coast Guard (BNCG) officers—Petty Officers Romario Cus and Ardele Avila—have successfully completed the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Instructor Development Course (IDC) to become PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors (OWSI), and achieved certification by successfully completing the PADI Instructor Exam.

   They undertook the PADI instructor development training course (IDC) conducted by PADI course director John Searle of Sea Sports Belize, assisted by PADI IDC staff instructors: Linda Searle, Jose Muñoz, and Allison Caswell, from May 23 to June 5. They then completed the PADI Instructor Examination, which PADI regional manager Claudio Bandileone conducted using standardized, objective testing criteria, from Friday evening through Sunday, June 5-7.

   The officers developed their knowledge and skills to instructor level through independent study as well as live presentations and workshops conducted and supervised by a PADI course director. They then attempted and successfully completed the Instructor Examination (IE), which evaluated their teaching ability, dive knowledge, skills level, understanding of the PADI system, attitude, professionalism, and other attributes required of PADI instructors.

   The test evaluated the candidates’ presentations to develop their pupils’ knowledge, as well as how they presented these lessons in confined water – i.e. a pool and in open water. The examination included a rescue evaluation, 5 dive theory exams, a PADI standards exam, and the candidates’ overall professionalism.

   New PADI instructors must meet the most extensive requirements for learning and performance of any recreational diver certification organization. They must complete a two-phase program, the instructor development training course, conducted by a PADI course director, and the evaluative phase conducted by PADI staff, which is the most comprehensive and demanding of any in the dive industry.

   Their training will prepare Cus and Avila to conduct in-house training as PADI instructors of their BNCG recruits up to the PADI Dive Master level, and establish a solid foundation for further, advanced military Type-5 training.

   The Minister of Tourism, Hon. Anthony Mahler, supported the program along with the Belize Tourism Board, Belize Rural South area representative Hon. Andre Perez, PADI International, and Sea Sports Belize.

   The Belize Coast Guard has announced plans to establish a regional dive-training school in the future.