At the end of July, PADI Club members converged at Ambergris Caye in Belize to partake in a week of sun, diving and exploration. In the wise words of Club member Tyler Clapp, “Scuba diving is about more than just seeing the sights underwater. It’s also about connecting with people who are just as passionate about the ocean as you and making lifelong friends. Diving is definitely a community sport, and I’m still relishing the sense of community we had on this trip.” padi.com/padiclub

Carolyn Patterson

Linda Sue upped the high most of us were feeling after having descended 130 feet to see the ancient formations in the Blue Hole cave. Somehow slapping that bright-pink Body Glove glove was hilarious and gave us a sense that we had accomplished something rare at the same time.

Dan Dolezal

This beautiful turtle came gliding by to check out all of our bubbles. At one point it looked over at me to note the great improvement I have made in buoyancy control!

Related Reading: Protecting Texas’ Barrier Island Sea Turtles

Chrisie John

Diving with PADI has genuinely been one of the best experiences! Between meeting amazing people and getting to experience breathtaking marine life, I couldnʻt have picked a better way to spend a week!

Thamus J.Morgan

Our dive guide Alanso displayed perfect buoyancy control while looking for nudibranchs to show his fellow PADI divers.

Jamil Andrea Donith

There is nothing more majestic than seeing a shark gliding through the water. So many gorgeous reef sharks. Seeing these apex predators in their natural habitat is a major high for me. Itʻs been a mission of mine to show people these creatures are not people-eating monsters.

Related Reading: An Unforgettable Dive: Learning What It Takes to Get “the Shot” of a Great White Shark

Tyler Clapp

Every time I float over the top of a sponge or coral head I always look inside to see if something is hiding. Nine out of 10 times I strike out, but that 10th time you get a pretty cool shot.