Blue Ventures conservationist becomes the first Malagasy national to achieve PADI Instructor certification

Wednesday, 27 January 2010 00:00

Blue Ventures is proud to announce that Georges ‘Bic' Manahira, a conservationist at its groundbreaking research site in Andavadoaka, southwest Madagascar and the longest serving member of staff on site has recently been certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) as Madagascar's first Open Water Scuba Instructor.

An enormous personal and professional achievement for Bic, this qualification is the culmination of a 6 year journey, rising from working as an electrician in the Andavadoaka region to working at the forefront of Blue Ventures' dynamic volunteer-led research programme. Making the journey from Andavadoaka to London and taking the professional exams in English, his third language, Bic achieved this qualification on the 15th December and has since returned to Madagascar to take up duties as an OWSI for Blue Ventures. This also provides further evidence of the new generation of conservationists emerging from coastal communities on the very frontline of climate change and leading the way in the development of innovative and effective conservation methods in both the developing world and beyond.

Founder and Research Director of Blue Ventures, Al Harris commented, "I am thrilled that Bic has passed, it is an incredible achievement. All of us at Blue Ventures are very proud of him".

Blue Ventures is an award-winning marine conservation organisation dedicated to conservation, education and sustainable development in tropical coastal communities.