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I first found diving in 2010 when I completed my PADI Open Water Diver course in Tioman Island as a celebration for graduating high school. I then moved to Canada for university doing a Bachelor of Science majoring in Actuarial Mathematics, as a student I didn’t do much diving back then!
After Canada, I wanted to see more of the world so I went on a backpacking adventure through America, Europe, India, South East Asia and finally returning to Malaysia through Borneo. I had to dive Sipadan so I did some diving with Scuba Junkie in Mabul, loving being in the water again I ended up staying and working my way up from Advanced Open Water diver up to OWSI, in 5 months!
I worked as an instructor for a year before i tried a stint in ‘the real world’ but after a year i was ready to swapped my office-suit for a wetsuit and my smart shoes for flip flops and dove back into what I loved.
I started back as a freelance instructor but realised quite quickly the only way I was going to be able to truly maintain my high teaching standards and conservation-based diving practices was to open my own dive shop.
So that’s exactly what I did! I’m now the proud owner of Juara Scuba Academy, going back to where it all began on Tioman Island, we have been running since 2019.
From 6 years of teaching, I have issued over 700 certifications from entry level to professional.
I’ve loved teaching people from many different countries, of many different ages, with many different motivations to become a diver, this variation has kept my passion for teaching alive giving me invaluable experience in overcoming students obstacles and fears.
With the ocean as my office, I feel that it is my responsibility to teach my students about the care and respect needed when entering these magical underwater environments, i love so much, integrating conservation and marine education into my courses at every level.
I’m looking forward to sharing my learnt experiences and teaching style in dealing with all sorts of student diver difficulties with our instructors of the future.
I first found diving in 2010 when I completed my PADI Open Water Diver course in Tioman Island as a celebration for finishing high school. I then moved to Canada for university doing a Bachelor of Science majoring in Actuarial Mathematics, so didn’t do much diving there!
After Canada I wanted to see more of the world so went on a backpacking adventure through America, Europe, India and South East Asia returning to Malaysia through Borneo. I had to dive Sipadan so did some diving with Scuba Junkie in Mabul, loving being in the water again I ended up staying being trained from PADI Advanced Open Water Diver up to instructor level, in 5 months! I stayed with Scuba Junkies for a year and a half but decided to leave to give my university time a try in the real world.
So, I jumped ‘suited & booted’ into the corporate world for bit. Realising it wasn’t for me, after a year of trying, I swapped my office-suit for a wetsuit and my smart shoes for flip flops and dove back into what I loved. I started back as a freelance instructor but realised quite quickly the only way I was going to be able to truly maintain my high teaching standards and conservation-based diving practices was to open my own dive shop.
So that’s exactly what I did! I’m now the proud owner of Juara Scuba Academy, going back to where it all began on Tioman Island, we have been running since 2019. From 6 years of teaching, I have issued over 500 certifications from entry level to professional. I’ve loved teaching people from many different countries, of many different ages, with many different motivations to become a diver.
This variation has kept my passion for teaching alive and given me invaluable experience in ways to overcoming learning obstacles and fears. With the ocean as my office, I pride myself on caring for this delicate and complex ecosystem by integrating conservation and marine education into my courses at every level. I feel that it is my responsibility to teach my students about the care and respect needed when entering these magical underwater environments.
Wanting to take this passion further I decided to take my AITS in Semporna.
I’m excited with this next step into the professional world of diving keeping my passion for teaching going whilst allowing me to show other future instructors how they can integrate marine education and conservation into their courses.
I’m looking forward to sharing my learnt experiences and teaching style in dealing with all sorts of student diver difficulties with our instructors of the future.
Has been an instructor for 20+ years working in various locations across Malaysia and the wider world. We are lucky to have him join our family in 2022 as a full time Instructor and resident photographer and kitten cuddler!
His depth of knowledge and teaching style makes his divers relax and have fun whilst learning new skills. Wan has a passion for highlighting the amazing species beneath the waves, spreading awe and love with his photos and encouraging active conservation efforts to protect our reefs.
What brought you to Scuba Diving?
Growing up i used to watch Jaques Couteau documentaries all about scuba diving and i dream that one day i to could explore the underwater world. So when i got older i decided to live my childhood dream and i have never looked back!
Why do you work with Juara Scuba Academy?
I came over with a student to check JSA out and when i was offered a job i decided to stay, i loved how the team was so closely knit and it felt like family from the very beginning. I also love the location, its so great to be able to get up every morning to take pictures of the sunrise before starting my day
What’s the one piece of advice you would give to our divers?
Just keep diving, everyone starts somewhere and as long as you are willing to keep learning, to keep developing you will always love scuba diving and all the wonders it can show you.
Has been an Instructor for 8 years and is one of our full-time instructors who has been working with us since 2019. Based in JB he came across to us as a customer and loved it so much he never really left.
What brought you to Scuba Diving?
After studying in Canada I wanted to try something completely different and ended up becoming a dive instructor and I have never looked back, making it my career and travelling all across the world with it.
Why do you work with Juara Scuba Academy?
Me and Fazz used to work together in Scuba Junkie Mabul. After knowing that he had just set-up a dive shop in Tioman, I came across for a visit and loved my time there so much I decided to join the team as a freelance instructor and now full-time. Having worked in the industry for a while I really liked the way the team ran the shop based on safety and with conservation at its heart.
Anyone can set up a dive shop but not everyone can run it right, and i think JSA has the perfect balance.
What’s the one piece of advice you would give to our divers?
Enjoy the time under water, the more you dive the easier things become. If you want to improve just ask for advice, we can always help. Let the ocean be your playground and let’s protect it together.
Having lived in Germany for the last 8 years Din came back to Malaysia in 2019 and joined our team, and family, completing his Divemasters in 2021 he has been working as a divemaster for the last year, in between completing his degree in Engineering Design and is one of best spotters giving his divers unforgettable underwater experiences
What brought you to Scuba Diving?
Wanting to try something new and push my limits, i didn’t have much water confidence at the start of my training but now i’m obsessed! Going out on fun dives in between guiding my own divers on their scuba adventures
Why do you work with Juara Scuba Academy?
I knew Faza from my school days and jumped at the chance to come and help him in setting up his dive shop. With the support of the team I have become a Divemaster and love every dive I go on.
What’s the one piece of advice you would give to our divers?
Even if you don’t have so much water confidence it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy scuba diving. Go slow and enjoy the experience, there is so much to see and explore in the beautiful coral reefs.
Being based in KL, Kiesha is one of our freelance Divemasters who completed her Ecology Divemaster training with us in 2020. She is currently Studying Marine Biology in Australia and has a passion for all things ocean related and a small Obsession with Sharks
What brought you to Scuba Diving?
Wanting to see more of the underwater world and understand all about the Marine Environment, that I am obsessed with, and how to protect them.
Why do you work with Juara Scuba Academy?
I did my Open Water course here and fell in love with the family feel and conservation project that they run. I wanted to learn more from their team and so ended up doing my DMT with them and have never looked back
What’s the one piece of advice you would give to our divers?
Keep on learning, the more we know about the underwater world and its species the more we fall in love with them and the more we enjoy our diving experiences.
Coming from KL Burn has gone from zero to hero with us starting his Open Water course in 2019 he became one of our Divemasters in 2020, he now works as a freelance DM juggling his hectic life in the city with the island paradise.
What brought you to Scuba Diving?
I wanted to try a new adventure and I thought scuba diving was a cool idea, as soon as I got under the water I was hooked!
Why do you work with Juara Scuba Academy?
I had a lot of fun doing my Open Water, Advanced and Rescue courses with the team, they were really easy to get on with and we always laugh a lot, the diving is also really cool.
What’s the one piece of advice you would give to our divers?
If you worried about starting diving just trust in your instructors and you will enjoy the experience and fall in love with the underwater world, like I did.
