Hi, we are Nicolas (French) and Polly (British), two PADI diving instructors
teaching and diving our way around the world!
We met in Indonesia in August 2008. Three months later we met again in Tanzania and since then we've been together. We've done pool trials in Kenya's 5-star hotels, commercial dive jobs on the biggest dredger in the world, taken US soldiers nightdiving with whale sharks, dived some of the prime wreck and technical sights of Egypt and explored the labyrinthine cave systems of the Yucatan. We are non-smokers, hard workers and we are ready for a new challenge!
Nicolas has been travelling since 2002 and diving since 2003. He's dived in 23 countries with 55 different divecenters: from Bangladeshi lakes with 5cm vis to the ripping currents of Indonesia. As an experienced PADI Master Instructor he has worked in 7 countries with 18 different divecenters and has taught 400+ students from more than 40 countries.
Nicolas strongly believes in continuing education. He not only teaches 27 PADI specialties, but has collected many weird and wonderful qualifications himself: from recompression chamber to full face masks and whale shark awareness. His love of deep diving and background in mathematics have led to a natural aptitude for technical diving: Nicolas is a PADI Tec Deep Instructor and TDI Advanced Trimix Diver, as well as a PADI TecRec Trimix Gas Blender Instructor.
Polly has been travelling with Nicolas since 2008, having left a career as a fashion designer in Paris. Her diving experience has been intensive: going from divemaster trainee to full-time guide and co-manager in a matter of dives. A year of divemastering and assisting Nicolas with Open Water students were excellent preparation for becoming an instructor and she passed her instructor examination in March 2010. She has dived in 6 countries with 18 different divecenters, working for 10 of them. Polly is also a Tec Deep Diver and is waiting impatiently for Nicolas to become a rebreather instructor!
Together our most important achievement was managing the Dolphin Services dive school in Djibouti. That year spent on the horn of Africa was filled with challenges: working in a remote location with limited resources while catering for the needs of our main customers, the US military; teaching on their camp and following the necessary protocols. During this time we re-energised the existing business through improved organisation, promotion, communication and good, honest, hard work. We both spent a great deal of time in front of a computer screen dealing with enquiries. Polly wrote all the promotional and informative literature on the Dolphin Service blog that she built. Nicolas focused on selling specialties and creating packages and events that appealed to our clients. By the time we left we had a huge database of divers and fantastic word-of-mouth promotion from our satisfied customers.
Away from the dive school we ran snorkelling trips, especially popular during whale shark season, with up to 70 snorkellers and divers in 2 large boats with 5 skiffs. At the other end of the scale we were lucky enough to work on the Dolphin liveaboad M/Y Deli, a 12-berth, 2-mast schooner. We not only guided but helped with gear and organisation to make our divers' holidays the best they could be. It was an all-round great experience, and one we hope to repeat.
After 2 years in Africa we are now in Mexico. We are both NACD Full Cave Divers and have added cenote guiding to our diving experience. As ever, we are open to all possibilities and opportunities that life may bring!
To see our full Curriculum Vitae click on Nicolas or Polly here, or the links at the top of the page.
or email us:
nicolas.pagnier@gmail.com
pollydawson@gmail.com
To see our full CVs click on the page links above
Nicolas has been travelling since 2002 and diving since 2003. He's dived in 23 countries with 55 different divecenters: from Bangladeshi lakes with 5cm vis to the ripping currents of Indonesia. As an experienced PADI Master Instructor he has worked in 7 countries with 18 different divecenters and has taught 400+ students from more than 40 countries.
Nicolas strongly believes in continuing education. He not only teaches 27 PADI specialties, but has collected many weird and wonderful qualifications himself: from recompression chamber to full face masks and whale shark awareness. His love of deep diving and background in mathematics have led to a natural aptitude for technical diving: Nicolas is a PADI Tec Deep Instructor and TDI Advanced Trimix Diver, as well as a PADI TecRec Trimix Gas Blender Instructor.
Polly has been travelling with Nicolas since 2008, having left a career as a fashion designer in Paris. Her diving experience has been intensive: going from divemaster trainee to full-time guide and co-manager in a matter of dives. A year of divemastering and assisting Nicolas with Open Water students were excellent preparation for becoming an instructor and she passed her instructor examination in March 2010. She has dived in 6 countries with 18 different divecenters, working for 10 of them. Polly is also a Tec Deep Diver and is waiting impatiently for Nicolas to become a rebreather instructor!
Together our most important achievement was managing the Dolphin Services dive school in Djibouti. That year spent on the horn of Africa was filled with challenges: working in a remote location with limited resources while catering for the needs of our main customers, the US military; teaching on their camp and following the necessary protocols. During this time we re-energised the existing business through improved organisation, promotion, communication and good, honest, hard work. We both spent a great deal of time in front of a computer screen dealing with enquiries. Polly wrote all the promotional and informative literature on the Dolphin Service blog that she built. Nicolas focused on selling specialties and creating packages and events that appealed to our clients. By the time we left we had a huge database of divers and fantastic word-of-mouth promotion from our satisfied customers.
Away from the dive school we ran snorkelling trips, especially popular during whale shark season, with up to 70 snorkellers and divers in 2 large boats with 5 skiffs. At the other end of the scale we were lucky enough to work on the Dolphin liveaboad M/Y Deli, a 12-berth, 2-mast schooner. We not only guided but helped with gear and organisation to make our divers' holidays the best they could be. It was an all-round great experience, and one we hope to repeat.
After 2 years in Africa we are now in Mexico. We are both NACD Full Cave Divers and have added cenote guiding to our diving experience. As ever, we are open to all possibilities and opportunities that life may bring!
To see our full Curriculum Vitae click on Nicolas or Polly here, or the links at the top of the page.
For more information, please contact us by phone:
Nicolas (+52) 984 142 4177
Polly (+52) 984 119 0234
Nicolas (+52) 984 142 4177
Polly (+52) 984 119 0234
or email us:
We look forward to hearing from you!
Nicolas & Polly