Schools – Swimming and Diving Programme

Swim Lessons at local resort

As part of our commitment to skill development within the local communities and a natural continuation of our project with tourism school, SMKN…

 

Module 2 of our 3 part programme involves basic swimming and snorkelling lessons for students. Students are handpicked for classes based on a number of factors, enthusiasm, and attendance to previous classes, English language skills and their ambitions for the future. In 2013, forty students were selected from a total of eighty six and were given access to five weeks’, free of charge swimming classes with our dive instructors. The groups are split into beginners or advanced groups. During the programme, students improve their swimming technique, learn new skills, get to try out snorkelling equipment and learn basic snorkelling skills such as clearing masks and snorkels. Module 3 of the programme continues with a selection of the most competent students receiving dive training. The students will begin with introductory dives and then progress with some of the most talented individuals receiving training to the level of SSI Dive Guide. This programme directly and immediately enhances the employability of these students, by allowing them to take jobs which would have been outside of their skill level before, such as:

  • Snorkel Guide
  • Dive Guide
  • All areas of tourism which demand a higher level of English
  • Sales roles
  • Any role which requires First Aid training for those who achieve the level of SSI Stress and Rescue Diver

In addition, there will be the secondary, but equally important, benefit of safety for all students who take employment by or live in and around the water. This would range from cooks and dive deck staff on boats to hotel employees who work near and around the pool; in short, anyone who comes into contact with water as part of profession or daily life.     SMKN 1 Labuan Bajo is a tourism school funded in part by the Indonesian government, for students between 15 and 18 years of age. It operates as a vocational facility, aiming to give students a well rounded education and future in the tourism industry. The programme consists of 5 modules – Travel, Hotel, Food and Beverage, Computer 1 (software application) and Computer 2 (hardware).   For more information, also visit Schools – Marine Education Programme