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Claire completed the Recreational Avelo Diver course with us, and that made her the 600th certified Avelo diver!

In the text below you can read about her experience with the system

“I discovered scuba diving later in life during a two-week vacation to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in 2003. I spent 10 days out of 14 underwater—much to the annoyance of my then non-diving partner! Fast forward to 2006, I left my life in casinos in Glasgow, Scotland, and relocated to Pattaya, Thailand. There, I enrolled as an intern with Mermaids CDC as part of their ‘Zero to Hero’ program. Initially planned to take 6 months, I ended up staying for 2 years.

My first contracted position in the diving industry came in 2008 when I joined the liveaboard vessel, Caribbean Explorer I, based in the Exuma Islands, Bahamas. I spent 8 incredible years with Explorer Ventures, diving across various islands in the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, St. Maarten, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Eustatius, and Saba. I even had the chance to dive in the Galapagos!

However, due to COVID-19, I had a 4-year hiatus from diving. Then, in December 2023, I came across an online seminar about a new diving phenomenon—AVELO. The branding “Simply Better Scuba” intrigued me, though I was initially skeptical, thinking it might be for an elite, niche market. After some research and speaking with an old diving acquaintance, Dan Orr, who endorsed the AVELO system, I knew I had to try this revolutionary approach to diving.

Bonaire was the obvious choice for my AVELO training—its tagline ‘Divers Paradise’ truly says it all! The online booking with Dive Friends Bonaire was seamless, and the AVELO eLearning was straightforward.

My first dive at Yellow Submarine was a refresher and introduction to the AVELO system, led by Ari and Zoe, who were incredibly patient and helped me adjust my buoyancy and trim. After my experience with a 5mm wetsuit and 7kg of lead, I decided to switch to a rash guard and leggings for my AVELO training. My instructor, Davide, was fantastic—his thoroughness and calm demeanor put me at ease. We went through equipment setup, buoyancy calibration, and knowledge reviews before diving in.

I’ll be honest—my first experience with AVELO wasn’t without challenges. It’s quite surreal diving with no lead weight and controlling your buoyancy without a BCD. The system is incredibly subtle, with no sudden buoyancy changes or erratic movements—just a calming, peaceful dive where you’re always in control.

By the second dive, which included some skills practice, I was much more comfortable. Thanks to a thorough pre-dive briefing from Davide, everything went smoothly. I’ve since stopped instinctively reaching for the dump valve on my back!

Now certified as R.A.D., I continue to dive using the AVELO system, and the difference is phenomenal compared to standard scuba. Despite my years of experience, I’m still learning and growing with each dive. I truly feel like I’m flying underwater, but always in control.

A huge thank you to Davide, my instructor, for his support and encouragement, and to Duncan, who has taken me on some epic dives with AVELO. Your patience, knowledge, and guidance have made my diving experience simply better!” – Claire

Are you interested in becoming an Avelo diver too? Contact us for more information.