This summer, I finally decided to enroll in my first professional scuba diving training course — the PADI Divemaster — and I couldn’t have chosen a better place than Sea Spirit Diving Resort in Giardini-Naxos!! And now I’ll explain why…
First of all, I already imagined I would find impeccable teaching here, since it is one of the few PADI Career Development Centers in Europe, and because the Director of Training, Carmelo Sgroi, is one of the very few PADI Platinum Course Directors in the world. I also knew I’d be surrounded by a fabulous location… after all, Giardini-Naxos, the first Greek colony in Italy, is renowned worldwide for its beauty.
Yet, my experience with Sea Spirit Diving Resort exceeded every expectation and was truly one of a kind! The first smile you’re greeted with at Sea Spirit is Cilla’s. Not only is she a PADI IDC Staff Instructor, but she’s also the General Manager of the resort, with the rare gift of managing the daily teaching activities flawlessly… but that’s not all! Cilla also took care of organizing every aspect of the logistics and my stay in Giardini-Naxos! That was amazing, especially because I had chosen to take this course during my holidays, and it allowed me to focus entirely and exclusively on the course!
And now to the PADI Divemaster course… it was a truly intense and challenging path, and I must say I’m happy, proud and deeply satisfied because it was exactly what I wanted! However, the weekly schedule left very little time for free moments… 🙂 🙂 But even in this case, the Sea Spirit staff was always there, often organizing fun, relaxed evenings together with the team, clients, and students of the Diving Resort — in a single word: UNFORGETTABLE evenings!
The credit for the high quality of the PADI Divemaster training goes mainly to Carmelo Sgroi… what can I say, the PADI Course Director of Sea Spirit Diving Resort is simply indescribable — truly unique!! Why?! He’s certainly a very demanding instructor — probably the most demanding I’ve ever met — but also, without a doubt, the best scuba instructor I’ve ever known in my life!! His passion for diving, for the ocean, and especially for teaching his students is evident and immense!
That’s the foundation of his teaching method and his high standards — he manages to communicate, every single moment, his desire to shape each and every PADI Divemaster candidate into the best version of themselves possible… and he almost always succeeds! 🙂 That’s what makes the difference, and it’s exactly why I feel honored to have had him as Director for my Divemaster course!! Thank you, Carmelo!! And the most amazing thing is that Carmelo manages to do all of this while always smiling from ear to ear, never missing a moment to share a laugh with everyone — he’s truly a bright, joyful person!!
Finally, one of the best things about Sea Spirit Diving Resort… the amazing team, who — of course — need to be on Carmelo’s level, and they are! They’re incredibly skilled professionals and also absolute champions of kindness and good humor! For me, they were a fundamental part of my experience in Giardini-Naxos, and I will never forget the immense dedication, passion, professionalism, knowledge, and warmth of Alina, Stefania, Alfio “The Legend” and Carmelo Jr.… Thank you all so much! You made this training journey — and this holiday period — truly unforgettable! I can’t wait to come back to Giardini-Naxos to laugh, have fun, and most importantly… dive with you all again!
