RSVGPF Coast Guard Completes First-Ever In-House PADI Dive Training
Seven RSVGPF Coast Guard officers have set a new benchmark, completing the organisation’s first-ever in-house PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water dive training programme. The milestone was celebrated on Friday, 14th November 2025, at the Coast Guard Base in Calliaqua, marking a significant advancement in the nation’s maritime capability.
The two-week course, held from November third to fourteenth, was led by Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Marcel Morris, a PADI Staff Instructor and one of only a few in the Caribbean with this elite certification. By conducting the training internally, the RSVGPF can now develop specialised divers at international standards while reducing costs and shaping training to match the realities of SVG’s marine environment.
CPO Morris praised the group’s determination, reminding them that certification is “just the starting point of a much longer journey” as they continue building confidence and competence beneath the waves.
Representing the graduating class, Leading Seaman (LS) Saville Hackshaw reflected on the experience, noting that each dive strengthened their discipline, teamwork, and situational awareness. He credited the instructors for maintaining a learning environment that pushed them to excel safely and professionally.
The course introduced participants to key areas such as Dive Physics and Physiology, Dive Planning, Underwater Communication, Navigation, Deep Diving, Night and Drift Diving, and Search and Recovery techniques. These skills provide the foundation for future operational dive missions within the RSVGPF.
In her vote of thanks, LS Dellesha Delpesche applauded her fellow graduates for their commitment and bravery, emphasising the strong sense of unity displayed throughout the training.
The newly certified divers are:
LS Dellesha Delpesche
LS Saville Hackshaw
OS Orlando Frederick
OS Venish Henry
OS Ashad Ashton
OS Heart Richardson
OS Rickeemo Yearwood
The instructional team included CPOs Damian Franklyn and Marcel Morris, PO Andre Samuel, and AB Kadeem Henry.
“Dive and Rise Together,” coined during the course by OS Henry, has been officially adopted as the motto of the Coast Guard Dive Team, symbolising teamwork, resilience, and the shared pursuit of excellence.
The RSVGPF congratulates the graduates and commends the instructors for delivering this historic achievement, which strengthens the organisation’s readiness to protect and serve across the nation’s maritime space.