Lyanca | SSI Divemaster Instructor

Hi, I'm Lyanca.

I'm from Gieten in Drenthe and have been coming to Curaçao for years. In recent years, I usually spend a longer period on Curaçao during the winter months (November through February). During that time, I work remotely for our agricultural transport company, but I also consciously make time to teach diving courses. It's a nice balance between work, island life, and being able to get in the water whenever possible.

My diving story actually started with a bit of doubt. In 2021, I did my very first introductory dive at Porto Mari with Kasper. To be honest, it didn't go very well. I found it all quite exciting and felt like maybe it just wasn't for me. But then Kasper asked me what exactly I was afraid of, and he said that I could always just go back up if I wanted out. That realization—that I was in control—made something click. I decided to give it another try. And from that moment, I was hooked.

And then things moved quickly. In that one year (2022), I obtained my Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, and Divemaster certifications, all at Porto Mari with Joost, and a whole series of specialties, all still within the PADI system. What started as a nerve-wracking first step grew into something I wanted to keep developing in. Eventually, I even got my instructor certification. When the team switched to SSI in December 2024, I naturally joined them. By now, I am an SSI Divemaster Instructor and still connected to Porto Mari, but I also occasionally help out at other dive schools.

Besides diving, I have a great passion for the equestrian world. I have a large driving license and am comfortable with tractors, horse trailers, and heavy tanker combinations, so you'd think a pickup truck would be no problem. But on my very first day of my Divemaster internship, I immediately put a dent in Porto Mari's brand-new truck. That was quite a flying start... Fortunately, the pain to my ego was eased a bit when I later heard that another dent had been added, caused by someone even more used to heavy equipment—F-16s and Boeing 747s. Apparently, those little trucks are still tricky.

Underwater, I like to stay active and I am happy to contribute to BRANCH's coral restoration projects. You can come to me for Open Water and Advanced courses, but also for specialties such as independent diving, invasive species management (lionfish), and coral restoration.