Roef  | SSI Open Water Instructor

Bon dia, I am Roef. After a career as an F-16 pilot with the Royal Netherlands Air Force and later as a captain at KLM, I started my third career at Porto Mari Dive Center in 2023. First, I flew high above the ocean, now I dive right into it.

On July 10, 2023, I made my last flight as a captain at KLM — a special moment after more than 30 years and thousands of flight hours, together with colleagues and family who accompanied me on my farewell trip to Kuala Lumpur (read more about my “last job”). After that, it was time for a new chapter.

Diving is anything but new to me — I now have more than forty years of experience. As a pilot, I visited the most beautiful places in the world, and as a diver, I made the most of it. Curaçao has always played a special role in that. What once started as a place to enjoy and dive in my free time has now become a second home where I am an active part of the team.

After my retirement, I immediately took on a new challenge and became a divemaster at Porto Mari. It took some adjusting to learn a new profession at my age, surrounded by young guys and girls — but I can recommend it to everyone. I was the first assistant instructor to be trained at Porto Mari (by Joost), and after that, I was even the “youngest” instructor on the team for a while — although that has since changed. The fun is no less because of it. I enjoy standing in front of a group of students just as much as I enjoy leading a relaxed guided dive, but maybe I prefer just being underwater.

I divide my time between North Holland and Bandabou, Curaçao, and can be found at Porto Mari regularly throughout the year. Not just for diving, by the way — if something needs to be built or repaired, I’m just as comfortable with a drill or saw in hand.

I am married to a yu di Kòrsou, father of two daughters and now also a proud grandfather of two granddaughters. For the record: I am not the owner of the dive school — but I will respond if you address me as such 😉