Sam & Amelia | PADI Divemasters
Sam and Amelia from Orlando did their Divemaster internship at Porto Mari at the end of 2022 and later returned as Divemasters — musical, creative, and part of the team.
Hey, we are Sam & Amelia!
We’re from Orlando, Florida, and our time at Porto Mari began in November 2022, when we did the short Divemaster internship together. What started as “let’s just give this a try” quickly became much more than that. After a break of a few months, we came back and worked as Divemasters from April to August 2023. Clearly, the island hadn’t let us go yet.
Sam here — I couldn’t resist bombarding the team with music facts. From obscure bands to classic rock, jazz, and blues: I probably knew a bit too much about it all, but found a great conversation partner in Laurens. And yes, I really did try several times to explain the rules and scoring of American football to everyone. That… didn’t quite work out.
Amelia here — music runs in my blood. My parents still live in Curaçao and play steel drums all over the island. That rhythm is part of my childhood. During our time at Porto Mari, I added a splash of color to the shop with painting and small creative projects. It felt good to leave something tangible behind.
We celebrated our hundredth dive the way you’re supposed to: without clothes — but of course at a place and time where no one else could see. We also made sure to get proof. Tasteful proof, where everything is clearly visible — and yet nothing can be seen.
Our time at Porto Mari was intense. Working in the sun, the rhythm of the island, diving every day — it’s wonderful, but also exhausting. By the end, to be honest, we were a bit drained. And yet, above all, we now feel gratitude. It was a chapter full of growth, friendship, music, and lots and lots of diving.
A piece of us is still on that house reef.