Meet Qinthan, who completed her IDC with Purple Dive in October 2024.
Where are you from and how did you start diving?
My name is Qinthan and I am from Jakarta. I started scuba diving in 2017 when I joined a diving club at my university during my undergraduate studies. I earned my Open Water certification in 2018. I was fascinated by underwater life and studying marine science, I just wanted to make what I learned in class more tangible. This led me to consider a career as a marine biologist who is also a scuba diver.
What made you decide to embark on the IDC course?
Since I started diving and working in several remote areas in Indonesia, I realized that many Indonesians do not have the opportunity to go diving or even take a course. The cost is simply too expensive for them. By becoming an an instructor, I want to dedicate myself to finding a solution and making diving more accessible, especially for Indonesian women.
What was your favourite part/highlight of the training?
I loved the entire training, but my favourite part was practising skills in open water at Lembongan Bay. The water was crystal clear but freezing (22-23 degrees) until our hands were shaking. Despite the cold, all my IDC mates and I gave our best performance and effort. It truly proved how much we genuinely wanted to become instructors, no matter the challenge. I am incredibly proud of them because they showed me what real superwomen look like, as well as our teachers, Helene, Yvonne, and Prisil. We ended the session with biscuits, coffee, and tea on the boat to warm ourselves up.
What was your biggest challenge and how did the team help you overcome this?
I struggled a lot with briefings and theories. My skills briefing was unstructured, and in theory, I lacked equipment, physics, and dive planning knowledge. However, I was grateful to have friends who helped me by practicing briefings before and after class or pool sessions, giving me valuable feedback to improve. I did the same for my teammates, and we all supported and shared knowledge with each other. This teamwork created a strong bond between us. As for the theory, my instructors, Yvonne, Prisil, and Helene, were amazing. They explained every question I had very clearly. Thanks to their guidance, I achieved excellent scores on my exam, which I could hardly believe on the day!
Where are you working now and what is your current role?
I am currently working in marine research and conservation as a senior marine biologist and community manager at the Indo Ocean Foundation.
What is your favourite part about your job?
My favourite part of my job is conducting research, exploring the mysteries of the ocean, sharing knowledge through teaching, connecting with new people and having discussions with those who share the same passion. And of course, I absolutely love diving itself!
What is your best dive to this day?
It was when I saw a whale shark during my dive against debris dive in Bira.
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