Scuba diving reaches new depths
Jobless matrics dive into a new world of work
Diving instructor Kholisile Khumalo views a close call he once had with sharks as a thrilling experience.
Khumalo is the owner of Mzansi Scuba Diving Academy in Midrand, Johannesburg, which he started in February 2012 and where he has taught over 100 unemployed youth from across the country to dive.
The programme is sponsored by the Unemployed Insurance Fund (UIF) together with the Transport Education and Training Authority, which have both pumped around R13.3-million into it.
Speaking of his encounter with the sharks, Khumalo said: “We have these myths about sharks, that when you get into the water they’re going to eat you. I once bled from the nose as I struggled to equalise pressure while I was deep in the sea and a nearby shark didn’t attack me.
“I’ve discovered that a shark is the most majestic creature you could ever encounter in our beautiful waters. We’ve encountered a ragged tooth and white tip and black tip sharks.”
His academy offers courses to people who want to pursue diving as a profession or just for gratification.
Tuition for the one-year internationally accredited course is about R110 000. It covers accommodation, swimming lessons, transportation to various diving sites across the country, study material and diving gear
Khumalo’s enthusiasm has brushed off on his students.
Class II commercial diver Masibulele Madikane, 27, hails from Port Elizabeth, but has lived in Pretoria since 1995 when his soldier mother was transferred to the capital city.
“My dream is to become a commercial diver focusing on being an artisan,” he said.
“I also want to be one of the people to build the longest bridge, possibly that will stretch from here to Mozambique.” He said he had been doing underwater welding courses to refine his skills.
Nobahle Matshobana, 22, also hails from the Eastern Cape coast, in Port St Johns. She completed matric in 2014.
“Initially I didn’t know how to swim but now I can rescue you,” she said.
“When I finished Grade 12 I didn’t have money to further my studies and I went to the Department of Labour offices, submitted my CV in January 2015 and in September that year I received a call about the scuba diving course, something I knew nothing about.”
Bhekizulu Mpala, 42, is a structural engineer based in Centurion and is taking the course for entertainment purposes. However, he also hopes that being a diver will eventually assist him to develop the skill to conduct underwater inspections of ships.
Divemaster Florina Maleke, from Olievenhoutbosch in Centurion, completed her matric in 2015 and was selected directly from her school.
“Scuba diving is totally fascinating and amazing,” said Maleke, 19. “Marine life is extremely different from the world we live in. I come across starfish, jellyfish, stingrays and sharks on a regular basis.”
She said her dream was to work as a diver for the SADF.
Rachel Masha, the deputy director of the UIF’s labour activation programme, said they got involved in the scuba diver training project in 2013.
Masha said the UIF was attracted to scuba diving, which is not popular among the previously disadvantaged communities, because it sought to empower unemployed youth.
She said scuba diving would enable many to pursue careers related to scuba diving, such as mining and welding.
UIF spokesman Makhosonke Buthelezi said the Ministry of Labour regarded the project highly.
“The minister would like to see more young people being trained ... as it addresses national priorities ... and it’s a skill that was never there,” he said.
Diving instructor Khumalo said: “The training is intense in order to make you a very safe diver, but what is compulsory is that you must do 50 dives of deeper than 12m before we give you a master diver certificate.
“Diving tourism is big in South Africa and people from the US and South America come here to dive and we as black people are not part of it. The project was made to change that and open up the industry to the youth and conscientise them about another career option.”