Safari Diving Lanzarote Dive Team
Steve Hicks
The team-captain
Steve learnt to dive on his honeymoon in the Maldives. Returning there six more times and along with extensive diving in the UK, he qualified up to PADI Dive Master. After this Steve came over to Lanzarote from the UK and took his IDC and IE and became a PADI Instructor.He also qualified as an SSI Instructor, BSAC Instructor and a PADI Master SCUBA Diver Trainer with many speciality courses.
Steve loved the island and together with Wendy, they arranged many holidays here for diving clubs and individuals.
They also brought over school children from the UK and taught them to dive here. All the diving was arranged through Safari Diving with no problems incurred at all.
In the UK Steve was employed as an Engineering Manager but had decided that the offer to buy Safari Diving was too good an offer to refuse!
His Engineering skills come in very handy and as well as diving and teaching, he also maintains the boats. A very busy schedule!
He has no regrets about leaving England and now enjoys life to the full here in Lanzarote, as he often tells his friends in the UK when he calls them on the phone! He does however, miss going to see his rugby team (Saracens) and catches them on TV when he can or trys to see them when he visits the UK.
Wendy Hicks
Bookie
Wendy also learnt to dive with Steve, on their honeymoon in the Maldives. She has been organising holidays to Lanzarote for groups of up to 58 persons for many years now. Arranging flights, accommodation - through an ABTA approved agent - car hire, diving insurance and of course the diving!The complete package!
Because Steve and Wendy know Puerto Del Carmen so well, they can ensure that the accommodation is of good standard and near to the dive centre. Wendy continues with all the bookings now that she lives in Lanzarote.
Her role at Safari Diving is: Administration and finance, marketing, maintaining the web pages, transporting clients and all the bookings for diving, flights and accommodation! And covering at the dive centre. Women can multi-task!!
Wendy worked in the UK for many years as a Payroll Manager but had wanted to move to Lanzarote for a long time.
It was her "dream come true!" when they bought the dive centre. She also has no regrets about leaving England but misses going to her football matches (Everton).She manages to squeeze in some games when she visits England and watches them regularly, with fellow Evertonians, on the televison here in Lanzarote.
Nico Spiering
Don´t move
Nico comes from Holland and has lived on Lanzarote for almost 10 years. He has worked at another dive centre here on the island and then for a while freelancing, before he became a valued part of the team at Safari Diving SL.He is a PADI STAFF INSTRUCTOR and has wreck diving, digital photography, nitrox, deep diving and multi-level diving specialities.
Nico says he just turned right accidentally in Rotterdam and ended up in Lanzarote!! Exactly true!!
He enjoys diving here and wants to ensure that all the clients have the best time here.
In private he likes to play chess, maybe you can challenge him.
Ingrid Abels
La Sirena
Ingrid is Dutch too but unlike the others she is from below the rivers.In 1998 this PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer left “gloggy” land to travel the world and work and dive full-time.
After having worked in Malta, Thailand and Egypt she arrived on Lanzarote in 2004.
In 2007 she swapped resort from Costa Teguise for Puerto del Carmen and we at Safari Diving were delighted to welcome her onto the team as our only female instructor - she is very popular especially with our male clients!!
Ingrid had her first born here, a beautiful baby son, who she has named Kai (Hawaiian for the Ocean)and has now decided to give Kai a little sister! She is expecting her daughter mid September.
Along with her partner Gustavo, they are enjoying looking after their new son and looking forward to their daughter's arrival. Ingrid will will then take a break for maternity leave.
Yokin Marquinez Eleta
El Capitanne
Yokin came to Lanzarote from the basque country (North of Spain) in 1998. He worked at another dive centre here on the island before coming to work at Safari Diving Lanzarote.He is the Boat Skipper for Safari Diving and is a PADI OWSI and CMAS Instructor.
Yokin enjoys diving and teaching and in his private time he likes sailing.
