SDI FUTURE BUDDIES
WHY ANILAO?
Anilao offers protected bays, sandy entries, and shallow reefs — ideal for introducing children to scuba in a controlled, low-stress environment.
Bright reef fish, anemones, clownfish, and easy-to-spot marine life keep young divers engaged and excited, without the need for deep or demanding dives.
With short boat rides and flexible dive planning, Anilao is perfect for families — less travel time, more time learning and having fun together.
- Calm, Shallow, Child-Friendly Dive Sites — Anilao offers protected bays, sandy entries, and shallow reefs — ideal for introducing children to…
- Marine Life Kids Can See and Enjoy — Bright reef fish, anemones, clownfish, and easy-to-spot marine life keep young divers engaged and excited,…
- Easy Logistics for Families — With short boat rides and flexible dive planning, Anilao is perfect for families — less…
WHY CHOOSE BLUE RIBBON?
At Blue Ribbon, we don’t just “let kids try diving” — we teach them properly, at their pace, with patience, encouragement, and clear communication. Safety and confidence always come first.
Our resort is small, relaxed, and personal. Children are never rushed or overwhelmed, and parents are welcome to watch, join in, or dive alongside their kids where appropriate.
Our instructors are technical and professional-level trainers, which means excellent buoyancy control, awareness, and risk management — scaled appropriately for young divers and beginners.
- Experienced Instructors Who Teach Kids Properly — At Blue Ribbon, we don’t just “let kids try diving” — we teach them properly,…
- A Learning-Focused, Supportive Environment — Our resort is small, relaxed, and personal.
- Built on Strong Foundations — Our instructors are technical and professional-level trainers, which means excellent buoyancy control, awareness, and risk…
WHAT YOU LEARN
Children learn how to breathe underwater, clear a regulator and mask, equalise, and move comfortably while diving.
The program builds comfort in the water, good habits, and respect for the underwater environment — without pressure or performance expectations.
Most importantly, kids learn that scuba diving is safe, exciting, and enjoyable, setting the foundation for future training.
- Basic Scuba Skills — Children learn how to breathe underwater, clear a regulator and mask, equalise, and move comfortably…
- Underwater Confidence & Awareness — The program builds comfort in the water, good habits, and respect for the underwater environment…
- Fun, Safe Introduction to Diving — Most importantly, kids learn that scuba diving is safe, exciting, and enjoyable, setting the foundation…
COURSE STRUCTURE
The program starts with a short, age-appropriate introduction to scuba equipment and underwater breathing. Everything is explained simply, with plenty of time for questions and hands-on interaction.
Skills are practised in our purpose-built training pool, giving children a safe, controlled environment to learn at their own pace. The focus is on fun, safety, and building confidence — not depth or technical performance.
If conditions are calm and the child shows clear comfort and confidence, an optional shallow open-water experience may be offered. This is conducted under close instructor supervision and limited to a maximum depth of 6 metres. Participation is never required, and safety and enjoyment always come first.
- Introduction — The program starts with a short, age-appropriate introduction to scuba equipment and underwater breathing.
- Pool training — Skills are practised in our purpose-built training pool, giving children a safe, controlled environment to…
- Optional Confined Dive in the sea — If conditions are calm and the child shows clear comfort and confidence, an optional shallow…
COURSE PREREQUISITES
Children aged 8–9 years old
You need to complete a Medical Form for your child to make sure they are safe for diving, please review it prior to their course
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS
Jonathan Venn
Jon is the founder of Blue Ribbon Dive Resort in Anilao, Batangas, established in 2010. With over two decades of diving experience, he specializes in technical diving instruction and professional-level SDI/TDI courses.
A passionate explorer and dive educator, Jon is known for discovering new dive sites around Anilao and beyond. He enjoys deep-water exploration and the challenge of spotting elusive pelagic species rarely seen by recreational divers. Whether teaching advanced courses or leading technical expeditions, Jon’s focus is always on safety, precision, and adventure beneath the surface.
Ronel "Dang" Federico
Ronel, known to most as Dang, began his diving journey at Blue Ribbon Dive Resort and earned his Divemaster certification in 2016. With years of experience guiding both recreational and macro photographers around Anilao’s famous dive sites, Dang has developed a reputation for his incredible eagle eyes — spotting the tiniest frogfish, pygmy seahorses, and nudibranchs that others might miss.
In 2022, he became a certified SDI Instructor, sharing his deep knowledge and passion for marine life with new divers. Whether leading fun dives or teaching students, Dang’s calm, friendly nature and unmatched spotting skills make every dive both educational and unforgettable.
Jeff Zapata
Jeff has been part of the Blue Ribbon Dive Resort family since the early days, starting his professional journey as a Divemaster in 2011. With over a decade of experience exploring the reefs and slopes of Anilao, Jeff is renowned for his sharp spotting skills and calm, confident guidance underwater.
In 2023, Jeff achieved his Instructor certification, expanding his passion for diving into teaching. Known for his patience and detailed approach, he loves helping divers improve their skills while introducing them to Anilao’s incredible macro marine life — from colourful nudibranchs to rare frogfish. Whether guiding or teaching, Jeff ensures every dive is safe, relaxed, and full of discoveries.