‘SALT in the air, sand in my hair’. Life beneath the surface is far beyond anyone can imagine. You have to see it to believe it, be one with it and never fear to move with the current. A life changing experience.’
This is how local youngster, Kyle Robertson, spends his days.
Raised in the heart of Zululand, Robertson matriculated at Empangeni High School in 2012.
Formally a volunteer at the NSRI in Richards Bay, Kyle discovered his passion for the ocean and decided to do his open water course during the December holidays of 2011.
‘After completing matric, I decided I should try make a living from diving, not even knowing how I could do that.
‘From there, I enrolled in a dive masters course, the first step in my professional path of diving,’ said Robertson.
After four months, he had completed the course and was offered a job at the same facility where he completed the course. He is currently situated in Shelly Beach and works at African Dive Adventures.
Life as a diver is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
‘Early mornings are a norm, but the non-stop diving and adventure makes up for all cons. The reef we dive, Protea Banks, is a very well-known dive sight, known for its impressive shark activity.’ said Robertson.
The brave diver also does baited dives, during which he feeds the sharks in a controlled manner with no cages.
‘Being under water is like being in another world. It is quiet, peaceful and depending on what you encounter, can be the best moments of your life.
‘I have dived with a diverse range of marine life, from humpback whales to the tiger shark, proving many moments of complete satisfaction with life.’
Future plans include a wide variety of dive-related jobs, from underwater photography to international diving charters.
There’s never a dull moment for this adventurous chap.
