Meet Team
Scuba Elite
Pascal.
Founder and PADI Course Director.
“When I started diving almost 20 years ago, I was hooked from the moment I took my first breath under water. My passion for diving gave me opportunities to meet amazing people and work with inspirational professionals.
As a PADI Course Director I really enjoy teaching people how to dive and share my passion with them. From beginning divers to experienced professionals, I love teaching them all. With my military and law enforcement background I really get excited when I can teach Rescue and safety courses. I'm also a big fan of the eco friendly courses like the PADI AWARE and Reef Renewal. Just reach out to me and we can navigate through your diving future together.
With Scuba Elite my dream finally came true. Teaching scuba is my passion and there's no better way to do it than opening your dive shop and being involved with the dive community 24/7. By being eco friendly, involved with the future of the local youth and initiatives Scuba Elite will also be contributing to the island.
With over 1400 dives all around the world and experience on Bonaire since 2013 I am the right person to guide you underwater and let you explore all the beauty Bonaire has to offer.
We are really looking forward to meet you, because at Scuba Elite we believe in personal growth. As a person, but for sure as a diver. Let’s connect if you're interested in a personal and tailor made plan to grow, either as a beginner or professional.”
Let’s blow bubbles soon!
Pascal
Dive Shop Manager and IDC Staff Instructor
Mélina.
“Hi!
My name is Mélina, I'm 23 years old from Switzerland. I'm proud to work as a scuba instructor for Scuba Elite and I feel like it’s gonna be a wonderful adventure.
One of my all-time favorite dive sites on the island is Invisibles, where I've had the opportunity to explore the stunning underwater world and encounter breathtaking marine life. When it's time for a delicious lunch between dives, I often head to my go-to restaurant, Between2Buns for a satisfying meal.
As a scuba instructor, I am passionate about opening a new world to people and sharing my love for the ocean. It's a rewarding feeling to introduce others to the wonders of scuba diving and help them discover the magic beneath the surface.
On my days off, I enjoy taking some time to rest and recharge, catching up with friends, and exploring the beautiful island of Bonaire. Whether it's getting to know the local culture, or simply enjoying the stunning beaches, there's always something to discover and experience on this amazing island.
I feel incredibly fortunate to be living and working in such an inspiring destination, where I can combine my passion for scuba diving with my love for adventure and exploration.
See you soon for some incredible diving!”
Mélina
Niels.
PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
“It all started on a holiday in Egypt where I did my first discover scuba dive 10 years ago. Fell in love with diving straight away. The freedom of weightlessness underwater was liberating. Got sucked into the diving world quickly and by now have well over 2000 dives and 9 years experience as a dive instructor.
Over the years I travelled the world as a scuba instructor teaching and guiding in wonderful places like Costa Rica, Indonesia and the Bahamas. However the Caribbean has always had a special place ever since I first started working there on Sint Maarten in 2017. The generally good visibility, low currents and amazing marine life make it the place to be for casual and relaxed diving.
My favorite diving around the island is definitely on the south side. The soft corals there are always a treat. You can convince me to go to either Vista Blue or Salt Pier any day.
Hope to be showing you all sorts of marine creatures soon!”
Niels
PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Caroline.
Only three years ago, I fully stepped into the world of scuba diving — and it’s been part of me ever since!
I’ve always loved the underwater world. As a kid, I’d secretly stay up late reading books about sharks and whales, and my parents could hardly drag me out of the water whenever we were near it. Swimming, snorkeling, surfing, sailing — if it involved water, I was in.
When I was 16, I did my first Discover Scuba Dive in Tenerife, and a second one in Belize. Blonde as I can be, it took me a while to realize that you can actually make a living doing something this special and fun!
After Covid, I started working at an aquarium in the Netherlands, where divers came to clean the tanks. That’s when it hit me — this could be a profession! That same year, I got my Open Water and Advanced certifications in Bali. And again — blonde or blind — I thought diving in the Netherlands would be impossible. Way too cold!
Wrong again. A year after my Open Water, I became an instructor in the Caribbean — but only after facing the cold for my Rescue and Divemaster courses. Since then, my world has only gotten brighter. Not just the ocean, but every river and lake became a new playground to explore.
I’ve been teaching all over the Caribbean for two years now and still can’t get enough. The best part of being an instructor is seeing that same spark I once found — the pure enthusiasm of new divers discovering the magic beneath the surface.
I can’t wait to share it with you too!
Caroline
Julie.
PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
“My diving journey started in the winter of 2017 in Belgium. My dad took my brother and me for a discovery dive in a pool to see if we’d enjoy a diving holiday together. I had always loved being in the water, but this experience was completely different, and I really wanted to dive deeper into it.
That first dive led me to take my Open Water course, and I completed my certification dives in Belgium in June 2017. It was great… but still pretty cold! I’ll never forget my first ocean dive in Egypt one month later—the marine life, the corals, the peacefulness, and the warm, crystal-clear water (finally!).
That trip led me to focus my biology studies, which I had already started, more toward marine sciences and especially coral reefs ecosystems, that I really wanted to understand better! In 2022, I came to Bonaire the first time for an internship in coral restoration—and I was blown away. The diversity of fish and corals here is incredible. I knew I had to continue this journey. That’s when I completed my Divemaster course on a second trip to Bonaire and later became an instructor.
Along the way, I discovered a new passion: introducing people to this amazing underwater world. There’s still so much to discover and learn, and its beauty and vulnerability inspire me to share it with others.
One of my favorite dive sites is Invisibles—Where I had the best of time with Spotted Eagle Rays. I’m always excited to find a baby Trunkfish, watch Shrimps dancing in their Anemones, come face to face with a happy Porcupinefish, or even “share” space with a territorial Damselfish. Bonaire has so much to offer!
I’m super excited to be part of the Scuba Elite team and to continue this amazing journey. Can’t wait to dive with you and share some unforgettable moments underwater!
Julie