Not many people are brave enough to swim with the sharks, much less feed them, but Rachelle Lazarre is proving that she isn’t like many people with each new dive.

As the Underwater Explorers Society’s (UNEXSO) youngest divemaster, and after having recently completed her shark feeding training, Rachelle has become the first Bahamian woman shark feeder.

“”I am so grateful for this opportunity,” said Rachelle. “I am very excited to carry on the twenty-five year tradition of UNEXSO’s shark diving program and to belong to a company that will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. Cristina has been an amazing role model and teacher and I am looking forward my next experiences.”

Rachelle began her career at UNEXSO in the high school dive programme at St George’s High School and joined the staff after graduation. After a brief three year hiatus from the company, Rachelle went back and completed her divemaster class as well as becoming a videographer for various dives at UNEXSO.  She also holds a level B boat captain’s license.

“As the training coordinator at UNEXSO, I’m extremely proud of Rachelle because I’ve watched her go through the ranks of training and as a fellow woman diver … I have a soft spot for her,” said Cristina Zenato, UNEXSO Diving Supervisor, Women Divers Hall of Fame inductee in 2011 and a featured shark feeder on Discovery channel’s Shark Week.

“Although I mainly conduct the upper level training, I coordinate all of the training here, and it has made me so proud to see a Bahamian woman reach this level.  It just shows Rachelle’s level of determination, as the training is rigorous and of course a little bit scary since you’re dealing with sharks!”

UNEXSO, in its almost 50 years of operation, has trained countless Bahamians to become dive instructors in The Bahamas.  They have offered a free dive training programme for students of St. Georges High School for the last twenty years, allowing senior high school students to come in one day per week to learn the basics of diving and work in the equipment room.  Students who participate in this programme are also able to participate in summer internships at UNEXSO, and those who excel are often offered jobs after graduation.

“Diving has just become a part of my everyday life,” said Rachelle. “Sure I was scared at first about feeding sharks, but with the help of Christina I have learned that I have to control the feedings and direct the sharks.  It’s very cool and I get to do this as a career and to be the first Bahamian female doing this makes me smile!”

UNEXSO hopes to continue to train Bahamians to become divemasters and other dive specialists as their achievements are always proud moments for everyone at UNEXSO. With another female shark diver on their team you can continue to expect great things from UNEXSO.

Learn more about UNEXSO and their various dive training programmes by visiting www.unexso.com.

Source: www.thebahamasweekly.com