Saint Lucia is celebrating a remarkable achievement in the marine tourism sector as 20-year-old Jameel Leonce of Sea Life Paradise at Pigeon Island has earned international recognition as the world’s youngest certified Sea TREK Training Coordinator.
The milestone highlights not only Jameel’s dedication and expertise but also the growing opportunities available to young Saint Lucians within the blue economy and marine tourism industries.
Sea TREK is one of the world’s leading underwater helmet-diving programs, allowing participants including non-swimmers and non-divers to explore the underwater world by walking along the seabed while breathing normally through a specially designed helmet system. The program operates in destinations around the globe and adheres to rigorous international safety, operational, and training standards.
Jameel achieved the certification following a comprehensive assessment conducted by internationally recognized Sea TREK Coordinator Carl Hansen during his annual operational review of the Saint Lucia franchise.
Speaking during the certification exercise, Hansen praised the young Saint Lucian’s accomplishment.
“This week, we worked on training with the team and we actually brought in something new. We now have the world’s youngest training coordinator right here at Sea Life Paradise,” Hansen said.
As a certified Sea TREK Training Coordinator, Jameel is now qualified to assist with the training, evaluation, and development of future Sea TREK guides while helping to uphold the operational excellence and safety standards required by the international franchise.
Reflecting on his achievement, Jameel credited years of dedication and continuous learning in the marine tourism field.
“Over the past couple of days, we’ve been doing some training, and he noticed that I had the skill set to be a coordinator. Through passing all my training requirements, I’m now the youngest training coordinator in the world,” he said.
According to his father, Anthony Leonce, owner of Sea Life Paradise, Jameel’s journey began at an early age.
“He started diving at just four years old and has steadily progressed through the ranks,” Anthony explained.
Now a Divemaster and certified Sea TREK Training Coordinator, Jameel continues to pursue additional scuba and marine recreation certifications as he advances his professional development.
Anthony Leonce believes the accomplishment demonstrates the tremendous potential of the marine tourism industry to provide meaningful career opportunities for young people.
“We’ve always said that we could make a career and a business for young people out of what we do. Yes, we’re interested in running a successful business, but we also want to create career opportunities for young people,” he noted.
Globally, Sea TREK has facilitated millions of underwater experiences and relies on highly trained guides and coordinators who meet strict international standards. Jameel’s achievement places Saint Lucia firmly on the international Sea TREK map and further enhances the island’s reputation as a premier destination for marine tourism, adventure experiences, and youth entrepreneurship.
The achievement also underscores the importance of investing in skills development within the blue economy, a sector that continues to offer promising opportunities for employment, innovation, and sustainable economic growth in Saint Lucia.
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