My name is Ramadhani Mohammed. It has always been my passion to be a Scuba Diving Instructor. I grew up in Tanga, Tanzania and had never seen the ocean until I was 11 yrs old and went to visit my Auntie in Ushongo. As soon as I saw it, I knew that is where I needed to be!
When I was 15 I decided that I needed to go and pursue my dreams, so I worked digging foundations for houses until I had enough money to go to Mafia Island. When I got there everything was very new for me, I had to find a way to learn English if I was ever going to get there, so I started working in a bar until my English got better. From there, I moved around the hotels working on the gardens, as a waiter, anything I could do. Finally I got my chance with one of the instructors to go diving and did my open water course, then later my advanced. I spent my days off helping at one of the local marine research camps and, after a while, they offered me a job as a boat hand. Finally I got to go to the ocean everyday! They helped me with my rescue course and I felt like I was slowly getting there. After 2 years, I was still no further with my ambitions of being a Divemaster, so I took an opportunity to move to one of the dive centres and do my course. I was finally a Divemaster! They offered me the opportunity to go to SA and do my instructor course, but just before I got my chance my ear drum ruptured and I couldn't go. Now the doctor is telling me that my ear wont close itself and I need a surgery if I will ever have the chance to dive again. I am going to see a specialist in Dar at the end of March and he will tell me if they can do the procedure here or whether I will need to go to India for my treatment. I am trying to raise money to have my treatment in Dar, but I may need to increase the amount if I have to go to India. Please help me to go diving again, it is all that I have ever really wanted.