The divers’ different way of looking into the underwater world is what makes them remain enthusiastic about waters and all the wonders it hold, and no matter how vast and deep the water they have explored, they will never cease to look forward to more discoveries and newer adventures awaiting in the deep. Just like Jeremy P. Stein, a business manager by profession but a huge diver by heart.

Working for a London company called Christie Group, Stein decided to enjoy one of his holidays in Vietnam some 15 years ago. And the very moment he set foot on Nha Trang’s pristine sand and witnessed the island’s captivating beauty, he couldn’t help falling in-love not just with the beaches, but the country in its entirety.

First time in ${bigcity_Nha_Trang:"Nha Trang"}, and in Vietnam to be particular, the two weeks he spent in the lovely island was all about visiting the many islets nearby and exploring its underwater reefs and untouched dive spots. For any diver, coming across virgin underwater sites is an immaculate experience seldom encountered in anyone’s entire diving adventure. The other big part of him sees it in a different aspect. Having seen the absence of professional dive tour operators in Nha Trang, his business instincts perceive the whole experience as an opportunity for an exciting business venture.
Indeed, he didn’t let that opportunity pass by. Now, a decade and a half later from that moment, he is running seven dive centers, called Rainbow Diving, in the whole Vietnam; one in Phu Quoc, Can Dao, Whale Island in Khanh Hoa Province, ${bigcity_Hoi_An:"Hoi An"}, ${bigcity_Ho_Chi_Minh_City:”Ho Chi Minh City”}, ${bigcity_Hanoi:"Hanoi"}, and naturally, where the whole idea was born, in Nha Trang.
Helping Others Explore the Underwater

Though different people have varying perceptions of the many underwater creatures, mostly negative, the 52-year-old Briton diver explains that diving is about exploring and understanding the natural world. With that, you learn to trust and respect these amazing life forms existing under the great waters.

It is always a mixed feeling being under there. Curiosity, fear, admiration, amazement, thrilled, unnerved ... are just few of the roller coaster of emotions a diver undergoes especially when you bump into the strangest of creatures and even the known scariest. Even when coming across a shark, Stein emphasizes that converting these fears and mixed emotions into understanding, his students learn to develop the respect, and eventually, start to relax. Opening up one’s mind better makes way for easier understanding.

Every dive is a different experience. Stein claims that no two dives are ever the same and any diver would agree to that. As one descends into the deep, he sees newer and more interesting things than his previous adventure. The coral reefs present themselves in different colors and formations and fishes, no matter if you see the very same kind, they always demonstrate different behaviors that would fascinate any diver.

Stein encourages underwater photography to his many students. The art help them to better understand and appreciate the beauty of underwater creatures and along with that, he assists them in learning to identify the dozens of species of the sea-dwellers they commonly encounter. For beginners, he lets them have a taste of initial diving experience from swimming pools before sending them out to the ocean for real-life discoveries.

A Dream Realized

Though people Stein had worked with in the past looks at him as more of a businessman, he knows how much a part of him has been set for the life at sea. At 12 years old, he started his diving adventures in Thailand and Maldives. During his 30’s, Stein maintained a career as a London banker, but in between his busy schedule, he managed to squeeze his passion for diving, pursued for a dive instructor certification and even taught a few students during his free time.

But it was only when he arrived in Nha Trang when Stein felt that all his dreams came to realization. Having opened up his own dive centers, Stein was able to fuse together two of the things he love the most: diving and business. Though for him, his journey has just begun as he is currently on the process of surveying as much underwater terrains as possible so he could develop full-fledged maps of popular dive spots around Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Whale Island.

At present, Stein is working together with schools in Vietnam like the Australia International School and the British International School so he could share to the youth everything he had learned from down there. With that, children will have clearer understanding of the life under the waters and would better offer their cooperation and efforts to protect the environment.