VASCO FERREIRA DOS SANTOS

PADI Course Director, PADI Tec Trimix Instructor Trainer, TDI Extended Range Instructor

Languages: English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese

 
 

With over two decades of dedication to the underwater world, I embarked on my full-time diving career in 1999. My journey has taken me from the shores of Portugal to the vibrant reefs of Roatan, where I have trained countless divers as a PADI Course Director and Instructor Trainer. My passion for diving remains undiminished, and I am committed to sharing this passion with others, helping them explore and protect our marine environments.

  • 1974 Born in the beautiful Luanda, capital of Angola, Western Africa.

    Son of Portuguese parents.

    Started snorkeling at age of 5 at “Kilometro 31” a mangrove beach in the south of Luanda.

    From 2000 to 2015 owned and managed TopSub Dive School in Lisbon;

    In 2015, moved to Roatan to run SSI Central America / SSI Honduras;

  • 1991-1999 Studied Electronic and Computers Engineering at Instituto Superior Tecnico (Lisbon-Portugal):

    • Computers and Electronic Systems Engineering

    • Control & Robotics Engineering

    Activities and societies:

    • President of NAS-AEIST (IST University Underwater Club) 1997-1999

    • Underwater Target Shooting University & National Athlete

    • IST Volleyball team

  • Nov 2000 - Nov 2015, TopSub - Escola de Mergulho, Lda - Owner & Manager / Instructor Trainer

    April 2015 - May 2017, SSI Central America / SSI Honduras - Regional Manager / SSI Instructor Trainer & Certifier

    Sep. 2017 - June 2018, Blue Island Divers - Manager / SSI Instructor Trainer & Certifier

    June 2018 - Jan 2022, Cayuco Reef Divers - Manager / PADI Course Director

    Jan. 2022 - Aug. 2023, Island Diving Center - Managing Partner / PADI Course Director

    September 2023 - current, Fantasy Island Dive Center, Manager / Instructor Trainer

    April 2015 - current, TopSub Academy Roatan, Owner / Manager / Instructor Trainer

    • GUE Fundamentals ( trained by Richard Lundgren, 2008-March-6 , Cert. # 04084504 )

    • GUE Technical Diver 1 ( trained by Richard Lundgren, 2008-March-11, Cert. # 04084058 )

    • GUE Technical Diver 2 ( trained by Richard Lundgren, 2010-Jan-11, Cert. # 62492911 )

    • GUE Cave Diver 1 ( trained by Daniel Riordan, 2010-April-28, Cert. # 62493011 )

    • IART JJ-CCR Diver (Trained by Manuel Leotte, 2012-June-28, Cert. # GE01689 )

    • PADI Tec Deep Diver ( Trained by Mark Ellyatt)

    • PADI Tec Trimix Diver ( Trained by Mark Ellyatt)

  • INSTRUCTOR In Active Status 2024:

    • PADI Course Director # 950544, since 2018

    • PADI Nautical Archaeology Instructor Trainer (Distinctive)

    • PADI Tec Deep & Tec Trimix Instructor Trainer

    • PADI Tec Sidemount Instructor Trainer

    • PADI Freediver Instructor

    • PADI Digital Underwater Photography IT

    • PADI Full Face Mask Instructor Trainer

    • PADI IT for all standard PADI Instructor Specialties

    • PADI Trimix 45 / 50 Instructor Trainer (Distinctive)

    • TDI Instructor # 7923, since 2003

    • TDI Extended Range Instructor # 7923

    • TDI Sidemount Instructor # 7923

    • SSI Platinum Pro 5000 Master Instructor # 57136

    • SSI TXR Hypoxic Trimix Instructor # 57136

    • SDI Instructor # 7923

    • SNUBA International, Regional Program Coordinator # P03677, 12/14/2024

    INSTRUCTOR In Inactive Status:

    • GUE Instructor # 6249 from 2009-2015

    • SSI Instructor Trainer & Instructor Certifier # 57136, from 2013-2017

    • SSI Public Safety Diver Instructor Trainer # 57136

    • SSI TXR Hypoxic Trimix Instructor Trainer # 57136

    • FPAS/CMAS Freediving Instructor ** # 101/2000

    • CMAS M2 Instructor

    • Portuguese Navy Dive Instructor

    • DAN Instructor # 119915

    Total Students Divers / Instructors certified: 3,000+

    • Recreational levels: 2,700+

    • Professional levels: 200+

    • Technical Diving levels: 100+

  • Portuguese Boat captain licenses:

    • High Seas Skipper “Patrão de Alto Mar”

    • Coastal Skipper “Patrão de Costa”

    • Local Skipper “Patrão Local”

    • Skipper “Marinheiro”

    Factory Certified Service Technician for:

    • SCUBAPRO

    • APEKS

    • AQUALUNG

    • POSEIDON

    • SUUNTO computers

    • SANTI Drysuits

    • MARES

    PSI-PCI Inspector # 33264, since November 2021

    • 2022 Frequent Trainer, PADI Silver Course Director

    • 2021 Frequent Trainer, PADI Silver Course Director

    • 2020 Frequent Trainer, PADI Silver Course Director

    • 2018 PADI Marketing Award @ PADI CDTC Punta Cana

    • 2013 TopSub Lisbon: SSI Top # 1 for Professional & Recreational Certifications in Portugal

    • 2012 TopSub Lisbon: SSI Top # 1 for Professional & Recreational Certifications in Portugal

    • 2011 TopSub Lisbon: SSI Top # 1 for Professional & Recreational Certifications in Portugal

    • 2010 TopSub Lisbon: PADI Role Model Dive Center for Portugal & Spain - Award received in Barcelona during the "Fira Cornellà" with the presence of the current Spanish PADI Dive Centers / Resorts and PADI Europe Representatives:

      - Mr. Christian Marret (PADI RM-Portugal)

      - Mr. David Perea (PADI RM-Spain)

      - Mr. Jordi Atienza (PADI Political Advisor)

  • Scuba Diving naturally! And he is fascinated by:

    • Underwater Nautical Archaeology

    • WW1-WW2 Wrecks Documentation

    • UW Video & Photography

    • Sharks & Rays Conservation

    • And Saltwater Crocodiles!

    Other hobbies:

    • World History

    • Traveling specially road trips

    • KK Krav Kyusho martial arts

    • Off-road riding

    • Beach Volleyball

 
 

“In 1999, I embarked on a full-time dive career.

Over 20 years later, my passion for SCUBA DIVING remains as strong as ever.”

— Vasco Ferreira dos Santos, PADI Course Director & PADI Instructor Trainer

Contact us

Roatan - Honduras