We may be biased, but one of the best perks of PADI Club membership is that members receive print and digital subscriptions to Scuba Diving magazine—plus access to a backlog of digital issues from the past few years. And as PADI Club continues to grow, staying connected with the divers who make up our global community is more important than ever.
Enter Veronica (Vero) Coates, the PADI Club community manager. Vero bridges Club members and the PADI team, helping facilitate conversations, share opportunities and strengthen the connections that make the dive community so special.
One of our favorite ways to interact with members is through the PADI Club Member Spotlight series in Scuba Diving’s print and digital editions, which Vero is taking over this year. In this series, you can learn about fellow Club members who are doing awesome things, like father-daughter buddy team Robert and Victoria Huber and Kenyan adventure junkie Kenneth Minjire.
If you want to learn more about PADI Club or are a current member with a great story to share, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to Vero at [email protected].
Related Reading: PADI Club Speaker Series With Francesca Page
Q&A: Get to Know Vero
Originally from Uruguay, Vero is a PADI Staff Instructor and Coral Restoration Instructor. Her career has led her to some of the world’s most iconic dive destinations—from Mexico to Honduras to Indonesia—where she’s worked as an Instructor, Dive Center Manager and Liveaboard Cruise Director. She is also continuing her education as a Tec diver.
What got you interested in scuba diving, and what is your highest level of training?
I grew up by the sea, where the Río de la Plata (River Plate) estuary meets the Atlantic saltwater, in Montevideo, Uruguay. I was always curious about what lay underneath the waves, and like many divers, felt an affinity to the water that led me to try scuba diving. After I did a PADI Discover Scuba Diving course in Roatan, Honduras, as a young adult, my whole life plan shifted. I knew scuba diving would be central from that point on. I did most of my professional training in Utila. My highest level of training is PADI Staff Instructor.
What’s been your best dive memory?
Encountering a whale shark swimming past the group while leading a muck night dive in Nusa Kode, South Komodo, Indonesia. It took my brain a couple of seconds to zoom out and understand what my torch was shining a light on.I screamed through my reg, but thankfully the embarrassment was overshadowed by the feeling of pure awe.
Related Reading: Regenerative Travel—A Trend or the Future of Diving?
Do you have a favorite dive site?
Yes, Batu Tiga (Three Rocks) in Komodo National Park. It’s a topography dive that combines exhilarating currents with a high chance of big fish and pelagics. This is where I saw my first shoal of bumphead parrotfish. I remember having a Jurassic Park moment, thinking, “...They do move in herds!”
What’s it like to manage the PADI Club outreach program?
It’s incredibly rewarding. Connecting with divers, engaging with the community and sharing experiences has been at the heart of my life for the past 15 years. Being immersed in the diving community feels like home, and I’m passionate about helping guide, connect and grow alongside our Club members.
What’s one thing all divers should know about PADI Club?
PADI Club is designed to offer meaningful value for every type of diver, whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience underwater. There’s truly a benefit tailored to each individual—from continued education and exclusive content to community connection and special offers. Beyond the tangible perks, one of the greatest advantages is staying informed, inspired and connected to the diving industry and global dive community, no matter how often you’re able to get in the water.
