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Stephen Blumenthal - 1965 -
2006
 14th
December 2006 Stephen Blumenthal's work in this life was complete. Steve passed
away due to a heart attack whilst playing squash with a friend.
Steve, enjoyed life to the fullest with an
interest in many things. Stephen, originally from New York was the world's youngest
PADI Course Director at 25 years of age in 1991. This was Steve's style - if something
was to be done ... it'd be done properly.
Mermaids was born by Steve's drive to teach
diving. Almost 2 decades ago Steve teamed with his partners, pumping tanks, offering diving at swimming
pools and getting the word out that there is good diving here in Pattaya. When
Steve entered a project you could always rest assured that it'd be bigger than
anyone expected. Hence Mermaids!
Steve will be fondly remembered as a great
boss, mentor but mostly a dear friend to many the world over. With the wishes of
all concerned Mermaids will be pushed ever forward as a legacy to Steve and
family.
Steve's diving and personal local
achievements in his life can be seen below:
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Stephen
Blumenthal – PADI Course Director CD-37187
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PADI Course Director
since 1991.
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PSAI PERT (Emergency
Response Diver) Instructor Trainer - Only IT based
in Asia.
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Managing
Director, PADI Five Star Center since 1991
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PADI EANX
Instructor Trainer.
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PADI Specialty
Instructor Trainer (23 Specialties).
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PADI SCC
Rebreather Instructor Trainer.
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DSAT Deep Tec
and Trimix Instructor Trainer.
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DAN Oxygen
Instructor Trainer.
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PSA Advanced
Tri-mix Instructor Trainer.
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DSAT Gas Blender
Instructor Trainer.
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Stephen
Blumenthal - PADI Course Director CD-37817
Overview:
- Graduated
PADI
College
in Santa Ana in 1988.
- Youngest
PADI Course Director at 25 years old in 1991.
- Founded
PADI Five Star CDC Mermaid’s Dive
Center
in Pattaya, Thailand
in 1991, currently Managing Director.
- Over
1000 PADI Instructors Trained.
- Supervised
the First PADI IE Exam Translation into the Thai Language in early 1990’s.
- Conducted
the First PADI IDC Programs in Koh Samui, Bangkok, Koh Tao and Nha Trang,
Vietnam.
- Initiated
successful program for Mermaid’s Dive
Center
to become the First
Thailand
Dive
Center
to include student ownership of all PADI Materials for all PADI Courses.
Professional Development:
Course Director Training:
- Training
of numerous PADI Course Directors.
- Taught
the first two Thai PADI Course Directors, Khun Rachan and Khun Saran.
- Other
very active PADI CD’s trained: Jeremy Stein of Rainbow Diver, Eugene Sim
of Atlantis Divers, Jamie McLeod and Lee Bright of SIDS and Russell Martin
of Mermaid’s Dive Center.
Job Placement:
- “Diving
Life” Graduates are enrolled in our interactive dive job placement
program. We have an extensive network of contacts and have placed
Instructors in more then 10 countries around the world, including Australia,
Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Honduras, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Spain, Mexico, Ireland, and Malaysia.
PADI, EFRI and DSAT Courses:
Steve Blumenthal
achieved these ratings the first year they were available from PADI/DSAT/EFRI:
- PADI
EANX Instructor Trainer (IT).
- PADI
(DSAT) Dolphin Rebreather IT.
- DSAT
Gas Blender IT.
- DSAT
Tec Deep IT.
- DSAT
Tec Trimix IT.
- EFR
IT.
Technical Instructor Training:
- DSAT
Gas Blender, Tec Deep, and Tec Trimix Instructors Trained exclusively since
these programs were initiated by PADI.
Environment/Community Development
Project Aware Initiatives:
- Supervised
Project Aware Clean Up’s through Mermaid’s Dive
Center every April and September since 1993.
- Sponsored
Alex Brylskie to travel to Pattaya to teach Marine Resource management (MRM)
Course in Early 1990’s.
- IT
rating in MRM, seminars held at Mermaid’s to promote sustainable
development.
- Organized
the contribution of Baht 66,666 to the Chula 36 project to assist in the
replanting of coral in the Sattahip area under the direction of a Thai
Admiral.
- 2006
- working with same Admiral and Thai Navy to have useful Buoy’s
installed at all Pattaya Dive Sites.
Indigenous Thai Community:
- First
Thai Speaking PADI Course Director worldwide.
- Conducted
First PADI IDC entirely in Thai Language.
- Trained
over 100 Thai Nationals to PADI OWSI Level. (as of Mar 2006)
- Conducted
First Translation of PADI IE exams in Thai.
- Trained
first two Thai PADI Course Directors.
- Translated
for Thai Candidates at numerous PADI IE Programs.
- Conducts
Yearly Business Seminars for Thai Graduate Students in conjunction with
Ajarn Vikorn of Ramkamhaeng University in Sakorn Nakorn, Thailand.
Other Community Efforts:
- IAHD
Instructor Trainer – Oversees Mermaid’s Handicapped Diver Training
Department (under the direction of PADI Instructor
Mark Slingo
). Many Handicapped Divers and Instructors trained in 2005/2006.
- Contributor
to Jester’s “Care for Kid’s” initiative since 2000 to raise funds
for underprivileged children
Scuba
Dive Training Internship Checklist - Things to ask your dive
training school (Important).
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