Do Mermaids Exist?

Charlotte Burns is both the ‘youngest junior master Scuba diver’ as well as an ‘AmbassaDiver for “PADI’. Miss. Burns was the first AmbassaDiver at the young age of 13. The goal of the AmbassaDiver program is to highlight inspiring and exceptional divers of all ethnicities, ages and genders who are making a difference in scuba diving, freediving and aquatic conservation and preservation. She was inspired by her elder brother William who went ‘through the PADI system and was extremely successful’ and continued his legacy by inspiring many teens today.

I asked Charlotte Burns the following questions which she responded the following

Who is your biggest inspiration?

“I got interested in diving by watching my elder brother, William, go through the PADI (Professional Association of Scuba Instructors) system and be extremely successful. He was even privileged enough to meet Jean Michael Cousteau and receiving a certificate from him. I often would look at the photo of him on the wall and aspire to be like him.”

 

What does your title mean to you?

“I am both the world’s youngest junior master scuba diver and an AmbassaDiver for PADI. Being the world’s youngest master scuba diver I got to meet so many new people and have opportunities that I wouldn’t have ever wished for if it wasn’t for diving. As for being an AmbassaDiver I encourage young people to get into scuba diving and show them just how amazing the underwater world is!

 

What has been the highlight of your journey so far?

“My favourite dive would have to be under the USS Midway, an American aircraft carrier located in the harbour of San Diego. Whilst we couldn’t see much underwater with only 2m of visibility just being there and having the experience was amazing. I saw the propellers which were roughly 2m in diameter and even got to spot a small moray eel making its way home in the hull of the boat!

 

Charlotte Burns in an inspiration to young divers across the world. She shows that if you commit to it you can have an amazing journey. Her determination has brought her two titles even though she is only 14 years old. She worked hard and in result achieved her goals.

 

By Amani Younus from Newstead Wood School