Quin
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I was raised in the mighty Bay of Plenty with adventurous parents who love camping and being out on the water.
When I'm not out there challenging, instructing and facilitating people to see their potential I'm usually really wet... When I'm on a day off you can find me doing anything in or on the water from diving to fishing, water skiing to kayaking, SUP-ing to kite surfing, if it involves water I'm keen.
After going through an awesome outdoor education programme at Tauranga Boys' College and an Outward Bound NZ MBS course, I enrolled for the 3 year Diploma in Outdoor Education at Aoraki Polytechnic in Timaru with the goal of hopefully returning to OBNZ one day as an instructor. Fortunately in my final year at Aoraki, Outward Bound Australia recruited me, working there for 5 years full time (2013-2017) was an amazing experience that set me up perfectly to return to OBNZ after spending a year off diving.
If you haven't worked it out already I love diving but I'm also a little loco and I love diving with sharks, with a 5 year goal which started back in 2016 to dive outside of a cage with 5 of the most feared sharks, (Mako, Hammerhead, Tiger, Thresher, and the Great White) without giving it away lets just say I'm well on track.
What attracted you to working at OB?
In 2008 I did a 21 day MBS school leaders course with two inspiring instructors Hayden T and Amy H, which as cliché as it might sound really did change my life and I wanted the chance to offer other humans that same inspiration and guidance to change their lives and grow from an amazing experience.
What do you most enjoy about being an OB Instructor?
Final debriefs with students where I hear about all the amazing experiences and lessons that my students have learnt about themselves, the goals they have set for the future and the laughs when we look back at all the type 2 fun we had.
Also being apart of the amazing community that always seems to accompany Outward Bound schools, full of like minded, mission charging, similar valued, amazing humans.
What’s your favourite OB meal?
Scotch Fillet Steak (I haven't had it yet, but I'll keep suggesting it to Marcel).
If I wasn't an OB Instructor I'd be a…?
Dive instructor / dive bum on Malapascua Island, Philippines or Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia.