Paul Shepherd OB 1998

Having travelled all over the world, including all 7 continents, and meeting his wife Kristen in Zanzibar, Paul pursued a dream of owning a dive centre. Both Paul and Kristen love to travel and have been to South Africa to dive with Great White sharks, Mozambique and Indonesia to dive with Manta Rays, Galapagos to see Whale Sharks and Antarctica to see the Penguins and Seals. The couple never lost their adventurous spirit and continue to travel, seeking out new experiences which they share with their customers.

Paul’s business, Seminole Scuba, offers personalised classes with experiences tailored for all adventurers.

What are your best memories of BGS?

Definitely Rugby was the highlight of my time at BGS. Getting to the 1995 Daily Mail Cup final, and the 1998 South Africa tour being the best of those memories.

Can you remember any teachers at BGS who had an impact on you?

Absolutely – Rick Sellers and Conrad Snook guided my rugby career at school and then Paul Roberts saved my butt when I had gone off the rails a bit and got me back into Math especially and saved my GCSE year.

Charles Martin also had a big influence on me and would check on me regularly to make sure I stayed on the straight and narrow. You know it is a great school when even the Head is doing that.

Why a diving centre in Florida?

I started diving in 1990 and loved it ever since. I trained as a Dive Instructor in Florida and loved my time doing that. Having been a partner in a Dive centre in Zanzibar for 11 years I wanted my own location and with Kristen being from the US it made it easier. We looked for 8 months to find the correct spot for us and think we found it in Seminole Scuba, Lake Mary just north of Orlando.

Could you have chosen another path and what might that have been?

I would have loved to have been a professional rugby player but I was never good enough.

What has been the most significant highlight of your career?

For me the growth of Seminole Scuba. When we took over it was a hobbyist business. It is now a large operation that continues to grow with 38 full and part time employees.

What is the best thing about working and living in the USA?

Americans love Brits and the accent. They also have the culture of spending money and being adventurous, which makes doing business a lot easier.

What’s next for you?

I would love to continue to grow the business and maybe create a second location.

What motivates you?

I love to make money and be successful. But like to do it by helping people discover the wonders of the underwater world that covers 70% of our planet.

How do you relax?

Playing with my Doberman or watching rugby with a nice glass of red wine.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Put more effort into your classes, it will benefit you more in the future. I was lazy with my studies and could have done a lot better.