A year after renovations began, Waterstart has officially unveiled its new classroom on Burt’s Island — a space it hopes will produce the next generation of environmental stewards. A roof wetting last month to celebrate the milestone brought together alumni, staff, donors, community members and government representatives.

Among them was Phoebe Barboza-Bellamy. The beginner diver certification classes that she took with Waterstart founder JP Skinner at the age of 11 put her on her path.

Today she has a master’s degree in marine biology and, as the charity’s programme director, is one of several alumni helping to inspire a new wave of environmentally conscious students.

“After working in coral reef resilience labs, I knew I wanted to help ignite a passion for the ocean in the next generation. Waterstart has been the perfect place to do just that,” she said.

Ms Barboza-Bellamy joined the charity in 2021. She had been working in the UK and was thrilled to receive a message from Mr Skinner asking if she was planning to return home anytime soon.

“I worked for a little while as a scientific diver. That's what I really loved [when I was 17, 18 years old]. I was working as a scientific diver, I was helping with educational programmes as well.

“As I got a bit older and I finished my master’s, I realised that I didn't want to sit in my lab for many years working on a paper that would go out, that wouldn't really be seen by the next generation.

“I really wanted to become [the type of mentor] that supported me through my journey,” she said.

Her focus was on students who were curious about the ocean and conservation, but uncertain about their direction.

“That's what Waterstart really did for me,” Ms Barboza-Bellamy explained. “A lot of the mentors that I had in my life in the marine world worked in outdoor education.

“I wanted to follow in their footsteps and try and see if outdoor education, instead of practical science, was the right suit for me. And it was. I've loved it ever since. I still get to do some science, but really what I'm doing is teaching the basics, answering questions and trying to help younger scientists start their careers.”

She joined Waterstart as a research co-ordinator, focusing on conservation projects and diving, and then moved into the role of research and operations manager. In January, she took over as programme director.

Along the way, she earned her PADI divemaster qualification, allowing her to guide certified divers and assist with scuba instruction.

She later became a PADI dive instructor, which gave her the ability to teach core courses and qualify new divers herself.

“I run pretty much all the operations of our educational programmes with JP’s oversight. I'm kind of the head person on the ground, and I'm one of our dive instructors — we have a team of four dive instructors at Waterstart, [who work] either part-time or full-time.”

She’s thrilled to be part of a charity with a 25-year legacy.

Since its founding in 2001, Waterstart has equipped more than 10,000 students with “valuable skills and a deeper connection to the natural world”.

A new 25-year lease with Burt Island gives her hope for what’s to come.

“It’s just awesome to be part of the legacy that will carry the charity forward — especially now that we have a long-term base we worked so hard to fund and make strong, manageable, and sustainable for our future. It's just awesome,” she said.

“We host thousands of students in Bermuda here and sometimes, it's the first time they've been on a boat. Sometimes, it's the first time they learn about the trees — what's native and what's endemic.

“We do a lot more than just diving. Our summer programmes are more specifically to do with getting that sort of international training certificate under people's belts, but during the year, I teach about regenerative farming and sustainability and conservation management, that sort of stuff.”

Ms Barboza-Bellamy explained that the goal wasn’t just to educate, but to offer experiences that could help shape students’ futures.

“The idea is that students take that information and use it to spark a potential career path – whether in science, Stem, engineering, or something similar.

“But also, when you work outdoors and against the elements — when you have to be flexible, work as a team, navigate conflict, and handle the unknown — we believe it really helps build resilience. It makes a student more robust. And that helps in any job,” she said.

“Some of our interns work in social media, some of them work in landscape management — so many different things. But no matter where they go in the future, the skills that they gain here will help them broaden their abilities and gain confidence.”

• For more information, visitwaterstartbermuda.org