Meet the Founder: A Conversation with Mauri, founder of White Lotus Diving
Mauri, the Founder of White Lotus Diving
Thailand stands out in the current context of the world as a place that welcomes more inclusive businesses, especially ones that support our LGBTQA+ community. At the same time, White Lotus Diving aims to create a new standard of service in scuba diving. In this conversation with Mauri, we’ll learn more about the story behind White Lotus Diving, what makes it different from other schools, and how it aims to build connections between people.
Q: What inspired you to start White Lotus Diving?
Mauri: The idea came from wanting to create a diving experience that supports people in my community and its allies to come together and explore the ocean.. I didn’t see many options out there that specifically welcomed LGBTQ+ divers or that really focused on a premium, personal experience. I want to build a space where people feel safe, seen, and well taken care of—not just in the water but as part of a community of global divers
Q: How did your diving journey begin?
Mauri: I took my first breath underwater in Marsa Alam, Egypt, over ten years ago. That first dive changed everything. Since then, I’ve explored dive sites around the world—Florida, Mexico, the Maldives, Cook Islands, Australia, Taiwan, and of course, Thailand, where White Lotus Divers is based. Every dive trip brought new challenges, new marine life, and new people. Diving quickly became not just a hobby but a passion and a lifestyle.
Q: And now you’re an instructor. Tell us about that transition.
Mauri: I completed my Divemaster and Instructor courses with Black Turtle Divers in Koh Tao just over a year ago. Since then, I’ve taught over 60 certifications and I genuinely love teaching. Teaching is something that has always energized and brought joy to my life. For over 15 years, I taught group fitness classes like BodyCombat, BodyBalance, yoga, step, pilates. Working in an environment promoting movement, building a community around a physical place, and clearly communicating instructions and support gave me a strong foundation for this chapter of my life in dive instruction.
Q: What’s your approach to teaching diving?
Mauri: I focus heavily on the key skills that will keep you prepared for safety and fun from the very beginning. From my perspective, these are the skills of buoyancy and trim. Buoyancy is the ability for you to maintain your position in the water column no matter the situation, and trim is the ability to stay oriented so that you don’t get dizzy or mixed-up no matter if your head is above your feet.
Furthermore, even from your first hours with me in your Open Water course, I want you to feel confident about your experience in the water no matter which way you’re facing, and I will always support and encourage you to progress with the best kicking techniques.
I am never just about checking off skills; it’s about helping you build real comfort, confidence, and safety underwater. I believe when you start with a strong foundation, the whole diving experience becomes more enjoyable and much safer. You might find me annoying sometimes when I make sure you’ve got all your buckles checked and quizzing you about different dive skills during our course, but I don’t skip corners in making sure that you’ll have the best foundation.
Q: What sets White Lotus Diving apart from other dive schools?
Mauri: It’s the combination of a premium, small-group experience and the emphasis on inclusivity. We’re also about creating spaces where you can be yourself. Our gay, lesbian, queer, trans, and ally brothers and sisters know that we have languages, cultures, and experiences that are all our own, and sometimes we need space to just be somewhere we don’t have to explain ourselves. That’s what White Lotus Diving is for. Our customers know they’ll be seen, supported, and respected here. It’s also about teaching with care, not rushing certifications, and really sharing the beauty of the underwater world with people.
Q: What do you hope people take away from diving with you?
Mauri: That they learned something real. That they connected with themselves and the ocean in a new way. Diving changes my life, and it can change yours too, and it’s something that our community can do together.
Knowledge Review is part of PADI Open Water Course.
White Lotus Diving isn’t just a dive school—it’s a space where identity, community, and exploration all meet above and below the surface.
