Susan Gairey – The Little Mermaid
For most women, the furthest they will go into the sea during a day at the beach is up to their chests, not so for Susan Gairey, dive master at Beaches Royal Plantation Golf Resort & Spa in Ocho Rios, St Ann.
She likes to plunge into the ocean, her playground from childhood days, preferring instead to mingle with the creatures of the deep, than those of her own kind.
This young athletic water goddess hails originally from Salem, Runaway Bay where her diving skills were honed.
“I was formed in water, I have lived in water and probably I’ll go back to the water,” she proudly stated. She started swimming at the age of five without any idea that her passion would grow into a career. Susan remembers her brothers taking her to the beach in Salem for early morning swims.
“The water was so cold but I didn’t mind that, I was enjoying the water and most of all the sunrise. They used to call me the little mermaid,” she added in a childish voice.
Susan has been employed to Beaches Royal Plantation Golf Resort & Spa for almost a year and is highly spoken of for her level of professionalism, knowledge and team spirit shown amongst guests as well as her team members. When asked about her relationship with staff, she replied with a big smile on her face “Well, I get along with everybody, I’m like the popular type.”
Her warm personality and gentle spoken words is what keeps her afloat each day and sets her among the growing percentage of Jamaican women who believe regardless of sex and occupation you can achieve whatever you want.
“Before joining the Watersports Department at Beaches, I did a one-year hospitality course at HEART Runaway Academy, majoring in food preparation and presentation, I tried the Food and Beverage field for two years but later I realised that wasn’t for me,” she said.
She was also employed at Silver Spray Resort as an administrative assistant. During her five-year stint at the hotel, Susan moved up the ranks to store manager and then night manager. She also copped the prize of Employee of the Year for four consecutive years.
Susan owes most of her achievements to her mentors Hyacinth Gairey, her mother, Terri Algaier and Cleve Warren who were instrumental in her career development. She also remembers the words of encouragement that her mother gave which she uses as her daily guide.
“It’s only a foolish man that would not cherish the only female in a pack of eight, but business and pleasure do not mix and regardless of her sex she has to prove herself. We are talking about the sea that never sleeps and the lives of guest and team members that cannot be replaced if lost, so when we are out there it’s serious business,” said Daniel Duncan, assistant watersports manager at the Beaches resort.
In proving herself, Susan is expected to do everything that the guys do – from sailing and boat driving to boat repairs.
“Susan not only brings her diving skills to the property but her level of professionalism and royal guest services skills is what makes her one of the hotel’s most valued employees. Susan was voted departmental team member for the quarter recently – one of the many awards she has received since being with the company,” Yaniris Medina, training manager told All Woman.
The 37 year-old past student of Hoolebury All-Age and Ocho Rios Secondary (now Ocho Rios High) Schools has very high ambitions for herself. “I love watersports and I can do watersports for the next five years, so right now, I’m concentrating on my supervisory training and hopefully I will be promoted to the supervisor position soon,” she added.
Susan who is a self – motivator would like to remind all women, “There is nothing that a female wants to do that she cannot do, whether it be male-dominated or otherwise as long as you put your mind to it, you can succeed,” she concluded.
