WAO offers professional outdoor activity instruction, guiding and outdoor learning.
Over 10 years of previous experience working in and studying the outdoor education sector has been put into its development.
We hold a high standard of operation led by highly experienced and qualified staff to help ensure a quality experience.
WAO are inspired by the outdoors and all that nature has to share with us and we want to share it with you!
We aim to give you the best adventure education experiences tailored to your needs and based on our expert knowledge.
We are passionate about the outdoors aiming for minimal environmental impact and developing environmental awareness.
We believe outdoor experiences can inspire, challenge and educate resulting in unique experiences and creating lasting memories.
WAO operate mainly through Sligo, Mayo and Galway, stretching Nationwide on occasion.
Ciarán Lennon:
From a young age he developed a passion for the Ocean through Scuba Diving, discovering and exploring the vast marine world. Being situated on the West coast of Ireland in Sligo and Connemara has naturally led his interests into a variety of areas of the outdoors, exploring the surrounding mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and the numerous islands along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Ciarán runs his business Wild Atlantic Outdoors as an outdoor facilitator using his degree in outdoor learning. Striving to share the outdoor world through his extensive experience, expert guidance and instruction, to enable the outdoors to inspire others as it did for him. He is well travelled and always seeking new adventures to less explored areas of the world, experiencing nature’s wonders and different cultures on the way.
When he’s not kayaking, diving or up a mountain he is most likely tinkering away fixing things or involved in a building project.
Ciaran's Qualifications:
Land Based:
· Mountain Leader (Mountaineering Ireland)
· Single Pitch Award (Rock Climbing Instructor - Mountaineering Ireland)
· Emergency First Response and O2 Provider Instructor (EFR)
· Remote Emergency Care First Aid Level 4
· Wilderness First Aid 4 (WMS)
· Occupational First Aid (FAR)
· Survival and Bushcraft Skills
Water based:
· Surface Supplied Diver (HSE Approved) (QQI Level 6)
· Commercial Scuba Diver (HSE Approved) (QQI Level 6)
· Master Scuba Diver Trainer (PADI) (12+ Instructor Specialities**)
· Tec 45 (unlimited decompression, 100% O2 use)(PADI)
· Tec Sidemount (PADI)
· Freediver Instructor (PADI)
· Master Freediver (Apnea Total)
· Advanced Power Boat Licence, commercially endorsed (ISA)
· Coastal Navigation (ISA)
· Safety Boat Licence (ISA)
· STCW (Safety Training and Competence on Watch on Board Ship)
· VHF (Short Range Radio Licence)
· Shorebased Yachtmaster (RYA)
· Offshore Yachtmaster, commercially endorsed (RYA)
· Maritime and Coastguard Agency approved engine course (MCA)
· Whitewater Kayak Instructor Level 4 (Canoeing Ireland)
· Whitewater Kayak Proficiency Level 5 (Canoeing Ireland)
· River Safety and Rescue Level 3 (Canoeing Ireland)
· Whitewater Rescue Technician (Rescue 3)
· International Sea Kayak Advanced Guide (ISKGA)
· Coasteering Skills and Rescue provider (IACP)
· Coasteering Leader Award (IACP)
Other:
. Bachelor of Arts Degree in Outdoor Learning (2016-2018) (QQI Level 7)
· Outdoor Activity Instructor (QQI Level 5)
· Inclusive Adventure Activity Training (CARA)
· Child Protection in Sport Awareness
· EFVL-Solo Paragliding Licence
· Full Car Driving Licence
· Full Motorbike Licence
· NARGC-Firearms Safety course
· Manual Handling
· Safepass
** Full Face Mask, DSMB, Enriched Air, Wreck Diver, Deep Diver, Boat Diver, Search & Recovery, Night Diver, Digital U/W Photographer,
U/W Navigation, Drysuit Diver, U/W Naturalist, Emergency O2 Provider.