Pontianus Francis

In 2019 Ponty gave my daughter and I scuba lessons and took her diving in Soufriere. I couldn't go due to health reasons. When they got back she was so thrilled with the underwater world and the beauty of all that she'd seen. Later that day he took us to visit various other places in Soufriere. These are memories we can never forget.
Rest in peace my brother 🙏🏽

I met Ponti when I first came to Saint Lucia in 2004. He quickly became one of my closest buddies as he embraced me as his own. I am thankful that I was able to hang out with him in the repair shop, in or out of the water and even had the privilege to break bread with him in his home. Whenever I did dive groups with him at SSL, he always made my job easy because he was such a people person, and guests naturally were drawn to his personality and charisma.

The last time I saw Ponti and Xavier was on Jan 29, 2018. We visited together and had a great time catching up. I will never forget that night under the starry St Lucian sky, these three grown men, from different parts of the world, grasped hands and prayed together in Xavier's car. The moon was very full and it was truly beautiful to look at; one of us said, "When we look up and see another bright full moon again in the future, may we remember this very night that we were knitted together in heart and prayer. May the good Lord guide us wherever we go in life...in Jesus' Name I pray."

I won't forget you, Ponti, you were a special friend. Thank you for your infectious "Ponti laughter" over the years. I am honored to have known you, my brother.

Until we meet again,
Jonnnnnny

We were so very sad to hear of Ponti's passing and offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

When we first met Ponti he did not dive but was working at Anse Chastanet Hotel and expressed an interest in trying an introductory scuba dive. He was nervous and a little scared but also excited to discover the beautiful underwater scenes in the Anse Chastanet Bay. He came back again and again, building on his experience, and soon transferred to work at the Scuba Center so that he could continue with his training while learning more about scuba diving. He worked hard to pass all of the written and practical tests to reach Divemaster level, later qualifying as a Scuba Instructor.

Ponti was a delight to be around, always very positive with a great sense of humour. His wide smile and gentle nature ensured that he was a firm favorite with all who came in contact with him, including his co-workers and hotel guests who came to dive with him.

Rest in Peace dear Ponti....

I remember Ponti as one of the gentlest people I ever met. Most people knew him for his wonderful sense of humor, but he was also an extraordinarily caring person, with a genuine concern for others and for nature. One story in particular captures Ponti’s character perfectly.

Some divers had told him about the famous “chicken fish.” Ponti had never heard of such a creature, but they assured him that they had seen chicken fish elsewhere, although, as far as anyone knew, one had never been seen in St. Lucia. Apparently, it was extremely rare, very shy, and almost impossible to approach.

Ponti was intrigued.

During a drift dive at Piton Wall, one of the divers in the group Ponti was leading secretly tucked a rubber chicken into a crevice beneath a reef ledge. He then managed to draw Ponti’s attention towards it.

Ponti could hardly believe his eyes. There, protruding from the coral reef, was the unmistakable neck and head of a chicken.

Immediately, Ponti took the end of his dive knife and banged it against his scuba tank to get everyone’s attention. Once the group had gathered, he became very serious. He stretched out his arm and pushed his flat hand firmly towards the group:

Stay back. Keep your distance. Don’t come any closer.

Then he pointed his middle and index fingers towards his eyes:

Watch me.

With everyone now keeping a respectful distance, Ponti very slowly and cautiously approached the mysterious chicken fish.

He gently slipped his hands underneath the creature and carefully lifted it from the crevice, presenting this extraordinary discovery to the group.

It didn’t move.

Ponti examined it closely for a moment.

He concluded that it must be sleeping.

With extraordinary tenderness, he carefully placed the chicken fish back into its crevice exactly where he had found it. He then turned towards the group and waved the divers past the spot one by one, making sure that everyone kept their distance so that this exceptionally rare creature would not be disturbed any further.

By this point, some of the divers were having serious difficulty keeping their regulators in their mouths because they were laughing so hard.

Only later was it revealed to Ponti that one of the divers had planted a rubber chicken in the reef.

Ponti, however, remained entirely undeterred.

He still insisted that he had been the first person to discover the chicken fish in St. Lucia.

It was classic Ponti. The humor of the situation was unforgettable, but so was the gentleness and seriousness with which he approached even the most unlikely creature. Whether or not the chicken fish was real hardly seemed to matter. Ponti had treated it with exactly the care and respect he believed it deserved.

Ponti, biggest charmer, mindest Heart and funniest dive instructor buddy ever. We had so much fun during our time together at the dive school in St. Lucia. So much laughter, so much fooling around, and so many memories I’ll never forget.

I’m so sad you’re no longer in this world.

Sending you all my love across the ocean, to wherever you are now. 🌊🤍

One of the sweetest and warmest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. No matter how many times I corrected him, he would always call me “Whitney.” ❤️

You will truly be missed, Ponti. Thank you for the laughter, kindness, and warmth you brought to those around you. Rest in peace, Ponti. 🕊️🤍

Ponti! I can hear the echoes of me calling you in my mind and of course the bright smile you would give after that! 🥹 Your warmth and good energy will be missed . You were always putting something into' perspective ' . Woww soo many beautiful memories to hold onto . 🕊❤️❤️❤️

You were one of the most beautiful souls. Your warmth and your smile will remain in my heart forever. May your beautiful soul rest in eternal peace

Mr Mayagy (as some of us called him) and I having our wax on and off moments. May you sleep peacefully my dear friend. I will not forget all what you taught me.

Rest in peace Ponti , AKA Mr Miyagi. It was truly a privilege working alongside you at Scuba St. Lucia. As one of the senior dive instructors, you played a big part in helping me learn, grow, and eventually become an instructor .I’ll always remember how funny, down-to-earth, and easygoing you were. You made learning enjoyable and always made people feel comfortable in and out of the water.

Thank you for the knowledge, the laughs, and the memories. You will truly be missed. Rest easy, my friend. 🤿🕊️

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Pontinanus “Ponti” Francis, a longtime dive instructor at Scuba St. Lucia, colleague, travel companion, and most importantly, a dear friend.

Ponti was one of those special people who was simply a pleasure to be around. Always friendly, always ready with a joke, and always bringing laughter and a smile wherever he went. We shared so many wonderful times together over the years, from days at the dive shop and beneath the sea to traveling together to DEMA shows, and those memories are ones we will always treasure.

Ponti had a wonderful temperament and a genuine love for people. His passion for the sea and for sharing the underwater world with others touched so many divers over the years. He brought warmth, patience, humor, and friendship to everything he did.

Our hearts go out to Ponti’s family and loved ones during this very difficult time. Please know that his dive family shares in your loss.

Ponti, you will be deeply missed, but never forgotten. Your laughter, your smile, your love of the sea, and the many special memories we shared will always remain in our hearts.

Rest peacefully, our friend