Grandfather, Father, and Grandson: A Story from the Shores of Ohrid for Three Successful Generations

On the shores of Lake Ohrid, you will hear a million stories, but the story you will read today is different from the rest. The tale of Nikola Paskali, an ecologist, diver, and promoter of the beauty of Lake Ohrid, speaks to the tradition of passing down a craft from generation to generation.

Nikola is a professional diver and the owner of a company named "Aquatech." His deep love for water and water sports is inherited from his grandfather and father.

He shared with us the family chain and the development of their family business along the lake's shore. His grandfather, Aleksandar Paschali-Cane, was a renowned swimmer, coach, and referee in swimming and water polo, or, in one word, a true lake enthusiast. In 1968, his grandfather bought his first speedboat, a Perkins 40, but before that, he owned a small boat in which he would take Nikola fishing every morning.

His father, Kocho Paschali, is a pioneering diver in Macedonia, a water polo player, and a great lake enthusiast. He was among the first to explore the "Bay of Bones" in 1997. He has been highly involved in underwater archaeology in Ohrid and around the famous Ohrid House, where today the diving center "Aquatec" is located.

In addition to tourism, research, and ecology, Nikola's family has also participated in several Macedonian films. His father, Kocho, was actively involved in the film "Ispavi se Delfina", where on the popular scene with the speedboat alongside Neda Arnerić, he was her driver.

Nikola Paskali is the third generation and the youngest in the line who has taken over and is now leading the family business. He works as a tour guide, both a land and underwater archaeologist, researcher, professional diver, photographer, and environmentalist who conducts an annual lake-bottom cleaning operation in Lake Ohrid.

Nikola has been diving for 19 years, and professionally for 10, which for him is not just a job, but also a hobby, entertainment, profession, and obsession.

For Nikola, Lake Ohrid is something sacred. It is his duty to protect and nurture it. His life, all the memories from the past, from his ancestors, unforgettable adventures, work, and fun are all connected to it.

He is happy to have created an interesting combination of diving, archaeology, tourism, and ecology. He says that the diving center "Akvatec" is not just about tourism. It is a perfect blend of archaeology, speleology, and biology. The center is a true promoter of a clean environment and a green Ohrid.

Just like his father, Nikola has worked on several Macedonian films. Starting with the film "Children of the Sun," diving scenes in Prespa with Macedonian actor Vlado Jovanovski, the film "Grandfather and Grandson" by Ilija Piperkoski, and part of the set design for the famous Macedonian comedy "Prespav." He also mentions working with a Hollywood production company on the film "Fallen Angels" at the Matka Canyon.

Nikola says they survived the COVID-19 pandemic. Like all other tourism workers, they quickly adapted to the protocols and working conditions. For him, the pandemic was just a valuable life lesson that opened new horizons for his work.

For the upcoming summer, Nikola is focused on diving tours at the Srijshche (Sarayishte) beach. This beach has a rich history. It is home to the house of Sadilo, a famous music legend in Ohrid, the house of Klime Savin, after whom the swimming route in the Ohrid marathon is named, and the house of Hristo Uzunov. At a depth of 3 meters, there is an old wooden rail that was used for lifting boats. Nikola mentions that the bottom also holds many ceramic vessels from the Ottoman period, which families would traditionally throw into the water when a loved one passed away.

It is quite significant that Lake Ohrid is home to many endemic species of flora and fauna, says Nikola. For this reason, he has been participating in volunteer ecological actions and campaigns for nearly 10 years to raise awareness about environmental cleanliness. He also has excellent cooperation with the Hydrobiological Institute in Ohrid.

Nikola has two brothers and one sister. He is married and has two children, and the Kajak.mk team will be waiting to tell the story of the fourth generation. But until then, we can continue to enjoy the tours he organizes.