Omaha, NE

Meet our team

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Patrick Sharp

Store Director
Open Water Diver

Despite being from the Midwest, Patrick has been around water all his life. Patrick started his aquatic journey by joining a swim team at the age of 6. He later became a lifeguard, swim instructor, state swimmer in high school, and now an adamant scuba diver. Patrick taught his kids to swim as toddlers and is a firm believer in “safety first”!

Patrick started his Diventures journey as a customer and after getting a taste for diving, Patrick and his wife quickly got certified in Cozumel and discovered a NEW PASSION for scuba and ocean conservation. Patrick loves to share what he has learned with others and is excited about the opportunity to help new and existing customers.

“As a customer of Diventures, I saw that the people here are honest, genuine, and really love what they do. I had to be a part of that. I jumped at the opportunity to be involved with a company whose mission is to improve the world and enrich people’s lives through knowledge and skillset.”

Email: [email protected]

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Nicole Pena

Scuba Experience Manager
Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

Being from WI, the ocean was not always Nicole’s friend. After spending some time in Okinawa, Japan, she embraced the underwater world and conquered her fears. She quickly became obsessed and decided to help others do the same by becoming an open water scuba instructor. Her passion is scuba and she is absolutely thrilled to have found a midwest scuba family at Diventures. She is a level 5 diver hoping to eventually get into extended range diving.

Phone: 402.933.6215
Email: [email protected]

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Maddox Webb

Scuba Experience Lead

Maddox has been a certified Diventures Open Water Diver for three years. He is currently studying criminal justice at UNO.

Email: [email protected]

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Andrew Jarvis

Customer Experience Specialist

Andrew is a Master Diver on his way to becoming a Dive Master and eventually an instructor. He enjoys all things technical about diving and is glad to talk your ear off about the specifics on certain gear items. Andrew is a Flight Paramedic for his full time job, so safety is also his number one priority and wants to help you have a fun but safe journey under the water!

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

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Bryon Compton

Service Technician

Bryon has been diving since 1990 with over 100 logged dives. He has diving experience on four continents. He is currently working on his long term plan to become an Open Water Diver Instructor.

Email: [email protected]

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Caden Ackles

Customer Experience Specialist

Caden has a strong interest in marine life and photography and has a passion for fishing. Caden attended high school at the Omaha Zoo Academy where he developed a curiosity for diving. He began diving in 2017 and is currently an SSI level 2 diver. While working at Diventures, Caden hopes to meet new divers while attending many new dive and travel opportunities.

Email: [email protected]

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Caleb Tieman

Service Technician

Caleb is a ADCI certified Commercial Diver/Tender and a AWS certified Combo Welder. He mostly worked in the industrial/aerospace welding industry for Boeing with the NASA SLS (Space Launch System) in New Orleans. Caleb had lots of time on the water in the Gulf of Mexico working on dive support vessels with Oceaneering for Chevfron, ENI, Shell, and BP. He moved back to Omaha to be closer to family and is happy to have found a dive shop in Nebraska.

Phone: 402.590.3784
Email: [email protected]

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Chad Binder

Independent Instructor Trainer
Independent Extended Range Instructor

Chad has been diving since 2002 and shares his passion with his family. His wife is an Advanced Open Water Instructor and his son is an Advanced Open Water Diver. Chad is a level 9 diver and teaches a variety of classes and specialties. With a goal of diving all seven continents, he loves finding new dive destinations.

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

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Dave Dietze

Independent Assistant Instructor Trainer
Independent Classified Diving Instructor Trainer

Dave learned to dive in 1985 while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Previously a PADI rescue diver, Dave currently teaches a variety of SSI specialties and is a level 8 diver. With his own photography business, he has a real passion for teaching Underwater Photography. As a Classified Instructor Trainer,  Dave can teach scuba instructors to become classified instructors, dive pro’s to be classified dive pros, able-bodied divers to be classified buddies, and divers with adaptive needs the joy of scuba diving and to become classified divers.

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

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Dave Wiegand

Independent Instructor Trainer
Independent Extended Range (XR) Trimix Instructor

After serving 25 years in the Air Force as an instructor pilot and jumpmaster, I have a real passion for teaching and I enjoy helping people increase their confidence and ability in an activity that can be a bit outside their comfort level. I am a level 8 diver and love to help people experience the thrill of diving on their own.

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

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Delaney Hill

Deck Manager
Swim Teacher

I love working with kids and seeing the progression of their swimming skills!

Phone: 402.933.6251

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Devin Bright

Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

Devin began diving in 2003 and has taught scuba diving in New Mexico and Virginia in his time as a dive professional. Originally from Kansas, Devin has travelled the world as an U.S Army Aviation officer and Operations Research analyst for the last 16 years. In his free time he enjoys hiking with his dog, flying, and riding his motorcycles.

Phone: 402.933.6251

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Doug Junge

Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

Doug has been diving since 2012 and is a level 6 diver. He has travelled throughout the Caribbean experiencing different reef systems and cultures. Doug is also a Physical Therapist and loves to share his love for the ocean with his patients and others.

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

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Doug Webb

Independent Dive Professional

Doug first started the fantastic hobby of scuba diving in 2019, and it quickly grew into a passion. Now a Level 5 diver, he never passes up an opportunity to explore the underwater world.  Doug is a volunteer penguin diver at the Omaha Zoo and an active member of the Landlocked Scuba Club.

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Emma Mueting

Swim Instructor

Emma has been on swim team for three years. She loves teaching young children important water safety skills.

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Frank Wells

Independent Instructor Certifier

Frank has been diving since the 60’s with dive experiences across the world. Certified as an instructor in 1975, he has the distinction of being a Course Director Emeritus with NAUI, an Instructor for the elite SSI Platinum Pro 5000, an SSI Instructor Certifier and level 10 diver. His knowledge, demeanor and expertise make him an excellent instructor and a great dive buddy.

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

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Garret Hunter

Swim Teacher
Deck Manager

I was a youth sports coach and I love the water. I get to blend the two when I teach.

Phone: 402.933.6251

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Janna Binder

Independent Advanced Open Water Diver Instructor

Janna has been diving since 1995 when she learned in the pool on the backlot tour at Walt Disney World. She’s been an instructor since 2012, is a level 7 diver, has a deep interest in marine life and loves teaching Fish ID.

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

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John-Michael Points

Customer Experience Specialist

John-Michael enjoys photographing coral and wildlife to help raise awareness of current issues affecting them. He plans to get his Master scuba certification and continue his scuba education. John-Michael also loves sharks and diving ship wrecks.

Phone: 402.933.6251

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Keith Holmes

Independent Divemaster

Since he was a boy of 8, living on the shores of North Carolina, watching the scuba divers, Keith has always wanted to swim with the fishes. It only took him 40 years and a move to Nebraska to do just that. He has been diving since 2015, is a level 5 diver, and very active in the Landlocked Scuba Club. When not underwater Keith can be found working with children as a Kid’s Pastor at a local church, riding his motorcycle or hanging with family and friends on his back porch.

Phone: 402.933.6251

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Kenny Elms

Open Water Diver Instructor

I am an avid diver that dives in cold and warm water — anywhere — any time. I am a level 6 diver and a technical diver certified in deco diving in OC and CC.

Phone: 402.933.6251

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Kevin Oles

Independent Dive Professional

Kevin became certified by Diventures in 2017, and became a dive professional in 2019. He is currently I’m a Level 6 diver. Kevin’s favorite dives are wreck and wall dives. From corals reefs to quarries, Great Lakes to the Caribbean, Kevin wants to dive it all. 

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Kevin Stolmeier

Customer Experience Specialist

Kevin was scuba certified in 2010 and is now a level 5 diver. When he isn’t at the shop or diving, he can be found participating in triathlons. Kevin loves all things water!

Email: [email protected]

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Lauren Lachel

Swim Instructor

Lauren has always had a passion for swim instruction. She’s been a swimmer for over ten years, and an instructor for four years. She loves seeing her students grow and improve their skills in the water.

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Lauryn Robinson

Swim Teacher

I have been a diver since 2018. My SSI level is 2. I love swimming and working with kids. I have worked with kids for about six years now.

Phone: 402.933.6251

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Marty Hannaford

Independent Advanced Open Water Diver Instructor

Marty has been diving since 2005, has been an Instructor since 2012 and has over 500 dives. His dive experience includes the Caribbean and Pacific Islands. He’s also a a Rebreather Instructor and certified to teach a wide variety of specialty courses.

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

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Matt Ryle

Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

Bio coming soon.

Phone: 402.933.6251

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Michael Frerichs

Dive Pro

Bio Coming Soon!

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Michael Meyers

Customer Experience Specialist

Michael has been in the water since a very young age. Michaels’s first job was lifeguarding, and he is looking forward to getting more experience as a scuba diver and helping others grow their love of the water into new passions!

Email: [email protected]

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Mike Poole

Independent Advanced Open Water Diver Instructor

Mike has been diving since the 70s while in college. His military career provided opportunities to dive around the world. With an undergrad degree in Environmental Science, and a master’s degree in Aerospace Sciences, he loves both flying and diving. Mike’s passion while diving is searching for artifacts and fossils in the rivers and shallow surf off the southeast United States. Mike is a level 9 diver.

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

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Nate Lilla

Swim Instructor

Nate has been competitively swimming for the last six years. Swimming is a sport where Nate felt like he truly belonged, and he wants to give that opportunity to others.

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Nina Homan

Independent Open Water Instructor

Nina shares Diventures vision of creating safety and fun in and around the water. In her youth, Nina was a lifeguard and certified Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. She began scuba diving in 2017 and was hooked after seeing firsthand the beauty and serenity of the world beneath the ocean’s surface. Nina enjoys providing others with the skills and knowledge required to experience all the underwater world has to offer.  Leading Diventures trips allows Nina an opportunity to expand her “scuba family” and witness the excitement on the faces of newly certified divers. Nina is a level 6 diver and an Open Water Instructor.

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

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Olivia Milliken

Swim Teacher

I’ve been swimming in a structured environment since I was three years old. I have a passion for swimming and want to pass along my knowledge to others. I’m patient and know how much work it takes to learn the strokes. I enjoy helping kids so I want to show them the skills they need to stay safe but also how much fun swimming is.

Phone: 402.933.6251

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Pat Purkhiser

Independent Instructor Trainer
Service Technician

Pat has been diving since the 70’s. As a level 10 diver with over 5,440 dives, Pat has an incredible depth of knowledge in several subjects such as SCUBA Diving, Marine Biology, First Aid, H2O Rescue and Dive Travel. He is a certified Instructor Trainer and teaches multiple specialty classes including Marine Ecology and DAN first Aid. Pat also played a vital role in helping create the Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo Academy where taught zoology and anatomy for several years, before recently retiring. In his free time since retirement, Pat teaches Marine Ecology classes and DAN first Aid classes at Diventures. If you stop by Diventures, please pop your head in the scuba shop and say hello.

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

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Robert Fessler

Independent Assistant Instructor

Robert was certified as an Open Water Diver in 1993 and is currently a level 6 diver. Over the past few years, he has been working his way up the Dive Pro ranks and will become an Open Water Diver Instructor in the Summer of 2023. Robert enjoys sharing his passion for diving with new students and especially enjoys seeing new divers experience their first ocean dive.

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Ryan Loewenstein

Service Technician
Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

Ryan joined the Diventures family in 2018. He is a US Navy veteran, a public safety diver, and a member of the Omaha Fire Department. With a strong passion for diving, he loves helping others learn more about diving and advancing their skills to become great divers!

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

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Scotty Scott

Swim Teacher
Deck Manager

I’ve had a love for swim my entire life! I was a Boy Scout lifeguard for 11 years and I continue to work with scouts at the scout swims here at Diventures. I love to teach and help others have fun and be safe in and around the water!

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

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Stacie Haneline

Independent Open Water Instructor

Stacie feels fortunate to have two passions she enjoys sharing with others: piano and scuba diving. She have been diving since 1993 and is a Level 8 diver. She is a committed teacher who looks forward to sharing the joy and passion of scuba diving with those who are interested. As a faculty member at the University of Omaha Nebraska School of Music, she looks forward to working with students who are enrolled in the scuba diving course at UNO. Stacie hopes your journey to explore the underwater world brings you as much happiness as it does for her.

Phone: 402.981.1867

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Tammy Jones

Swim Teacher & Lifeguard
Divemaster

Tammy first discovered scuba diving in 2022 and quickly fell in love with it. Three months later she was open water certified. In 2023, Tammy wanted to become part of the Diventures family and is a swim teacher, lifeguard, snorkel instructor and level 4 Dive Professional. Tammy enjoys Landlocked Scuba Club events and traveling to new places to dive and explore.

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Tom DeLong

Customer Experience Specialist

Tom is a Business Development executive during the day. At nights, as well as on weekends, he enjoys sharing his passion of scuba diving. Tom is a level 3 diver, passionate about traveling and exploring the ocean.

Phone: 402.933.6251
Email: [email protected]

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Trent Hollis

Customer Experience Specialist

Bio coming soon!

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