Meet Our Team in Phoenix, AZ
Ashley Burger
Customer Experience Lead
Ashley has dedicated herself to sharing the mesmerizing wonders of marine life with others. With expertise in SCUBA diving and marine biology, she offers immersive educational experiences, fostering a deep understanding of underwater ecosystems.
After a decade in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ashley has returned to Arizona, bringing her love for diving to the desert community. Now part of the DiVentures family in Phoenix, she eagerly shares her knowledge of SCUBA equipment and marine conservation, inviting others to join her in exploring and protecting the beauty beneath the waves.
Email: [email protected]
Ariana Cummings
Aquatics Experience LeadSwim Teacher
Phone: 602.428.0705Email: [email protected]
Darren Bernard
Independent Advanced Open Water Instructor
Darren’s first scuba experience was in 1989 in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and he’s been hooked ever since. He feels fortunate to have both of his children as dive buddies who always volunteer their time to join him on his adventures. Darren loves all types of diving but prefers the warm, clear waters of the Caribbean.
Email: [email protected]
Clay Goodman
Independent Open Water Diver Instructor
Clay has been a certified diver since 2004 and a dive professional since 2010. He joined the Diventure Team (Phoenix) in January 2024 Teaching Open Water classes as well as several specialties. In addition to SCUBA, Clay is a competitive mountain biker and enjoys spending time with his family. All of whom are certified divers!
Clay is a level 8 diver with nearly 600 logged dives. He is a certified Scientific Diver through the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) and enjoys working with REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation). Scientific passions include fish identification/counts and fish behavior.
Email: [email protected]
Dwain Desbien
Independent Open Water Instructor
Dwain has been diving for 21 years and has been a Dive Professional for almost seven years. He enjoys teaching Science of Diving. Dwain has logged almost 400 dives at Lake Pleasant doing certification dives for wonderful students. He has dived in Fiji, Tahiti and all over the Caribbean. He says each and every dive location is fun for its uniqueness. Everything from starfish by the hundreds on Vieques PR to tiger sharks off the big island of Hawaii to the schools of fish in Fiji! Dwain loves sharing diving with his friends and looks forward to showing our divers the wonderful world beneath surface. He is excited to be the lead instructor here at Diventures Phoenix and lead our great team of instructors.
Email: [email protected]
Fia Blackman
Independent Advanced Open Water Instructor
When Fia became a certified diver in Dubai in 1997, she never dreamed that she, a Swedish native, would open a dive shop – Scuba Professionals of Arizona, located in the middle of another desert. She became a Dive Professional in 2018 and four years later joined the Diventures family after owning the shop for ten years. Now she gets to focus 100% on her life’s passion – teaching and diving! Fia loves helping divers take their first breaths in scuba and develop them into advanced and even pro levels. She has been fortunate to explore the underwater world from Egypt and Oman to the Pacific, Australia, Caribbean, Sweden and our local Arizona Lake Pleasant.
Email: [email protected]
Joe Napper
Independent Scuba Instructor
Joe has been diving since 2005 and has completed more than 850 dives! Joe’s underwater adventures have taken him to numerous locals, including Hawaii, Caribbean, Bahamas, US East Coast, Cenotes, and Southern California. Joe turned his passion into a profession by becoming a Dive Master in 2007 and has been teaching Scuba since 2013. Joe’s passion for teaching scuba is introducing others to the adventure that comes with being under the water. In essence, his diving career reflects a dynamic blend of teaching, exploration, and adventure. His goal is to keep making a splash and inspiring others!
Joshua Katz
Independent Assistant Instructor
Joshua has been diving since 1997 when a resort dive in Cabo got him hooked. He is a laid back professional that dives as a hobby. When not diving or working he is planning his family’s next great adventure. Planning the perfect trip drives him. Adventures, value, and unique opportunities are part of his mantra.
Joshua loves Cenote diving and tries to get to Cancun annually for those amazing dives. Joshua is always looking for great people to join him on a trip.
Email: [email protected]
(Ellie) Luella Wulzen
Independent Scuba Instructor
Ellie has been immersed in the world of diving since 2018, captivated by its beauty and endless exploration opportunities. In 2022, Ellie achieved her goal of becoming a certified scuba instructor. Stating that teaching others to dive has been incredibly rewarding; she cherishes every moment spent sharing the thrill of exploring underwater realms and witnessing the awe in her students’ eyes as they discover new aquatic wonders. Diving isn’t just a hobby for Ellie—it’s a calling that allows her to inspire others with the same enthusiasm and appreciation for the ocean that drives her own adventures.
Alex Roberson
Service Technician
Alex started diving in 2004 and has been obsessed ever since. He worked in search and recovery and underwater construction diving all over the world, so the Diventures tech room is a natural fit. Alex is passionate about reading, writing, tabletop games and his dogs. He is always looking for new dive buddies to explore the recreational side of diving.
Email: [email protected]
Chris Samona
Independent Assistant Instructor
Chris Samona brings dedication, skill, and a can-do attitude to every dive. Known for stepping up when it matters most, Chris is a dependable leader both underwater and on the surface. His passion for diving, commitment to safety, and strong work ethic make him a vital part of our team and a favorite among fellow divers.
Originally from New Jersey, Chris is no stranger to murky waters—and he’s got the dive skills to match. Whether he’s navigating complex dive sites or sharing a laugh about his bold pizza opinions, Chris brings a unique blend of professionalism and personality to every dive adventure.
Email: [email protected]
D.J. Kronenbitter
Independent Assistant Instructor
D.J. has been passionate about scuba diving for nearly three years, immersing himself in the underwater world and sharing its wonders with others. As a divemaster and assistant instructor, D.J. thrives on introducing new students to the magic of diving, helping them build confidence and discover the serenity beneath the waves. Becoming an instructor was a natural step for D.J., driven by a desire to inspire others and foster a deeper connection to the ocean. For D.J., scuba isn’t just a hobby—it’s a way to explore, educate, and protect the marine environment.
Email: [email protected]
Zach Demond
Customer Experience Specialist
There are two things that define Zach. Scuba diving and playing the tuba. When Zach isn’t tooting his own horn, he’s on a beach searching for seashells. He is on his way to becoming a Divemaster and would love to incorporate his love of music with his favorite animals, beluga whales.
Email: [email protected]
