Meet Our Team in Springfield, MO

Area Director
Independent Assistant Instructor Trainer

Ryan’s love for diving and boating has kept him around water all his life. Here in the Midwest, Diventures makes it possible to experience everything the water has to offer. Ryan has been an integral part of our team for nearly a decade. As Area Director of our stores in Missouri and Iowa, Ryan enjoys building passionate teams, inspiring new dive professionals, and constantly making lifelong friends through our team and, most of all, our customers!

Phone: 417.883.5151
Email: [email protected]

Store Director

Abby has over 20 years of experience in customer service and retail. She thrives in helping customers find what they need with the care they deserve which goes hand in hand with Diventures passion for customers. She loves being outdoors and has a strong passion/love for animals and animal rescue. She is looking forward to expanding that passion to ocean life and all things diving and swim.

Phone: 417.744.9763
Email: [email protected]

Scuba Experience Manager
Divemaster

I have always been passionate about the ocean and marine life since I was little. I knew I always wanted to get into scuba diving and explore new opportunities in the water. My favorite conversations revolve around sharks. I also love to travel, hike, and kayak.

Phone: 417.883.5151
Email: [email protected]

Aquatics Experience Manager
Lifeguard Instructor

Shawntel is a lover of nature, adventure, and helping others. She is a Level 1 diver and loves that teaching swim combines her passions for the water and people. She enjoys helping new swimmers overcome their fears while learning important safety skills. Shawntel also enjoys helping advanced swimmers crush their goals and learn new techniques.

Email: [email protected]

Lifeguarding Program Coordinator
Independent Open Water Instructor

Shyanne loves everything to do with water! She is currently a swim teacher instructor trainer, a lifeguard trainer, and an open water instructor. Shyanne loves being able to teach anyone of any age to have a passion for the water as she does. Shyanne enjoys hiking, spending days at the lake, and rock climbing.

Phone: 417.744.9816
Email: [email protected]

Swim Teacher

Abigail has grown up around the water and loves swimming. She runs track and cross country and loves teaching and coaching. She loves helping people achieve their goals.

Deck Manager
Swim Teacher

Adam grew up around water and enjoys swimming, diving, snorkeling, and free diving. Adam likes spreading his love for the water with others. When Adam isn’t teaching swimming he likes to play video games or build/paint models. In addition to free diving, Adam got scuba certified in 2022.

Swim Teacher

Braxton is an SSI Level 3 Open Water scuba diver with more than two years of open water experience. As a friendly swim teacher, Braxton enjoys helping swimmers build confidence in the water while developing strong skills and safe techniques. He is highly capable of identifying challenges and offering clear, supportive solutions tailored to each individual’s path to success.

Customer Experience Specialist

Bryce has a wide range of interests, including cars, the ocean, and athletics. In August 2025, he earned his scuba certification, motivated by his passion for exploring underwater environments. He also competes in track and field, balancing his time between sports and personal pursuits.

Phone: 417.883.5151
Email: [email protected]

Independent Assistant Instructor

Curtis got into scuba diving on a whim and has now been diving for five years. He enjoys getting to meet new people through diving and appreciates the lasting friendships that the sport has provided. His daughter recently got certified and his son hopes to do the same – once he gets a little older. Curtis has been diving in Belize, Honduras (Roatan) and Egypt (Red Sea), in addition to multiple lakes close to his home in Missouri. The excitement of diving, relaxing in the sun, meeting new people and creating lasting memories is what makes every dive trip so much fun!

Independent Open Water Instructor

Dave has been scuba diving since 1997. After nearly 25 years of service, he retired from the Tulsa Fire Department as a Captain, where he also spent several years as an instructor, teaching rescue and survival skills to firefighters. He has recently become an Open Water Instructor with Diventures and is excited to combine his passion for training firefighters with his love of scuba diving.

Independent Instructor Certifier

Don is a level 10 diver, has been diving since 1964 and teaching safe scuba since 1966. He’s a world-traveling diver with extensive experience and a former scuba shop owner. He loves the people he teaches, getting to share with them his love of the sea, and making sure they enjoy safe diving!

Phone: 417.883.5151
Email: [email protected]

Independent Advanced Open Water Diver Instructor

Bio coming soon!

Phone: 417.883.5151
Email: [email protected]

Customer Experience Specialist

I was a student in the swim program at Diventures when I was young. I always admired the Scuba Staff back then and am so grateful that I get to be a part of the team!

I earned my Open Water certification at Diventures in 2022 and have been in love with diving ever since. I have a passion for getting people involved with diving and sharing my knowledge of scuba.

Customer Experience Specialist

Evan has been around water his entire life, swimming competitively, playing water polo, and diving. He became dive certified in 2013 and has spent years developing a deep appreciation and respect for the water. His experience has made him confident, capable, and enthusiastic about helping others feel comfortable and safe in aquatic environments.

Email: [email protected]

Swim Teacher

Grace has experience in competitive swimming and has been a swim instructor for roughly six years. She has coached a summer swim team for four years. She has taught children of all ages and abilities, making sure to prioritize safety, proper technique, endurance, and comfortability in the water. Her goal is to create a fun, positive, and supportive environment that helps every child gain confidence and achieve their short and long term goals.

Independent Open Water Instructor

Greg is a level 5 diver and has been diving since 2019. He is always setting new goals to make himself a better diver. Now as an open water instructor he has fell in love with teaching new divers learn to breath underwater!

Swim Teacher
Customer Experience Specialist

Hunter began diving through Diventures in 2022, and within just a few hours, he knew he wanted to be part of the team. He enjoys goofing around and having a good time while helping others succeed.

Independent Open Water Diver Instructor
Service Technician

James started diving in 2015 and is a level 4 diver and a Master Diver. He got into the sport because he loves the ocean, especially Mandarin Gobies.

Phone: 417.883.5151
Email: [email protected]

Swim Teacher

Jaxen has never been able to stay out of the water. He’s an avid swimmer who strives to share his love for the water by fostering a safe, fun, caring environment at Diventures.

Independent Assistant Instructor

With over three decades of diving experience, Jeff is a passionate diver and dedicated professional. Since 1988, he has practiced his skills to become a Level 8 Diver, with a deep commitment to both public safety and environmental conservation.

As a Public Safety Diver for the Sheriff’s Department serving the Buffalo River, he helps in a critical role in ensuring the safety of individuals in challenging river environments. In addition to public safety, Jeff is a Volunteer Maintenance Diver at Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium, where the maintenance team contribute their skills to maintaining the integrity and beauty of the facility’s aquatic exhibits. Jeff is also deeply invested in preserving natural ecosystems, actively participating in group lake and river clean-ups to help protect and restore local waterways.

Driven by a love for the water and a dedication to preserving it, Jeff tries to make a positive impact through both his professional and volunteer efforts.

Independent Open Water Diver Instructor
Independent Assistant Instructor Trainer

Jerod’s aquatic background spans over 20+ years. He received 80% of his training at Diventures and enjoyed every minute of it! He is excited to share his love of scuba diving with his students and help them accomplish their underwater goals!

Phone: 417.883.5151

Independent Assistant Instructor

John is a level 6 diver and works as an Assistant Instructor for Diventures. John has a diverse diving history. He enjoys working as a rescue & recovery diver for two sheriff departments nearby. He also is an avid spear fisherman. His biggest passion is teaching new divers and watching them grow.

Independent Assistant Instructor

Joyce never anticipated scuba diving would become her passion, especially since she once feared snorkeling. But everything changed when her husband suggested they learn to scuba dive and explore the Great Barrier Reef. After several months of training—where clearing her mask was a real challenge—she finally achieved her goal. In September 2019, they took their first ocean dive off a liveaboard in the Great Barrier Reef, and Joyce was instantly hooked! Now an Assistant Instructor, she’s eager to keep learning and share her love for diving. Joyce proudly identifies with the “80-80-80 club,” enjoying dives in warm waters (around 80°F), warm air above 80°F, and visibility of at least 80 feet. Her favorite dive spots? Anywhere she can blow bubbles and explore the wonders below.

Independent Assistant Instructor

Justin began diving in 2020 after taking a Try Scuba Course with Diventures and falling in love with the sport on a trip to Cozumel, Mexico, where he was Open Water certified. Justin’s continued education has come from Diventures, and he became an Assistant Instructor in 2024. He is excited to help students discover their confidence and develop their abilities, and discover a love for our underwater world!

Swim Instructor

Katie is a seasoned aquatics professional with over 14 years of experience in the field. Her background includes teaching swim lessons, leading lifeguard trainings and fostering water safety education for all ages. Katie’s passion for outdoors took her to Hawaii, where she spent a year and a half as a kayak guide, sharing her love for adventure and marine environments. She holds a degree in recreation, park and sports administration from Missouri State University where she developed a strong foundation in program planning, leadership and community recreation. Whether she teaching, guiding or managing aquatic programs, Katie is dedicated to creating safe, fun and enriching experiences in and around the water.

Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

I enjoy introducing customers to an adventure that few people get to experience. Not every student starts out being able to put on a mask and jump in the water. I work with each student at their comfort level, teaching them how to be a safe diver while having fun.

Phone: 417.883.5151
Email: [email protected]

Swim Teacher

Lily has been teaching swim lessons for six years. She’s a head coach for a summer swim team and has been coaching for five years. Lily has been swimming competitively since she was 8 years old and loves seeing all her swimmers grow.

Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

I absolutely love to watch people of all ages take their first breath underwater! Seeing people go from above the water to below the water, and realizing there is another world underwater, is priceless!

Phone: 417.883.5151
Email: [email protected]

Swim Teacher

Lucy is a competitive swimmer who fell in love with swimming in elementary school. She loves encouraging kids to take up space and fall in love with the freedom of swimming.

Swim Teacher

Lucy has been a lifeguard since she was 16 and has been swimming competitively for the past three years, starting in her freshman year. Swimming gives her clarity and strong motivation. She enjoys working with kids of all ages and specializes in teaching all competitive swim strokes. Her favorite part of teaching is witnessing the “lightbulb” moment and seeing her students grow and feel accomplished.

Divemaster

Maddy has been scuba certified since she was ten years old and has been in love with scuba ever since. Maddy has over 100 logged dives and her favorite places to dive are Cozumel and Roatan. She loves to travel and learn new things, especially about marine life! Her favorite things to see while diving are green sea turtles. Maddy chose Diventures because she has a passion for teaching others about the wonders of scuba. She has also felt at home when at Diventures and wanted to be part of our work family!

Swim Teacher

Mara has been swimming for as long as she can remember. She loves learning and teaching both children and adults. She’s very patient and understanding, especially with beginners. She became a swim teacher because she loves seeing students learn and grow their skills.

Swim Teacher

Max enjoys playing soccer and staying active in and out of the pool. He is very involved in his church community and has spent a lot of his life working with kids and building relationships through mentorship and service. His passion for teamwork and helping others carries into everything he does.

Independent Open Water Instructor

Molly is a dedicated dive professional who loves teaching Open Water classes! She loves helping students gain the skills and confidence of the underwater world. Her bucket list destination is Antarctica!

Swim Teacher

Noah has always felt at home in the water. Growing up, his family spent a great deal of time around water, which helped him become a strong swimmer at an early age. In 2022, he earned his SSI Open Water Diver certification through Diventures and later obtained his Lifeguard and CPR certifications.

As the oldest sibling, Noah gained valuable experience assisting his mother in running a certified in home daycare and even managed it independently for a period of time. These experiences instilled patience, responsibility, and a genuine passion for helping others learn and grow. He enjoys working with both children and adults and finds it incredibly rewarding to watch their comfort, confidence, and skills develop in the water. His focus is always on safety, encouragement, and creating a positive learning experience for everyone.

Director of Customer Experience
Instructor Trainer

Nolan has been diving since 1985 and an instructor since 1989. He has taught all levels of diving, wide range of specialties and been certified as an Instructor Trainer and Certifier. Nolan was recognized for his dedication to the highest standards of teaching by being awarded the NASDS Instructor of the Year in 1998.

Phone: 417.849.9455
Email: [email protected]

Assistant Instructor

Rebecca is an enthusiastic Assistant Instructor and been diving since 2022. Known for her positive energy and friendly personality, she’s aways fun to be around – both above and below the surface. Rebecca loves exploring new dives sites and is constantly seeking out new underwater adventures to expand her skills and share her passion for diving with others!

Phone: 417.883.5151

Independent Assistant Instructor

Stephanie started diving in 2007 after a lifetime of loving the water and being part of a family of divers. She began working at Diventures in 2023 and loves getting to be around others who share her passion for diving. Stephanie enjoys helping people get started on their own diving adventures and watching them develop a deeper love for water and marine life! Stephanie is a Level 4 Master Diver and wants to continue progressing in her journey in scuba diving to eventually start teaching classes.

Email: [email protected]

Swim Teacher

Tori grew up taking swim lessons. Her parents knew she was very water insecure, but taking lessons helped her build confidence. Eventually, she was able to swim on the swim team. Her favorite swim stroke is breaststroke. Tori loves helping people reach their goals, improve their confidence, and feel safe and comfortable around water.

Service Technician
Divemaster & Independent Assistant Instructor

Warren’s been diving for thirteen years. After retiring, Warren started working as a service technician in the Springfield location. Warren has been on multiple trips with Diventures to the Caribbean.

Customer Experience Specialist
Independent Open Water Instructor

My background involves over 16 years of watersport-related activities at the lake. I have grown up around the water my entire life. I love seeing the look on people’s faces when they accomplish something new.

Phone: 417.883.5151
Email: [email protected]

Independent Assistant Instructor

Zach Copeland grew up in the Ozarks and has always had a love for the outdoors. His love and passion came from swimming and was fascinated with the underwater world at a young age. His parents introduced him to Scuba Diving when he was allowed to watch the movie Abyss at the age of 11. He immediately knew that he wanted to become a diver.

Zach moved to California in 2001 after high school to serve in the United States Marine Corps. While serving in the Marines, he obtained his Open Water Certification in 2003. He logged many wonderful dives in the Pacific Ocean. His favorite dives were with Sea Lions and wall diving in La Jolla Shores.

He loves working with students and seeing them experience scuba diving for the first time. His favorite diving spot is at Beaver Lake on the weekends. His other passions include hiking, backpacking, caving, and kayaking.