Meet Our Trip Leaders

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Ryan Oestreich

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]

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Chelsea Foster

Store Director

Although Chelsea has been diving since 2007, she has been involved in the scuba industry her entire life with her parents owning and operating SeaVentures for 31 years. After receiving her Business degree while playing collegiate volleyball, she explored her passion for working in bakeries. However, she found herself back at the family business pursuing her dive professional certifications and eventually worked her way through most of the swim, scuba, and marketing roles then into management. Since becoming a dive pro and running the Alpharetta location, she has traveled the world sharing her passion and excitement for the underwater world and visited amazing places like Bonaire where she even attended kids camp growing up each summer to Galapagos with the most advanced and incredible diving yet. She loves to teach and grow open water students into great divers and loves the opportunity to travel to new places making memories and sharing experiences with you!

Email: [email protected]

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Dan Stalder

Store Director
Independent Instructor Trainer & Service Tech

Born and raised in Nebraska, with no thoughts, dreams, or bucket lists including scuba diving or the underwater world. I became a certified Open Water Scuba Diver in August 2006. My only regret is that I did not start much earlier in my life!!  I instantly had a new passion in life, and now I am blessed to have the privilege of introducing others to the incredible world of scuba diving. I have been a Scuba Store manager since February of 2012, and am currently an SSI Instructor Trainer with the Platinum Pro 1000 recognition. When I am not diving, there is still a good chance you will find me outdoors. I enjoy motorcycles, forestry, hunting, horses, campfires, antiques, cooking, and working on my acreage.

Phone: 402.420.6338
Email: [email protected]

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Joey Lankford

Store Director
Independent Open Water Instructor & Swim Teacher

Joey is an outdoorsman, ocean addict and adrenaline junkie, but most importantly, he is an ambassador for those who like to have a good time! He is a Level 5 diver and an Open Water Instructor. His passion for the water began as a small child, and his career at Diventures allows him to share that passion with others every day.

Phone: 417.883.5151
Email: [email protected]

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Mike McCrory

Store Director
Independent Instructor Certifier

Mike is the originator of The Dive Shop II in Little Rock, AR. He took his original Open Water Diver Class when he was 11 years old. So he’s been diving around 100 years. We occasionally keep him around the store as an ornament. His knowledge of the diving industry is surpassed by few. His favorite dive to date was in the Red Sea. The trip he is most excited about is the next one!

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Randy Wright

Store Manager
Independent Instructor Certifier & Platinum Pro Diver

After some 35 years of diving Randy is truly an “old salt” in the diving industry. His favorite places to dive include Indonesia, Palau, Fiji, the oil rigs off the Louisiana coast and almost any rock quarry, river or mud hole deep enough to put his face underwater. When he’s not diving, you’ll find him making music, food, or movies with his friends and family. Randy’s wife Marcia frequently accompanies him on dive trips and the two of them make up the Cajun contingent at The Dive Shop.

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Callie Fetter

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]

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Lisa Collins

Scuba Experience Manager

Lisa is the star that shines brightest at The Dive Shop. If you need information, need something done, or just could stand a smile and some good conversation, Lisa is the person you are looking for. She always knows where it is, what it is, and what is going on. Lisa and her husband Randy travel frequently to dive with friends and customers. Her favorite places to dive include Roatan, the Phillippines and of course, the NEXT place!

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Michael Drago

Scuba Experience Manager
Independent Advanced Open Water Instructor

Drago began diving back in 2009 as an NAUI diver and in 2012 he became an Advanced Open Water Diver. Since beginning his diving career, Drago dreamed of being able to retire in Belize and run a dive shop/bed and breakfast. In September of 2019, Drago joined the SeaVentures family, and now Diventures! He completed his Open Water Instructor rating in April of 2021 and by June, became an Advanced Open Water Instructor. Currently, Drago is working on becoming an Assistant Instructor Trainer and will be starting his Assistant Instructor Trainer with SSI.

He enjoys teaching his passion to other divers and looks forward to making others excited about diving. Drago’s favorite place to dive so far is the beautiful island of Bonaire and his favorite kind of diving is a toss-up of Wreck, Deep, or Night diving! In his free time, Drago loves to go to concerts, tornado chase, listen to music, go to the shooting range, play his guitar, and be a nerd!

Email: [email protected]

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Terri Bernard

Scuba Experience Manager
Independent Instructor Trainer & Independent Classified Instructor

Terri is marking her thirteenth year with us and is a member of our full-time staff. She is an Assistant Instructor Trainer working towards Instructor Trainer and, is a recent recipient of the Platinum Pro 5000 Instructor award. She teaches classes ranging from Open Water to Assistant Instructor. Her favorite things include: time with family, spearfishing, photography, hosting outdoor activities, and that exciting text or call when a newly certified diver goes on their first dive trip. Terri’s favorite dive trip? “All of them!”

Email: [email protected]

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Barb Bakenhus

Scuba Experience Lead
Independent Instructor Trainer

Bio coming soon.

Phone: 402.420.6338

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Allen Dobson

Independent Open Water Diver Instructor
Level 7 Diver

Allen started diving in his 40s. After getting certified, he traveled the Caribbean diving the different islands and loved every minute of it. In 2018 he took the next step and became a Dive Pro. Today he is an Open Water Instructor, Level 7 Diver, trip leader, and an equipment technician. His goal is to help others experience the same love and respect for the water that he has in a safe fun way.

Email: [email protected]

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Angie Fuller

Assistant Instructor Trainer

Angie’s love for diving started with her dad, a Navy diver in Vietnam, teaching her how to snorkel in their swimming pool. After her first successful pool dive, she was hooked. She is a level 8 diver. Angie and her husband love sharing their passion for diving with others. Her favorite sea creature is the seahorse, and her latest focus has been on digital videography and capturing the action to share with others back on land.

Phone: 319.665.2741
Email: [email protected]

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Beth VanPelt

Store Director
Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

Beth knew she wanted to be a scuba diver when she was just four years old after seeing the diver down flags at her local lake growing up. As she got older, she didn’t know if it would ever be a possibility, but her life absolutely changed in 2017 when she met the owners of New Horizons Diving.  she took her first breath underwater at the pool she managed and she was absolutely hooked. Since then, she’s completed almost 300 dives, become an Open Water Instructor, and has made life-long bonds with her dive buddies. her favorite type of diving is anything involving sharks, wrecks, or caverns!

Phone: 859.277.1234
Email: [email protected]

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Bridget Anderson

Sales Associate, Lifeguarding Instructor
Independent Divemaster-In-Training

Hi, my name is Bridget and I’m a sales floor staff member, divemaster in training and lifeguard instructor here at SeaVentures!  I have lived in the Atlanta area pretty much my entire life and I am a graduate of the University of Georgia. (Go Dawgs!) I previously spent time in the legal field before making the switch to pursue my next adventure and greatest passion:  everything ocean!  My favorite places to go diving are Bonaire, Hawaii and the British Virgin Islands, just to name a few and there are so many places I still have to explore.  My other big passions include koalas, college football, and travelling the world.  I would love to share my enthusiasm for diving and all things ocean with you!

Email: [email protected]

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CJ Apel

Independent Dive Professional

CJ started diving in 1993 with Divers Paradise in Toled, OH.  He immediately fell in love with the sport and at that point, he knew this was going to be a large part of his life.  He started his pro career around 2000 and has been teaching ever since.  CJ has traveled the Great Lakes exploring wreaks, has seen soft corals in Fiji, ate his first Lionfish in Belize, dove caverns & caves in Mexico, and has snorkeled with whale sharks in Utila. As part of the Diventures Team, CJ is looking to do even more and take some students with him to enjoy the wonders of the underwater world.

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Clare McEachin

Customer Experience Specialist

Clare has worked at New Horizons/Diventures since 1993 and has loved every minute. Diving has opened up a whole new world of adventure for her. Clare believes diving is a wonderful way to make new friends and travel the world. She has been traveling to Little Cayman since the resort first opened in 1995 and it’s still one of her favorite trips.

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Claude Smith

Independent Instructor Certifier
Customer Experience Specialist

My first visit to the underwater world under SCUBA was in 1995 and I knew right away this was a special place. A few years later, I linked up with SeaVentures and was immediately welcomed into their family of divers. I took an amazing trip down to the Florida Keys back when they would go to Tavernier and dive and stay with Tropical Vista. I have been lucky enough to drive the bus on over 150 trips and have had the opportunity to not only dive with some of the most amazing people over the years but acquired some lifelong friends. This led to some unbelievable overseas trips as well including Bonaire, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Maldives, Galapagos to name just a few. During this incredible journey I have worked my way up to Instructor Trainer. One of the most incredible experiences as an instructor was when I certified my son in Key Largo. I am continuing to learn a tremendous amount from students, both recreational and professional.

Email: [email protected]

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Connor Hendricks

Scuba Experience Manager
Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

Connor started his career in the water where he earned his degree in Marine Biology. His passion for teaching scuba emerged while volunteering at his Aunt and Uncle’s dive shop. Diving since 2012, Connor has dove throughout the Midwest and Caribbean and is an Open Watter Diver Instructor. He enjoys helping new divers discover their own passion for the water.

 

Phone: 573.442.3483

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Curtis Mattson

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!

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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.

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David Hollis

Training Program Director
Independent Assistant Instructor

David’s passion for scuba started before he turned ten while doing Try Scubas with his dad. His passion for the ocean and all outdoor activities has only grown since. A progressing Dive Professional, David’s favorite place to dive (so far) is Grand Turk but he continues to explore all dive destinations.

Email: [email protected]

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Dean Hollis

Founder
Independent Advanced Open Water Diver Instructor

Dean has been diving since he was 16 and still loves it as much as when he started. Dean is a level 10 diver and teaches several specialties, including spearfishing and scuba rangers. He leads a few trips each year, usually in the Caribbean, because they are close and easy to get to and he prefers the more authentic islands. Dean founded Diventures to help as many people as possible enjoy spending time in and around the water.

Email: [email protected]

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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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Don Peterson

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]

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Don Smith

Independent Advanced Open Water Diver Instructor

Bio coming soon!

Phone: 417.883.5151
Email: [email protected]

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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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Drew Siewert

Independent Advanced Open Water Instructor

Drew took his first breath underwater eight years ago in Puerto Vallarta and was hooked. He has met the most amazing people over the years diving and has seen some crazy things underwater. Drew also found that it is even more exciting to teach new divers and see the excitement in their eyes after an amazing dive. He am a Level 8 diver and looks forward to learning more about diving and the underwater world.

Phone: 859.277.1234

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Dwain Gardner

Independent Assistant Instructor Trainer

Dwain took his first scuba class when he was 19 at the University of Missouri in Columbia. After the first day of scuba class, he knew what he wanted to do with his life. For four and a half years, Dwain helped teach a course at the University of Missouri, then continued to teach scuba and managed several dive stores before starting Capt. Nemo’s Dive Shop 36 years ago. Now, 42 years after that first scuba class, Dwain enjoys giving newcomers the same inspiring experience he had in his first lesson, teaching beginning students and helping over 2,000 divers become certified.

Phone: 573.442.3483
Email: [email protected]

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Eric Upchurch

Independent Assistant Instructor

My children and I were certified in 2016, and now I am a level 5 diver. Diving has allowed me to satisfy many desires including a passion for the ocean and its inhabitants, travel, people, gadgets, and personal development. As a dive professional, nothing excites me more than to share my passion with others. Diving has provided me with friends from all over the world, both above and below the surface.

Phone: 319.331.3738

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Erin White

New Store Integration Lead
Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

Erin was a competitive swimmer growing up and has always had a love for the water. Her background in retail and her experience as a level 5 diver makes her a valuable resource for our customers. Erin’s favorite thing to do is to help others become passionate about the underwater world.

Email: [email protected]

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Ethan Reynolds

Independent Assistant Instructor

Ethan has been diving since 2015. He is a level 6 diver and has been a dive pro for 5 years. As a former swimmer, lifeguard, swim instructor, and pool manager, Ethan has spent plenty of time on the water and is always looking for his next trip!

Phone: 859.277.1234

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Fia Blackman

Former Owner of Scuba Professionals of Arizona
Independent Open Water Diver 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.

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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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Gary Alexander

Independent Advanced Open Water Instructor

I have always had a love of the ocean and all the creatures it contains.  I can remember my first Try Scuba and knew right then that this was something I wanted to do.  I became certified in 2016 and an SSI Open Water Instructor in 2020.  I love being able to share my love of diving with those who are new to the sport and witnessing their “Aha!” moment. I love all types of diving from drift, night, wreck and have been blessed to dive in locations including the Philippines, Cozumel, and even the Maldives.  Being able to capture memories of what I see led me to underwater photography and videography. I look forward to diving with you on one of SeaVentures amazing trips or even if it’s just a dip in the pool!

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Harrison Barnfield-Jones

Independent Open Water Diver Instructor
Customer Experience Specialist

Hello, my name’s Harrison and I’m a Scubaholic. I was born and raised in Manchester, England. Manchester United is my religion and scuba diving is my game. I started scuba diving in 2019 and got addicted the moment I took my first breath under the water. Within a year I became a scuba instructor and I want to work in scuba for life, which is why I love working here.

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Hunter Winfrey

Independent Open Water Instructor Trainer
Public Safety Dive Instructor

Hunter is a VERY busy fellow who has been in Fire, EMS, and Emergency Services most of his life and has a passion for anything to do with water. Hunter was also a recipient of the SSI Platinum Pro 5000 Award which is an elite-level accomplishment. Hunter says that diving has opened many doors for him in his time here on earth with opportunities, friendships, and exposure to things most can only dream of. Hunter is married to Madeline who says “ Water got us together, and water will keep us together!” He is pretty darn good in the kitchen as well.

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James Presley

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]

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Jerod Pheonix

Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

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

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Jim Allen

Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

Jim was originally introduced to scuba diving by the British Sub Aqua Club while studying as an exchange student at the University of Surrey; England in 1983. He overheard a diver telling an adventure story and asked to join the table. They took him into the club and taught him how to dive. His first open-water dive seemed simple enough in the English Channel on a WWII wreck. Every weekend he went wherever the club was diving and eventually did all the dives required to become certified. Upon returning to the U.S, Jim joined an SSI shop in Lansing, MI and earned his Divemaster certification. After retiring from the Army Reserve, he found the time to further his professional dive career and ultimately got certified as an Instructor in 2020.

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Jim Sheets

Independent Divemaster Instructor

Jim is a level 8 diver and has been diving since 2008. He knew he loved scuba from the first moment he took a breath off a regulator and had the realization “I’m breathing and I’m underwater!” As an SSI Instructor, Jim gets to share his passion for scuba diving with anyone willing to listen to him. He loves sharing new divers’ excitement when they first realize they are breathing underwater.

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Joe Fuller

Independent Instructor Trainer

I am a level 8 diver and have been diving since 2007. I have traveled to many places to dive both in salt water and fresh water. I love to photograph the underwater world and share my experiences with others.

Phone: 319.665.2741
Email: [email protected]

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Joey Johnson

Independent Open Water Instructor

Joey’s love for the water began at an early age with rafting, swimming and exploring the rivers and oceans of the Pacific Northwest. He joined the SSI dive program through Diventures in 2018 and worked his way to a level 4 Divemaster and then Open Water Instructor. Jim enjoys helping people of all ages learn how to be comfortable in the water so that they can also experience all that the underwater world has to offer.

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John Player

Independent Instructor Trainer

In 2006, I came to SeaVentures for that year’s‘Big Event – Anniversary Sale’.  I took advantage of the free “Try Scuba” session that was offered and have been entirely & happily “hooked” on scuba ever since!  I am happiest when I am near, in, on or under water! Diventures in Alpharetta has become my second family and that family continues to grows with each and every class taught or trip taken! As for trips, I am passionate about traveling to and diving in different countries with diverse cultures!  I also love their pièce de résistance, the ever-loved & world renown trip to the Florida Keys aboard their custom passenger bus which I am privileged to drive! Come join us!!

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Katy Roberts

Assistant Controller
Independent Dive Professional

Katy was certified with her family in Beaver Lake, AR in 2002 and has been diving ever since. She adores aquatic critters great & small, but her favorites include sharks, nudibranchs, shrimps, and octopus. She’d prefer to keep her distance from remoras and titan triggerfish. Katy joined Diventures in 2010 and earned her professional rating in 2013. Her favorite part of leading trips is helping folks find itty bitty underwater friends in dive sites of all types.

Email: [email protected]

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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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Kim Sass

Former Owner of Sub-Aquatic Sports & Service

As the former owner of Sub-Aquatic Sports & Service, Kim has organized and led trips to Micronesia, Guam, Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomons, Fiji, Maldives, Red Sea, Indonesia, Galapagos, Malaysia, Cayman Islands, Grand Turk, Belize, Bahamas, Roatan, Utila, Coco Islands, St Croix, Saba, St. Eustatius, Dominica, St. Kitts, Bonaire, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, Guadalupe, St. Lucia, Florida, California’s Coronado Islands….. and her home base dive destination, the Great Lakes.

Email: [email protected]

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Lavon Land

Former Owner of New Horizons Diving

As a former owner of New Horizons Diving in Lexington, KY,  Lavon Land has enjoyed the adventure of a lifetime while diving for over 20 years!  Her travels have taken her to beautiful places and she has met extraordinary people along the way.

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Linda Maune

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]

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Marc Schnoll

Independent Open Water Instructor

Marc has always been a child of the sea. He grew up in Atlantic City, NJ, and lived two blocks from the beach and a couple houses away from the bay. Marc would spend every day at the beach or crabbing/fishing on the bay. Marc has always been fascinated by the ocean and remembers watching the undersea adventures of Jacques Cousteau as a child and always wondered what it would be like to be a scuba diver. Marc is a level 4 diver and has been diving since 2016. He became a dive professional in 2021 and loves being an ambassador for the sport and sharing his passion for the ocean.

Phone: 727-804-0551
Email: [email protected]

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Mary Stanford

Independent Advanced Open Water Diver Instructor

As a child, Mary was always near an ocean and spent much of her time swimming. She has been diving for 36 years and feels like she “can’t live without it.” Mary has been an active instructor for 28 years and loves teaching scuba. She and her husband, Dwain, have owned and operated Capt. Nemo’s Dive Shop in Columbia, Missouri, for 36 years, introduced thousands of people to scuba and conducted close to 100 escorted diving trips to the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. Her boundless energy comes from a passion for introducing new divers to the beauty of being underwater and “getting them hooked on not just getting certified, but becoming a diver.”

Phone: 573.442.3483
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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Megan Oswald

Travel Program Director
Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

Megan fell in love with the underwater world the first time she went diving and she loves helping people discover its beauty. As a level 5 diver, she appreciates her career focused on her passion for diving and the water. And she is always excited to talk about diving and traveling.

Email: [email protected]

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Melissa Langridge

Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

Melissa has always loved the water and the marine life that call it home. She became certified in 2017 and became an instructor in 2019. She loves to teach in the pool, lakes, quarries and oceans. Melissa can teach 24 specialties, so if there is a specialty anyone would like to become certified in please let us know! It makes Melissa happy to see students grow into comfortable divers. She has been fortunate to have gone diving in Belize, Bonaire, Cozumel and Hawaii to name a few.

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Michael Holley

Independent Open Water Instructor

Bio coming soon!

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Mike Goerge

Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

Mike has been diving for almost 25 years and has been an instructor for almost eight years. He has traveled to numerous dive destinations around the world. His kids have been diving since they were 12 and 15 years old, and his wife finally came aboard about five years ago. He says there is nothing better than taking a dive trip with the family!

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Nate Northup

Independent Dive Professional

Nate has enjoyed being in and around water his whole life and has been diving since 2007. As an Open Water Diver Instructor with an extensive background in teaching and coaching, the scuba classroom and pool at Diventures is a natural fit! Nate loves to introduce people to the beautiful underwater world and teach people how to be safe, comfortable divers.

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Nolan Hardison

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]

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Randy Collins

Independent Advanced Open Water Instructor

Randy, also known as “Mr. Lisa Collins”, is an Advanced Open Water Instructor. He has dived through the best of the lesser Antilles, most of the Gulf of Mexico, and with whale sharks in the Philippines. He’s known for his very simple dive plan of “I’m coming back”, and he’s most often quoted after a dive saying ” That was awesome, almost as great as my most favorite dive ever!” If you ask about that most favorite dive ever, Randy always breaks into a big smile and says ” My next one!”.

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Rick Sass

Former Owner of Sub-Aquatic Sports & Service

As the former owner of Sub-Aquatic Sports & Service, Rick and his wife Kim have organized and led trips to Micronesia, Guam, Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomons, Fiji, Maldives, Red Sea, Indonesia, Galapagos, Malaysia, Cayman Islands, Grand Turk, Belize, Bahamas, Roatan, Utila, Coco Islands, St Croix, Saba, St. Eustatius, Dominica, St. Kitts, Bonaire, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, Guadalupe, St. Lucia, Florida, California’s Coronado Islands….. and their home base dive destination, the Great Lakes.

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Rob Evenboer

Independent Open Water Diver Instructor

Rob has been a certified diver for over 25 years. He was lucky enough to have parents that were divers, so he was certified when he was 12 years old. Rob did his professional training in 2019 in Malaysia while on a year and half journey through South East Asia. Since being back, he has joined Diventures Battle Creek and found a new passion for the world-class shipwreck diving in the Great Lakes. Rob plans to continue his technical training so he can have even more diving opportunities.

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Scott McCrory

Independent Instructor Trainer
Independent Extended Range Instructor and Service Manager

Scott, a member of the full-time staff, is an Instructor Trainer and a recipient of the Platinum Pro 5000 Instructor award. He handles teaching that ranges from Open Water Diver to Instructor. He has been with us since 1989 and is all around one of the best service techs and an excellent educator.  Scott enjoys family, baseball, fishing, and reading. Among his favorite dives are the Galapagos Islands and wreck diving off the coast of the Carolina’s.

Email: [email protected]

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Steve Knickerbocker

Master Diver Trainer

Steve’s love of all things underwater started in his early years as a junior diver. Having thousands of dives logged, Steve’s happy place is teaching and sharing his love for the water with others. He spent the past two years in Puerto Rico guiding and teaching full time, and takes the responsibility of instruction very seriously. Steve wants to make sure that all students have fun learning in a safe and comfortable environment.

Phone: 215.264.8985
Email: [email protected]

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Steve Parham

Independent Advanced Open Water Instructor

Steve Parham shares a birthday with Jacques Cousteau (his childhood hero) and, so, was destined to become a scuba diver! He began scuba diving in college and has been fortunate enough to dive all over the world during the last 30 years. Steve, who is a lawyer in his outside life, started with SeaVentures as a customer and trip participant before going on to earn his Divemaster and Instructor ratings.  He is passionate about sharing the underwater world with new students and experienced divers alike. When not scuba diving, he enjoys swimming and spending time with his two teenage daughters, Becca and Merritt.

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Steve Thompson

Customer Experience Specialist
Independent Advanced Open Water Instructor

My name is Stephen Thompson and I love anything having to do with water. Growing up I spent as much time there as I could frequently hitting the beaches from Santa Monica, to Malibu, Topanga, and Zuma. It took me until 2003 visiting beautiful St Lucia with my wife, Melisa, that I finally took the plunge. I began diving with SeaVentures in 2007 going on a trip to Cozumel and experienced wonderful drift diving. The year 2009 was a big year for me; I became a professional Divemaster as well as part of the dive team for the Georgia Aquarium. In 2010 I became an Open Water Instructor so I could teach and inspire others to dive and see what so few people get a chance to see underwater.

Email: [email protected]

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Terri Broome

Independent Assistant Instructor

Terri first experienced diving in 2016 during a resort course in the Bahamas. After a second resort course in 2017 and being bit by the “dive bug” she asked for an open water certification course for Christmas. By 2018 she was certified as an Open Water Diver and has been obsessed since. She has traveled all over the globe to dive in warm waters in locations such as Bonaire and Cozumel, which happen to be her favorite spots. Terri loves sharing her passion for diving with anyone who will stand still long enough to listen.  She loves teaching scuba diving to new divers and helping them achieve their diving goals.

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Tori Motteler

Independent Open Water Instructor
Lifeguarding Instructor Trainer

I grew up in the water. I learned to swim at a young age and was on swim team from elementary school through high school both in the United States and Europe. In high school, I started lifeguarding at Fort Jackson in Columbia SC. I became an Open Water Diver in March 2013 for a college credit through Wateree Dive Center. A couple years after moving to Georgia, I hadn’t been near the water in a long time and I was itching to get back to it. I took a small step back to the water when I started at SeaVentures in August 2017 as a weekend part time swim instructor while maintaining my logistics career.

Email: [email protected]

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Travis Land

Former Owner of New Horizons Diving

As a former owner of New Horizons Diving in Lexington, KY,  Lavon Land has enjoyed the adventure of a lifetime while diving for over 20 years!  Her travels have taken her to beautiful places and she has met extraordinary people along the way.

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