~Instructor  Biographies ~

Aqua Sport Scuba Center's Instructors have a long history of teaching in Calgary. They are dedicated to providing you with the best instruction and highest safety standards for diving. Feel free to browse their biographies and contact them or the shop if you have questions.

Choose the biographies you wish to view or scroll down to browse.

Charlene Barker	The Boss		Ron Engel	Course Director
Ken Pon	Master Instructor		Al Roemer	Master Instructor
Travis Benoche	Instructor Development Course Staff		Shane Bradley	Instructor Development Course Staff
Patrick Brown-Harrison	Instructor Development Course Staff		Natalia Csomor	Instructor Development Course Staff
Darrell Cyr	Master Scuba Diver Trainer		Shane Dalager	Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Jeff Damberger	Master Scuba Diver Trainer		Calvin Duane	Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Dave Elia	Master Scuba Diver Trainer		Ron Foster	Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Wayne Gallinger	Master Scuba Diver Trainer		Glen Kwan	Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Daniel Payne	Master Scuba Diver Trainer		Carman Protz	Master Scuba Diver Trainer
David Wells	Master Scuba Diver Trainer		Terry Wong	Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Brent Arnholtz	Open Water Instructor		Joan Badock	Open Water Instructor
Mike Beaudin	Open Water Instructor		Charles Beddoe	Open Water Instructor
Dave Buxton	Open Water Instructor		Helen Chang	Open Water Instructor
Rhian Evans	Open Water Instructor		Jon Greggs	Open Water Instructor
Derek Heric	Open Water Instructor		Terry Lawson	Open Water Instructor
Tom Littlechild	Open Water Instructor		Kelly MacKenzie	Open Water Instructor
Dan Ovens	Open Water Instructor		Jim Stitt	Open Water Instructor
Barb Stitt	Open Water Instructor		Spencer Thomas	Open Water Instructor
Don Warner	Open Water Instructor		Tony Webbink	Open Water Instructor
G. John Weisbrich	Open Water Instructor		Scott Wilson	Open Water Instructor
Carl Smith	Assistant Instructor		Leianne Bouillet	Divemaster
Noel Bouillet	Divemaster		Doris Brown-Harrison	Divemaster
Greg Cureton	Divemaster		Robert Cyr	Divemaster
Karl Desjardins	Divemaster		Irma Eggenkamp	Divemaster
Bryan Florence	Divemaster		Boyd Geisler	Divemaster
Naomi Gropp	Divemaster		Richard Johnson	Divemaster
Gary Jones	Divemaster		Colan Kee	Divemaster
Kurt Kinnear	Divemaster		Derek Lee	Divemaster
Lili Levesque	Divemaster		Marc Levesque	Divemaster
Oscar Martinez	Divemaster		Connie McEgan	Divemaster
Suzanne McLeod	Divemaster		Manny Noualy	Divemaster
Tom Pollock	Divemaster		Marlin Vergo	Divemaster
Kevin Yang	Divemaster		Nathyne Barker	Divemaster Candidate
Taz Bhimji	Divemaster Candidate		Jarek Bucholc	Divemaster Candidate
Trevalyn Ffoulkes-Jones	Divemaster Candidate		Mark Heim	Divemaster Candidate
Shawn Keim	Divemaster Candidate		Tomasz Kochanowicz	Divemaster Candidate
Paul Patterson	Divemaster Candidate		Thomas Schwanke	Divemaster Candidate
Select all:

Charlene  Barker The Boss  THE BOSS - MSDT 207202   cbarker@aquasportscuba.com         BIOGRAPHY:  Charlene Barker began sport diving as a recreational endeavor in 1986 of which quickly turned into her passion. She also observed opportunities the dive industry presented and she decided to enjoy as her livelihood. In 1994 she opted as a co-partner with Aquasport, an enterprising SCUBA retail establishment in Calgary's, Marda Loop. The venture today after sixteen years is Calgary's premiere dive facility. The quality service outlet is the longest established diving retail endeavor of it's kind in the Calgary area. In 1999 Charlene became a Master Scuba Diving Trainer with the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) which also opened the gate to queries in the quickly approaching realm of technical dive exploration. Technical diving challenged both her intellectual and physical being and she pushed to be on the forefront and one of the leading women divers. She was part of an elite team of Explorers searching for WWll shipwrecks in the Approaches to Halifax Harbor and was first among a group of three to visit the wreck of the Athel Viking, 310' to the ocean bottom. The Athel Viking discovery was one of only many technical and cave diving accolades which has drawn her participation. In Canada she consistently leads west coast diving charters so others are able to enjoy the activity as she has known to love and enjoy. She is also a Factory trained service technician and is able to maintain and repair ScubaPro, Apeks, Oceanic, Mares, Aqualung, Atomic, PSI, Viking, and DUI. Charlene has many associated diving accomplishments but above all she may be prided with inspiring her children Jazmyne and Nathyne to enduring goals. Jazzie has worked diligently and competed in World class amatuer wrestling all the while maintaining above average grades at the University of Calgary while completing her communications degree. Nathyne has capitalized on the activity inherent to his family and regularly participates in the realm of Technical and Cave diving pursue a career in electrical construction. (Special thanks to Greg Mossfeldt for writing this Bio for Charlene)  COURSES TAUGHT: Advanced Open Water Diver, Divemaster, Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver

Ron  Engel Course Director  CD 201108   divingmenutz@xplornet.com           PADI Course Director EFR Instructor Trainer DAN Instructor Trainer  CONTACT:  Divingmenutz@xplornet.com (403)931-3907  HISTORY:  My first dive was in 1977 when my brothers loaned me their gear to go diving alone. I was only told 2 rules, Don't run out of air and don't come up too fast (however fast that was....who knows!) Took my PADI OW Diver course in 1983 and had all my own gear (Dry Suit, Regs, the works) Joined the Calgary Police Dive Team in 1985 & soon became the lead diver & the unit Instructor after I got my PADI Instructor rating at PADI Canada College in 1988 1993 Attended PADI Course Director Training Course in California 1993 organized the Scuba competition for the Northwest Police and Fire Games 1994 Assisted Genstar Development Corp with designing the bottom of Lake Chaparral specifically for divers and for swim competitions 1997 managed the World Police & Fire Games and had 18 Instructors and Aqua Sport helping out with the event Have worked on two film sets as a support/safety diver for ice type of films (Subaru commercial and just recently the Man vs Wild film set in Fernie BC Work part-time as a commercial diver using full face masks, 2 way comms systems and surface supplied air.  FAVORITE DIVE SITE:  Skookumchuck Narrows @ several knots of current Through the engine compartment of HMCS Saskatchewan  ON DIVING:  No matter how much you think you know about diving, there's still more to learn. That's why even after 22 years of teaching I'm still taking courses. If you think that you know it all..................You're in the wrong business!  DIVING RECOMMENDATIONS:  Check your gauges often, so you never run out of air. Keep diving to keep your skills sharp and be willing to learn  FAVORITE TYPES OF DIVES:  Cave, Wreck, Ice, Tec & Digital U/W Photo  COURSES TAUGHT: Oxygen Provider (DAN), Assistant Instructor, Altitude Diver, Advanced Open Water Instructor, Boat Diver, Cavern Diver, Course Director, Deep Diver, Digital Underwater Photography, Divemaster, Drift Diver, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Equipment , Ice Diver, Instructor Development Course Staff, Multilevel Diver, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Navigation, Night Diver, Open Water Diver, Open Water Instructor, Oxygen Provider, Underwater Photography, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Rescue Diver, Specialty Instructor, Search and Recovery Diver, Wreck Diver   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Full Cave (NACD), Search and Recovery Diver (NAUI), Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Tec Deep Diver, Cavern Diver (TDI), Enriched Air (TDI), Intro to Cavediving (TDI)

Ken  Pon Master Instructor  MI 207025   msdt207025@hotmail.com         STAFF FUNCTIONS:  AquaSport Scuba Center Webmaster  CONTACT INFO:  (403)-993-4837 --->403-99DIVER on your dialpad msdt207025@hotmail.com http://kptest01.sytes.net http://scubagiftregistry.ca   TRADEMARKS:  Large truck or van pulling a black trailer full of dive gear. (403)- 99DIVER ---> (403)- 993- 4837 (Voice/Text)  FAVOURITE DIVE:  "As long as I am underwater, it's a great dive!! I don't really have a favourite dive, but I enjoy dives that exercise my skills at plannng and executing them safely. Cave, wreck and ice diving come to mind as dives that I find are wonderful escapes from the day to day grind."  HISTORY:  Ken certified in Hawaii in 1997. This was an unplanned event to "kill a little time" during an otherwise uneventful trip. Upon returning to Calgary, he tried local diving and found that the local environment provided a great foundation to test out his Type A personality. In 1999, he became an Open Water Scuba Instructor and found that he enjoyed teaching scuba skills to new divers. It was also a guaranteed way for him to get scuba buddies after he burned out two other divers - apparently diving everyday had it's limitations for others! Since then Ken has continued his dive training into technical diving and increasing his skills at teaching the sport to others.  ON DIVING:  "Diving lets me experience the underwater world in a fashion that most people can only dream of! It is the only sport that I can continually learn new skills or apply old skills to a variety of different environments. It's all about escaping, exploring and experiencing for me!! And I get the privilge of teaching others to do the same!!"  DIVING RECOMMENDATIONS:  "Just do it!!"  DIVED LOCATIONS:  Malaysia, Taiwan, Cozumel, Hawaii(Oahu, Kona), Alberta Mountain Lakes(all that are 6' or deeper: Banff, Jasper, Edmonton, Calgary), British Columbia: West Coast(from Port Hardy down to Monterey Bay), Florida (Caves, Coastal Dives), St Lawrence river (wrecks), Montana, Texas and a bunch of others....   COURSES TAUGHT: Handicapped Buddy (HSA), Open Water Instructor (HSA), Assistant Instructor, Altitude Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Boat Diver, Deep Diver, Digital Underwater Photography, Divemaster, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Drift Diver, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Equipment , Ice Diver, Instructor Development Course Staff, Multilevel Diver, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Navigation, Night Diver, Open Water Diver, Underwater Photography, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Rescue Diver, Search and Recovery Diver, Underwater Videographer, Wreck Diver   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Cavern Diver (NACD), Full Cave (NACD), Trimix  (TDI)

Al  Roemer Master Instructor  MI 211474   aroemer@shaw.ca         ON DIVING:  I started diving in 1975 - yes, there was Scuba back then, and NO I wasn't breathing through a reed in the Nile . . . GRIN! Seven-Tenths - that's the part of the earth covered in water, and it's a world that Scuba opens up to anyone willing to enter it with respect, dive it with confidence, and leave it untouched for the next visitor. It is a joy and a priviledge to share that world with my students. "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds on in its net of wonder forever." Jacques Yves Cousteau   FAVORITE SAYING:  "I have the body of a God . . . unfortunately, it's BUDDHA!"  FAVORITE DIVE:  Any where I haven't gone diving before. . . GRIN! To Boldly Go Where No (Jolly Old Fat Man) Has Gone Before! (insert Dramatic Theme Music here). Under 2 feet of ice in Lake Minnewanka, exploring a wreck in Grenada, swimming with pre-history in the Galapagos, counting fish at the Calgary Zoo hole - it really doesn't matter!  DIVE LOCATIONS:  Alberta Lakes, British Columbia Lakes, Canada West Coast (pretty much everywhere Campbell River South to Victoria), US San Juan Islands to Port Hadlock, Us West Coast, Baja, Los Cabos, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Mayan Riviera (Coastal and Cenotes), Belize, Honduras, Bay Islands, Panama, Southern Caribbean, Northern Caribbean, Maldives, Indonesia, Vietnam, Hawaii, Cooke Islands . . . facedown in a bathtub . . . anywhere there's water . . . GRIN  COURSES TAUGHT: Adventure Diver, AED-Automatic External Defibrillator, Assistant Instructor, Altitude Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Project AWARE Specialty, Aware Coral Identification, Aware Fish Identification, Boat Diver, Deep Diver, Digital Underwater Photography, Divemaster, Drysuit Diver, Discover Local Diving, Discover Scuba, Discover Snorkelling, Diver Stress and Rescue, Enriched Air, Emergency First Responder, Master Scuba Diver, Multilevel Diver, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Navigation, Night Diver, Open Water Diver, Underwater Photography, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Rescue Diver, Scuba Diver, Specialty Diver, Try Scuba, Underwater Videographer, Wreck Diver

Travis  Benoche Instructor Development Course Staff  IDCS 210782   tbenoche@telus.net         BIOGRAPHY:  Travis never stops thinking about diving. He is a technical Trimix and deep diving instructor. He has dove in the warm waters of Honduras and Mexico to the cold waters on the B.C. Coast. His favourite type of diving is Wreck diving and Cave Diving! And on a last note he loves to teach people how to dive.  COURSES TAUGHT: Trimix  (DSAT), Assistant Instructor, Advanced Open Water Instructor, Divemaster, Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver

Shane  Bradley Instructor Development Course Staff  IDCS 209926   PADI209926@hotmail.com         WHY I DIVE:  Let me start by saying that I never expected to go so far in diving! When I decided to try diving I did it for just that - Try it. The pool session was quite fun, but it was the ocean that changed my life. The peacefulness of going under water and the bond of just me and the water leaves me in awe every time I go diving. The tranquility of being able to clear my mind is just amazing. And a added bonus is that no kids crying, cell phones ringing, etc... are bothersome - it truly is my time. Truly amazing that Scuba Diving does this. I hope that in your journey you get these same experiences.  ON DIVING:  1. Try it. Try it. Try it. Your life will be changed forever. 2. Own your own gear - once you have tried scuba diving. (Ask your PADI Professional for guidance) 3. Take care of your gear and it will take care of you. For a long time. 4. Explore! Don't ever stop learning. If you do you haven't tried.  WHY I TEACH:  #1 - I have kids. The both say that they can hardly wait to dive with me. #2 - Teaching kids Scuba Diving is such an honor. They are so open to learning. #3 - Seeing any student go from zero to Open Water Scuba Diver is extremely rewarding.  COURSES TAUGHT: Altitude Diver, Project AWARE Specialty, Deep Diver, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Emergency First Responder, Ice Diver, Instructor Development Course Staff, Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Multilevel Diver, Underwater Navigation, Open Water Instructor, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Search and Recovery Diver, Wreck Diver   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Tec Deep Diver

Patrick  Brown-Harrison Instructor Development Course Staff  IDCS 209447   msdt209447@telus.net         FAVORITE DIVE:  The last one. As long as I am underwater, it's a great dive!! This has always been a difficult question to answer. Currently my favorite type of diving is Cave, wreck and ice. I enjoy these because each dive I get to explore and develop all of my diving skills. To boldly go where few would venture to.  HISTORY:  Patrick certified in Calgary in 2000. At the time, I was a trainer for ACDelco and traveled a lot. My teaching partner said "if you get certified we can dive together when we travel - and you'll like it." Well he was right! I love diving, some (my wife) would say it's an obsession. In 2002 I certified as an Open Water Scuba Instructor. This afforded me the ability to share my love of the underwater world with others. Becoming a scuba instructor has also guaranteed me a way to get more scuba buddies. Working with others to develop their scuba skills inspired me to further my personal training into technical diving and increasing my skills at teaching the sport to others.  ON DIVING:  Diving allows me every opportunity to satisfy my desire to explore and I get to visit a part of our planet that most people can only dream of! Diving is a sport that sets people of all ages and skills on an equal playing field. I feel that I am privileged, because I get to teach others to do the same!!  DIVE RECOMMENDATIONS:  "Just do it!"  DIVED LOCATIONS:  Bahamas, Cuba, Cozumel, Dominican Republic, Grand Caymans, Turks and Caicos, Alberta Mountain Lakes (all that are 6' or deeper: Banff, Jasper, Edmonton, Calgary), British Columbia: West Coast (from Port Hardy down to Catalina Island), Okanagan, Florida (Caves, Coastal Dives).   COURSES TAUGHT: Adventure Diver, Advanced Adventurer, Altitude Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Project AWARE Specialty, Aware Coral Identification, Aware Fish Identification, Boat Diver, Cavern Diver, Deep Diver, Digital Underwater Photography, Divemaster, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Drift Diver, Drysuit Diver, Diver Stress and Rescue, Enriched Air, Emergency First Responder, Equipment , Ice Diver, Instructor Development Course Staff, Master Diver, Multilevel Diver, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Navigation, Night Diver, Open Water Diver, Underwater Photography, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Rescue Diver, Snorkeling, Search and Recovery Diver, Wreck Diver   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Full Cave

Natalia  Csomor Instructor Development Course Staff  IDCS 212415   ncsomor@telus.net         MOTTO:  The Adventure Never Ends!  CONTACT INFO:  587-999-3483 (587-999-DIVE) ncsomor@telus.net http://csomoradventures.ca http://scubagiftregistry.ca http://aquatreasurequest.com  STAFF FUNCTIONS:  As well as teaching, I am Aqua Sport's webmaster and one of those darn people who send out the shop emails, Facebook messages and Twitter tweets!  TRADEMARKS:  The ScubaFish and stickers. Yes...I have stickers for the adults too! You might not admit it, but I know you like them in your log books just as much as the kids do!  HISTORY:  I certified in 1992 on the West Coast of Vancouver Island where there is some of the best cold water diving in the world. Truthfully, I can't remember exactly why I took the course when I did, just that I always wanted to be a marine biologist, and the course was being offered by the local college. While taking my Open Water certification, the bystanders on the beach saw a pod of Orcas swim past our location. Too bad we were so concentrated on the skills we missed them! I started out a wetsuit diver and promptly got a drysuit after having to do the wet wetsuit dance after dives at least 3 times a week (you never do just one dive/day on the West Coast). Spending so much time underwater, I thought it would be fun to get my Advanced, Rescue, and subsequently my Divemaster ratings. Unfortunately, the shop I trained out of required their Divemasters to work in the shop before they could get their final signature. Working full time for the Town of Qualicum I didn't want to cut into my dive schedule to work in the dive shop so I stayed a Divemaster Candidate until the shop folded. After moving to land locked Alberta, where I didn't believe there could be divers, I finished my Divemaster, and subsequently my Instructor ratings. In recent years I have started exploring the fringes of technical diving and completed my Full Cave certification in High Springs, Florida.  FAVORITE DIVES:  Any dive where you can take your time and see all the little critters and sometimes even the big ones.  FAVORITE DEPTH:  I love the top 60 feet of the water column. That's where you see the most stuff!   MOST MEMORABLE COURSE:  I had the opportunity to experience handicapped diving while getting my HSA instructor rating. They tied our legs together, blacked out our masks all while making us do buddy breathing! You really learn how to trust your buddy and how to be a good buddy while taking this course!  COURSES TAUGHT: Adventure Diver, Assistant Instructor, Altitude Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Project AWARE Specialty, Aware Fish Identification, Boat Diver, Cavern Diver, Deep Diver, Digital Underwater Photography, Divemaster, Drift Diver, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Emergency First Responder, Equipment , Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Multilevel Diver, Underwater Navigation, Night Diver, Open Water Diver, Underwater Photography, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Rescue Diver, Scuba Diver, Specialty Diver, Snorkeling, Search and Recovery Diver, Wreck Diver   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Full Cave, Ice Diver

Darrell  Cyr Master Scuba Diver Trainer  MSDT 210399   familycyr@shaw.ca         FAVORITE DIVE DESTINATION:  I have now been diving for 20 plus years and having owned a dive travel company and traveled around the world with groups. I get asked this questions all the time. To me what is special about diving is the chance of what I'm going to see vs what I expect to see from dive reports, magazines, internet etc. The real adventure in diving is not knowing what your going to see in the lake, ocean,or river. With that said the best dive destination in the world is the one where I see what I least expected.   COURSES TAUGHT: Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air

Shane  Dalager Master Scuba Diver Trainer  MSDT 209190   msdt209190@hotmail.com

Jeff  Damberger Master Scuba Diver Trainer  MSDT 212354   msdt212354@gmail.com         NICKNAME:  Jeff  HISTORY:  I was originally certified in Eluthra, Bahamas in 1995 and was a warm water diver for many years. A couple of years ago I discovered that you could dive in cold water and I became hooked. Since then I have logged hundreds of dives and can't wait until the next.  FAVORITE DIVING:  Wreck and cave, and anything needed to let me explore more of those.  COURSES TAUGHT: Altitude Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Aware Coral Identification, Aware Fish Identification, Boat Diver, Cavern Diver, Deep Diver, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Ice Diver, Master Scuba Diver, Underwater Navigation, Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, Wreck Diver   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Full Cave (IANTD), Full Cave (NSSCDS), Tec Deep Diver, Trimix

Calvin  Duane Master Scuba Diver Trainer  MSDT 000000   calduane@telus.net         MOTTO:  The second most important rule in diving is to have fun!   TRADEMARK:  Moving wery, wery slowly underwater  FAVORITE DIVE:  Browning Wall! Or maybe Snowfall, or then again, Dillon Rock. Any diving on the West Coast of B.C. and especially the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Actually, any dive is better than a good day at work.  HISTORY:  Cal started diving in 1998 to overcome a fear of water. From the moment he took his first breath underwater he was totally hooked! In 2001, Cal became a Divemaster and then an Assistant Instructor. In 2002 he became an Instructor and in 2005 a Master Scuba Diving Instructor.  ON DIVING:  Diving is my passion and I've also trained for Tec Rec deep, full cave and trimix diving to expand my opportunities and my skills. I teach for the joy of seeing students experience what I do in the underwater world. My newest passion is underwater digital photography.  COURSES TAUGHT: Altitude Diver, Deep Diver, Drysuit Diver, Ice Diver, Multilevel Diver, Underwater Navigation, Night Diver

Dave  Elia Master Scuba Diver Trainer  MSDT 212194   scuba_dave@shaw.ca         DAVE "SCOOBS" ELIA:  In 2004 Dave blew his first bubbles in Edmonton in NAIT's pool. from then on he knew that this was going to be the sport for him. On his first open water dive in Victoria he saw a Lion's mane jelly fish with a 22 inch bell and the beauty and grace of these animals created a true passion for the sport. Shortly after obtaining his Advanced open water diver certification Dave got the opportunity to travel throughout Australia hopping down the East coast from dive boat to dive boat doing odd jobs for free diving. Even after 6 months on the great barrier reef Dave still prefers the cold water dives on the West coast.  FAVORITE DIVE:  Diving reef balls off of Ogden Point that were set out 3 hours prior to the dive. This was after weeks of planning and setting 92 reef balls, each one weighing 450 pounds. Dave and Valerie Muccarelli were the first people to dive this man-made reef.  COURSES TAUGHT: Altitude Diver, Boat Diver, Deep Diver, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Ice Diver, Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Navigation, Night Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy

Ron  Foster Master Scuba Diver Trainer  MSDT 208786   ronnyroadtrip@shaw.ca         FAVORITE DIVE:  I would have to say Cuba, Bahia de Cochinos, ( the Bay of Pigs ) It has it all, caves, wrecks, shallow reefs and deep walls. The Mayan Riviera, is a close second.  FAVORITE TYPE OF DIVING:  That's a tough one, since I enjoy every dive, I love Wreck Diving for the adventure, Cave Diving for the most beautiful scenery you ever experience, let alone the thrill. Ice Diving is really cool... sorry for the pun. But I think Night Diving, because everything is so brilliantly coloured and it all comes out at night and you can experience to some degree all of the above at night.  HISTORY:  I started diving in 1969 at the age of 15, with the Alberta Scuba Divers Council, but back then had to wait until I was 16 to be certified. I do get ribbed about my first job as a Divemaster on a boat called the "ARC" with some guy named "Noah". After 40 years and thousands of dives I still get excited about the thought of getting underwater, no matter what or where the dive may be.   ON DIVING:  I get to experience what I consider so many of the most incredible times of my life with my friends old and new. All doing things together we all share a common bond for. If you measure a day as 8 hrs. I have spent close to two years under water and have never had a bad dive, I guess I have been truly blessed that way. "So Dive Safe, Remember take only Pictures, Leave only Bubbles. See you on the Bottom." Ron  COURSES TAUGHT: Advanced Oxygen Provider (DAN), AED-Automatic External Defibrillator (DAN), Hazardous Marine Life Injuries (DAN), Oxygen Provider (DAN), Altitude Diver, Advanced Open Water Instructor, Project AWARE Specialty, Aware Coral Identification, Boat Diver, Deep Diver, Digital Underwater Photography, Divemaster, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Emergency First Responder, Equipment , Ice Diver, Master Scuba Diver, Underwater Navigation, Night Diver, Open Water Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Rescue Diver, Search and Recovery Diver, Wreck Diver   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Tec Deep Diver (DSAT), Full Cave (NACD), Cavern Diver

Wayne  Gallinger Master Scuba Diver Trainer  MSDT 211287

Glen  Kwan Master Scuba Diver Trainer  MSDT    glenkwan@hotmail.com         DIVE IN!:  "There's no substitute for being in the water" Please visit me at my website www.calgarysidemount.com  COURSES TAUGHT: Altitude Diver, Advanced Open Water Instructor, Cavern Diver, Deep Diver, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Ice Diver, Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Underwater Navigation, Night Diver, Open Water Instructor, Peak Performance Buoyancy   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Tec Deep Diver (DSAT), Full Cave (NSSCDS)

Daniel  Payne Master Scuba Diver Trainer  MSDT 240694   danp@aquasportscuba.com         ABOUT ME:  I began diving in 2007, like most people I was heading on vacation to a nice sunny warm destination and thought that it would be fun to do a few dives while I was there. However I wasn't going to have time to do my openwater course in the nice warm weather so I decided to do my open water dives on the west coast of BC. I did my 4 open water dives in my dry suit and never looked back. My favorite type of diving is Ice or Wreck because the overhead environment adds a unique challenge but I'm happy any time I can get wet.  COURSES TAUGHT: Deep Diver, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Ice Diver

Carman  Protz Master Scuba Diver Trainer  MSDT 208787   cprotz@shaw.ca         TRADEMARK:  Video camera glued to the right eye  FAVORITE DIVE:  Anything underwater! Warm or cold as long as I have either a still or video camera in my hands I'm a happy guy! My favourite place so far has been the Similan Islands off the coast of Thailand. Wonderful !!! And closer to home: Vancouver Island! Best diving around. Challenging and exciting to see what is right at our door step!  HISTORY:  Certified as diver in Mexico 1991 - haven't looked back since.  ON DIVING:  Diving is the closest you can get to being an explorer of a new land or planet for that matter. The adventurer in everyone is stirred when you tell them something that you've seen that is so unbelievable that their curiousity can't stop them from asking you more and more questions. This intoxication becomes their drive to try it and want to see it for themselves - the ahh.. that was told to them. It's an awesome feeling to help someone get to their dreams that way.  COURSES TAUGHT: Altitude Diver, Project AWARE Specialty, Boat Diver, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Emergency First Responder, Equipment , Multilevel Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Videographer

David  Wells Master Scuba Diver Trainer  MSDT 250432   david_wells@lincsat.com         HISTORY:  I originally certified in Hawaii in 1997 and dove only occasionally for the next few years, while on warm vacations. It was not until the summer of 2005 when passing through Banff and seeing divers in Minnewanka that I realized that one could dive locally. I immediately signed up for my Advanced Open Water and discovered the wonders of dry suit diving. With my family starting to dive as well, I took additional courses so that I could more ably support them while we were diving. I took a Rescue course, then the Divemaster program, and in 2010 I became an Open Water Instructor.   MOST MEMORABLE DIVES:  I have been lucky enough to dive in some amazing places: floating weightless in the electric blue in the deep ocean off of Belize, hovering over giant clams in the Philippines, diving through the green under the ice of Minnewanka.  ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Advanced Open Water Diver, Deep Diver, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Emergency First Responder, Equipment , Ice Diver, Master Scuba Diver, Night Diver, Open Water Diver, Oxygen Provider, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Rescue Diver, Wreck Diver, Discover Tec Program (TDI)

Terry  Wong Master Scuba Diver Trainer  MSDT 251941   tww.calgary@yahoo.ca         THE HUBBUB ON DIVING:  The wife and I were chronic "antiquers". We would spend all our time at flea markets and old antique shops looking for that cool, neat piece. We played hooky from work. We neglected our kids activities. We even planned our family vactions around antiquing! Then I dicovered Scuba Diving and my antiquing disappeared! Be a cool kid... go places, meet people, have fun underwater!!!   HISTORY:  For years I listened to the colorful scuba adventures of a close friend and collegue. So in 2007, I decided to see what all the hubbub was about and headed down to ASSC to sign up for a class and pool. There I met a couple of cool instructors whose infectious love of diving lead me down the path of becoming an instructor myself in 2009. I have not looked back since! Their spirited enthusiasm is what motivates me in my professional diving career and in my personal diving experience. My eyes are wide open and now I see what drives those great dive stories my buddy was always bragging about!   FAVORITE DIVE:  Cave diving has become one of my greatest passions. I was very thrilled to become a full certified cave diver with The National Association for Cave Diving in 2009 and I have explored dozens of cave systems (called Cenotes) in the Riviera Maya of Mexico. My favorite dive is a Cenote called Tux Kapaxa or "The Mastadon Cave" appropriately named after its signature feature, fossilized Mastadon bones! There is also evidence of ancient fire pits from cave men which leads you to imagine these bones were reminents of a great barbeque! What fascinated me most about this system are the endless passageways and chambers decorated with beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations.  COURSES TAUGHT: Cavern Diver, Deep Diver, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Wreck Diver

Brent  Arnholtz Open Water Instructor  OWSI 211286   barnholtz@shaw.ca         NICKNAME:  Barney  FAVORITE DIVE:  Cold water diving preferably in a deep dark wreck on the West Coast!! My best marine encounters so far: * West Coast: Finding four (4) wolf eels on a dive and hand feeding one of them!! * Mexico: Swimming with a 30'+ whale shark.   HISTORY:  Brent was certified in November 2004 and has never looked back. Diving has become an addiction and he continually wants more! Besides becoming an instructor to create more dive buddies, Brent has taken up technical diving so that he can visit deeper wreck sites.  ON DIVING:  I'll never have enough dives! I feel like a junkie, I've got to have more! Diving holds my interest due to the fact that I am able to constantly learn something new, and refine the skills that I have already acquired. When you're underwater, you can't help but to relax!  DIVE RECOMMENDATIONS:  The West Coast for sure! It's close, very reasonably priced, there are a variety of dive sites, and an abundance of marine life!  COURSES TAUGHT: Deep Diver, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Ice Diver, Wreck Diver

Joan  Badock Open Water Instructor  OWSI    jbadock@hotmail.com         ON DIVING:  If one dives and returns to the surface inarticulate with amazement and with a deep realization of the marvel of what he has seen and where he has been, then he deserves to go again and again. If he is unmoved or disappointed, then there remains for him on earth only a longer or shorter period of waiting for death; there can be little worth while left in life for him." William Beebe, 'Half Mile Down', 1938   ABOUT ME:  I LOVE SCUBA DIVING. Anywhere, anytime, with anyone, I'm always up for a dive. I started my Open Water as a favour to a friend who wanted to try diving. I loved it more than I ever imagined, and haven't looked back since. I was originally certified in 2009, completed my Divemaster in 2010, and became an instructor in 2011.   COURSES TAUGHT: Discover Local Diving, Discover Snorkelling, Emergency First Responder, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Scuba Refresher   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Equipment , Underwater Navigation

Mike  Beaudin Open Water Instructor  OWSI 000000

Charles  Beddoe Open Water Instructor  OWSI 000000   charlesbeddoe@hotmail.com

Dave  Buxton Open Water Instructor  OWSI 201250   scubuck@shaw.ca         HISTORY:  35 years diving and to many lost log books. Built Aquasport in 1990. Certified in chamber operations and hyperbaric medicine.  ON DIVING:  The best place to be is in the water. All the terrestrial issues are gone when I'm there.  BEST DIVES:  Wreck: The Saskatchewan the day after it sank Deep: White Ladies in Brentwood Bay Night: Gabriola Pass Drift: Strong Tide Island Wall: Browning Wall (at night is best) Tropical: Great Barrier Reef

Helen  Chang Open Water Instructor  OWSI 278327   hchang@spemail.org         ABOUT ME:  I was certified in 1998 in a drysuit, but quickly moved to the occasional dive trip to the warm waters of the Caribbean. In 2009, I returned to cold water diving and took the plunge to get my Rescue Diver certification followed by my Divemaster in 2010. As a Divemaster, I discovered how much I enjoyed sharing my passion of diving with others and became an Open Water Scuba Instructor in 2011.  FAVOURITE DIVE:  Any dive with sea critters ... fish, eels, dolphins, sharks!  SPECIALTIES:  Deep, Dry Suit, Altitude, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Enriched Air, Equipment  COURSES TAUGHT: Advanced Open Water Diver, Divemaster, Emergency First Responder, Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver

Rhian  Evans Open Water Instructor  OWSI 263729   evansrhianm@gmail.com         HISTORY:  I've wanted to dive since I was a kid and used to stomp around the house wearing my Dad's mask fins and snorkel, refusing to talk to anyone for hours because I was "underwater"... needless to say my parents encouraged this slightly odd activity! I finally got certified on a trip to Western Australia in 2001. I had images in my head of tropical fish and clear water and wound up in a chilly, muddy estuary, and loved it regardless! I only managed the occasional dive until I moved to Calgary in 2005. A friend introduced me to the local diving, and I've not looked back!   PLACES DIVED:  Western Australia, Egypt, Tahiti, Indonesia, Mexico, Vancouver Island, Cayman Islands.   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Equipment , Ice Diver, Wreck Diver, Intro to Cavediving (TDI)

Jon  Greggs Open Water Instructor  OWSI 208623   jgreggs@ucalgary.ca         MOTTO:  Haud pumpkin quoque magnus ("No pumpkin too big")  FAVORITE DIVE:  Anything sunk intentionally (or not). Top 3 so far: HMS Endymion (1779) 44-gun frigate, wrecked near Salt Key, Turks and Caicos Islands 1790; George A. Marsh (http://www.saveontarioshipwrecks.on.ca/Diverguides/dguide9.html), sunk 1917, Lake Ontario HMCS Columbia (http://www.artificialreef.bc.ca/OurReefs/index.htm), sunk near Campbell River, BC.  HISTORY:  None. Seems to wander in and out randomly.  SPECIALTIES:  A mittful of C-cards - ask!

Derek  Heric Open Water Instructor  OWSI 000000

Terry  Lawson Open Water Instructor  OWSI 000000

Tom  Littlechild Open Water Instructor  OWSI 000000   Tomlc@snes.ca or Firec64@yahoo.ca or FC64@hotmail.com       COURSES TAUGHT: Open Water Diver

Kelly  MacKenzie Open Water Instructor  OWSI 212141   k_r.mackenzie@telus.net         KELLY:  I started diving in 1987, First dives were in Maui, crystal clear water, beautiful marine life, I was hooked. My serious diving started in 2005 when I had teaching in mind. In 2008 I started instructing and I enjoy seeing the difference in beginner students from Friday nights, scared and unsure, to Sunday afternoon, confident and diving like fish. Awesome!! Favorite diving spots are anywhere there is water, but I think the best I have tried is the not so popular Philippines, because the marine life is still growing and untouched and unspoiled.  ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Altitude Diver, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Ice Diver, Underwater Naturalist, Night Diver

Dan  Ovens Open Water Instructor  OWSI 210597

Jim  Stitt Open Water Instructor  OWSI 000000

Barb  Stitt Open Water Instructor  OWSI 000000

Spencer  Thomas Open Water Instructor  OWSI 000000

Don  Warner Open Water Instructor  OWSI    donwarner59@gmail.com         LIVE LIFE NO REGRETS:  I was certified in Calgary in 2006 and was so tied up with work ( I'm a Realtor in Calgary ) that I didn't do any diving till Summer of 2009. Took my advanced open water and dry suit specialties. Then I took 2 trips that year to the Bahamas and Cozumel. How can you spell HOOKED. What a wonderful new world and I am now hooked on Diving. I got back from my Cozumel trip in late Nov. and called Charlene at Aquasport and told her to put me on the list for Divemaster. In 2010 I have done nothing but diving, Dive courses and work. I recently became a Divemaster and absolutely love helping others discover the diving world. I love it so much that I am enrolled in the Instructor developement course and will complete this late in 2010. Yahoo I did it. I am now an Open Water Scuba Instructor and will be teaching Open water classes till my departure for warm waters and hot weather where I will continue to teach Scuba. A word of advice is JUST DO IT. You will have no regrets. The local diving is great and warm water diving to me is even better.  COURSES TAUGHT: Advanced Open Water Diver, Discover Scuba, Open Water Diver   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Underwater Navigation, Rescue Diver

Tony  Webbink Open Water Instructor  OWSI 203607   t4hitch@telus.net

G. John  Weisbrich Open Water Instructor  OWSI 211574   john@sultansofscuba.com       COURSES TAUGHT: Open Water Instructor

Scott  Wilson Open Water Instructor  OWSI 000000

Carl  Smith Assistant Instructor  AI    carlos99_smith@hotmail.com         ALBERTA DIVER:  I love diving in Alberta and became certified here when I was 14. I feel at home diving in our mountain lakes where it is deep, dark, and cold. I enjoy diving the most when I am with my friends from the AUC and Underwater Outlaws. My favorite dive activity is night diving and navigation. One day I want to travel to Norway and dive a fjord.  ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Ice Diver, Enriched Air (TDI), Wreck Diver (TDI)

Leianne  Bouillet Divemaster  DM

Noel  Bouillet Divemaster  DM    scubadiver@shaw.ca

Doris  Brown-Harrison Divemaster  DM 212155   gremlin@techie.com         FAVORITE DIVE:  The last one. There is always something interesting, new, or positive you can take out of every dive - even if it is just an opportunity to practice and improve skills.  HISTORY:  I did a discover scuba on the Great Barrier Reef in 2002 and was instantly hooked. I got my Open Water certification when I came back to Calgary in June. I spent a few years collecting certifications and improving my diving skills, then got my Master Scuba Diver rating in 2004. In 2007 I took the plunge and became a Divemaster.  ON DIVING:  Diving gives me the opportunity to see a small part of the almost 75% of the earth that is covered by water. I get to explore fascinating and beautiful landscapes and interact with amazing animals. At the same time that the dives are exciting, the quiet and feeling of weightlessness affords me a feeling of peace and serenity. And my favorite part is sharing the adventure with a buddy!  DIVING RECOMMENDATIONS:  Practice your skills. Better skills allow you to be more comfortable and consequently to enjoy your dives more. Dive in as many different environments as you are comfortable in. The variety available to you is astounding.  DIVED LOCATIONS:  Bahamas, Cuba, Cozumel, Dominican Republic, Grand Caymans, Turks and Caicos, Alberta Mountain Lakes (Banff, Jasper, Edmonton, Calgary), West Coast (from Port Hardy down to Catalina Island), Vancouver Island (Quadra Island, Thetis Island, Tofino), Okanagan, Florida (Caves, Coastal Dives), Australia (Great Barrier Reef, Port Phillip Bay)   COURSES TAUGHT: Emergency First Responder   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Cavern Diver (IANTD), Cavern Diver (NSSCDS), Altitude Diver, Boat Diver, Cavern Diver, Deep Diver, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Equipment , Ice Diver, Night Diver, Wreck Diver

Greg  Cureton Divemaster  DM 281075   5duck@telus.net       ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Advanced Open Water Diver, Enriched Air, Ice Diver, Night Diver, Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, Wreck Diver

Robert  Cyr Divemaster  DM 270470   bobbricole@hotmail.com         BIOGRAPHY:  I was born in Montreal and started diving in 2007 on the Island of Saint-Martin, in the Caribbean. I was working there as a carpenter. I had two things to do on the Island during the weekends; mountain biking or scuba diving. I bought a bike to reach the dive facility and I started diving. I was doing the two best things on the Island. After the Caribbean, I came to Calgary. Before I moved here, I checked to see if Calgary had dive facilities and dive sites. I found ASSC and Banff, one of the best dive site in Alberta. I said: Hourrah, I`m moving to Calgary! Since then I have never stopped diving and have become a Dive Master.  ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Tec Deep Diver (DSAT), Deep Diver, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Emergency First Responder, Equipment , Ice Diver, Master Scuba Diver, Oxygen Provider, Rescue Diver, Wreck Diver

Karl  Desjardins Divemaster  DM 261 775   k.desjardins@shaw.ca         HISTORY:  I got certified in 1995 at Aqua Sport Scuba Centre. Wasn't very active in diving until 2005, when I met a few active divers and started talking with them. Got involved in diving by taking a refresher course and an Advanced Open Water Course, been hooked in diving ever since. I have taken almost every course provided in PADI's recreational diving.  CERTS:  OW, AOW, Deep, Wreck, Dry Suit, Ice, PPB, DPV, Fish Id, S&R, Night, Altitude, Dan O2, Nav, Nitrox, Equipment,Rescue, Master Scuba diver, Dive Master.  FAVORITE DIVES:  So far all of them, everything from low vis dives to fast current and rough sea dives. Also when working and assisting my instructor buddies with their students on any dive courses, especially Open Water courses, Ice and Rescue courses. Since I enjoy the rescue courses so much, I consider myself as a professional victim just for rescue courses. Where else could you go for a dive, then surface and get rescued or towed back to shore, and be able to do that repeatedly? "Ah" that is just so relaxing!  ON DIVING:  I enjoy exploring; I find I appreciate the dive more by knowing some of the history of the dive site and the surrounding area. I also like to take photos and videos of the dives.   DIVED LOCATIONS:  Turks and Caicos, Belize, Cozumel, Portugal, Vancouver Island and, Interior of BC, and Mountain lakes of AB.

Irma  Eggenkamp Divemaster  DM    Irma.Eggenkamp@gmail.com         BIOGRAPHY:  I started diving in 1996 with BSAC when I lived in Lowestoft on England's east coast. The club I joined had it's own boat and each year we went on a trip somewhere in the UK. The main purpose of these trips was wreck diving and they have plenty of those overthere. I moved back to the Netherlands in 2000 and continued my dive education with the NOB, the Dutch organisation under CMAS. With the club there we went diving in local lakes and occasionally a little further to the coast or to Germany or Denmark. In 2005 I moved to Calgary. I had already experienced West Coast diving before that and enjoy going there when I can. Since I came to Canada, I'm enjoying exploring the local lakes and river. Beside diving in cold water, I also occasionally go to nice warm places.   BEST DIVE:  Each dive and each environment has it's own charm. As long as it's underwater I'm happy.  DIVED LOCATIONS:  Fresh water: England, The Netherlands, Germany, Canada. Salt water: England (south and east coast), Scotland (west coast and Scapa Flow), The Netherlands, Denmark, Canada (west coast), Red Sea, Galapagos, Indonesia (Wakatobi), Australia (west coast), Phillipines.  ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Enriched Air, Ice Diver, Underwater Photography

Bryan  Florence Divemaster  DM 212353   Bryan.Florence@shaw.ca       ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Advanced Open Water Diver, Drysuit Diver, Emergency First Responder, Equipment , Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, Wreck Diver, Cavern Diver (TDI), Enriched Air (TDI)

Boyd  Geisler Divemaster  DM    bgeisler@shaw.ca         AGAIN!:  Once was all it took, and the rest was time, training, and cash! I took my Open Water training in March 2008, and completed it in Mexico. For me it was two things: underwater wildlife & the feeling of being weightless. I've since discovered friendship, and a group of incredible instructors & mentors. They all share a love of this sport, but teach a deep respect for professional dive behaviour. Next is certifying as a PADI Dive Master. For me, this is a great opportunity to mentor our future, new divers. So, may the adventure, and camaraderie never end. Of course, Nat's lake side cake, and BBQ smokies are a big plus!   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Deep Diver, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Underwater Navigation, Night Diver, Rescue Diver

Naomi  Gropp Divemaster  DM    ncg743@mail.usask.ca         HISTORY::  During the summer of 1998 my sister came home from work and asked if I would be interested in taking a scuba course with her and a few friends. There wasn't a doubt in my mind as I grinned and said "OF COURSE!!" she knew the question really didn't need to be asked! :) When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would frequently reply 'A mermaid'. Short of surgery, diving is the closest I have found ;) Strange as it is, a small town farm girl from the Saskatchewan desert, I found myself loving water and enjoying my first open water dive in Diefenbaker Lake. I was thrilled that I saw crayfish and got away unscathed from the famous 200+ lb and 9' prehistoric looking sturgeon which can apparently be found in the reservoir... Since then I have dove with sharks and frolicked with Sea Lions while still remembering that nervous feeling and hoping I wouldn't turn and see a sturgeon on my first dive in the crystal clear waters in southern Saskatchewan! ;)  FAVORITE TYPES OF DIVES::  Wreck, UW Photography for the huge as well as the itty bitty, and don't forget a game of hockey on the wrong side of the ice! Really a favorite dive is just anywhere I can get my head underwater.  FAVORITE LOCATION::  The West Coast of Canada (Port Hardy/ Port McNeil)  LOCATIONS DOVE SO FAR::  Canada: All over Saskatchewan and Alberta, inland BC as well as along the West Coast; Cairns and Melbourne Australia; New Zealand; Akumal and Dos Ojos in Mexico; Freeport to Bimini and back in the Bahamas; Punta Cana Dominican Republic; Varadero and Bay of Pigs in Cuba.

Richard  Johnson Divemaster  DM

Gary  Jones Divemaster  DM 211178   gary.jones@shaw.ca         BIOGRAPHY:  Originally certified in 1985 on Grand Turk Island in what was then called the British West Indies. My first dives after getting my Open Water Certification were in the northern Great Barrier Reef off Townsville the very next year. I had no idea how lucky I was and I was spoiled. Returning to Calgary from my travels I found it hard to get excited about local diving. Life got busy and without even noticing, my budding dive career got put on ice. 14 years went by and I had only added 8 dives to my logbook! Then one day while in Isla Cozumel for a friends wedding I wandered into a beachfront dive shop, took a refresher course and realized how much I missed diving. By the end of the wedding trip I had fallen back in love with diving and vowed not to lose it again. After a couple of years of dive holidays I finally enrolled in an Advanced Open Water course in 2001 at AquaSport. Other courses soon followed as I sought to expand my knowledge, improve my dive skills and get involved in the local diving scene. Today, it doesn't matter what the dive conditions are like as I now have the knowledge, skills and equipment to let me enjoy the dive or confidently take a pass.   MEMORABLE DIVES:  Wall - Caicos Trench, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands Drift - Yucabe Wall, Isla Cozumel, Mexico Wall/Drift - Copper Cliffs, Quadra Island, BC Geography - El Bells & The Blue Hole, Dehab, Red Sea, Egypt Reef - John Brewer Reef, Townsville, Australia Hard Corals - Breakfast Bend, Island #9, Similan Islands, Thailand Big Animals - Silverado, Cocos Island, Costa Rica Deep - The Blue Hole, Lighthouse Reef, Belize Night - Pelagic Magic Black Water, Kona, Hawaii Wreck - HMS Rhone, Salt Island, British Virgin Islands   DIVE RECOMMENDATIONS:  Set goals and then take the appropriate steps to attain them. That may mean buying gear, taking courses, acquiring new skills and of course racking up bottom time. Learning can come in many different forms. Embrace them all and you will find whole new worlds for you to experience. When traveling, be it for business, family or pleasure if you are keen and have the appropriate skill set, you will find that you can dive anywhere you go. It might be a local river, a flooded mine shaft, an aquarium or maybe just a farmers slough but you will be able to dive. Do a little research, plan ahead and have fun.   LIFE MOTTO:  The day you stop learning is the day you get old!   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Altitude Diver, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Equipment , Ice Diver, Master Scuba Diver, Multilevel Diver, Oxygen Provider, Wreck Diver

Colan  Kee Divemaster  DM 000000

Kurt  Kinnear Divemaster  DM 000000

Derek  Lee Divemaster  DM 000000

Lili  Levesque Divemaster  DM 284590   Lili@2Dive4.ca         ON DIVING:  In March 2009, my husband Marc (also a DM at ASSC) and I were on vacation in Cabo San Lucas for 2 weeks and stumbled on a SCUBA demo session in the hotel pool. We thought, 'why not'? and were immediately hooked. We left Cabo with our Open Water certification and our Advanced Open Water certification. As soon as we got home we realized we needed specialties so we could dive locally in cold water, and the rest is history.  FAVORITE DIVE:  The next one.  DIVE LOCATIONS:  Mexico: Cabo San Lucas, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel, Tulum (cenotes); British Columbia: Victoria, Nanaimo (HMCS Saskatchewan), Fintry; San Diego, CA (HMCS Yukon); Bahamas, Bonaire, Fiji, Yap, Palau.  COURSES TAUGHT:  Discover Local Diving, Scuba Review  ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES:  Dry Suit Diver, Enriched Air Diver, Wreck Diver, Night Diver, Altitude Diver, Deep Diver, Drift Diver, Ice Diver, Equipment Specialist, Rescue Diver, Master Scuba Diver, Digital Underwater Photographer.

Marc  Levesque Divemaster  DM 284591   marc@2dive4.ca         ON DIVING:  Since completing my Open Water and Advanced Open Water certifications in Cabo San Lucas in March 2009 with my wife Lili (also a DM at ASSC), diving has become a passion. We look forward to diving the world one dive site at a time.  FAVORITE DIVE:  All my dives are my favorite dives.  DIVE LOCATIONS:  Mexico: Cabo San Lucas, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel, Tulum (cenotes); British Columbia: Victoria, Nanaimo (HMCS Saskatchewan), Fintry; San Diego, CA; Bahamas, Bonaire, Fiji, Yap, Palau.  COURSES TAUGHT:  Discover Local Diving, Scuba Review  ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES:  Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air Diver, Wreck Diver, Night Diver, Altitude Diver, Deep Diver, Drift Diver, Ice Diver, Equipment Specialist, Rescue Diver, Master Scuba Diver, Digital Underwater Photographer.

Oscar  Martinez Divemaster  DM 277705   muyuk@hotmail.com         DIVE ON!:  After my first breath underwater, an immediate love affair started... I have had the oportunity to dive in some incredible places and I have to say that each dive has its own beauty. Down there all you have to do is relax and enjoy all the life and the scenery... Down there its my ZEN ZONE....  SPECIALTIES:  Drysuit, Enriched Air, Rescue Diver  DIVE PLACES:  Puerto Vallarta, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Belize, Bahamas, Vancouver.  MOTTO::  Live... Love.... and Dive!!  DIVING SPIRIT::  Kill only time... Take only photos... Leave only bubbles...

Connie  McEgan Divemaster  DM 274462   conniemcegan@gmail.com         HISTORY:  I did my Open Water in Portugal in 2006, and was instantly hooked! I love the different things that I see underwater, and the feeling of weightlessness underwater is very peaceful and relaxing. Considering that I don't like being cold, my friends find it hard to believe that I dive the local mountain lakes almost every weekend, and even Ice Dive every winter. After a few years and almost two hundred dives, I decided to go for my Divemaster, which I completed in early 2010.  ON DIVING:  My goal is to dive every place that I possibly can as I travel on vacations. No vacation is complete unless I've had a chance to explore underwater!  DIVED LOCATIONS:  Lots of dives in the local mountain lakes practicing skills and working with students (Lake Minnewanka, Two Jack, Forgetmenot Pond); Waterton; Portugal; Vancouver Island; Thetis Island (just off of Vancouver Island); interior of BC lakes; Turks & Caicos; US Virgin Islands (St. John, St. Croix); Belize; Cozumel; Puerto Vallarta; Cabo  FAVOURITE DIVE:  The next one :)  ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Advanced Open Water Diver, Deep Diver, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Emergency First Responder, Equipment , Ice Diver, Master Scuba Diver, Night Diver, Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, Wreck Diver

Suzanne  McLeod Divemaster  DM 212502   anishinabeikwe@hotmail.com

Manny  Noualy Divemaster  DM

Tom  Pollock Divemaster  DM 211569   tpollock@shaw.ca         HISTORY:  I was certified locally in 2001 after getting a Pool/Class course as a Christmas present. However, the diving bug really didn't bite me until after I did my first saltwater dive on the west coast of BC. In 2006, I was certified as a Divemaster and have been assisting with new students in the pool all the way to the Rescue course ever since.  ON DIVING:  Diving has gotten me out to places and doing things I never would have before. Like diving 100 year old wrecks on the west coast to carving a pumpkin underwater every Halloween in the annual contest. I've made new friends locally and abroad as well.  FAVORITE DIVE:  Too many to list....but here are a few Punta Sur (Devil's Throat) - Cozumel, Mexico Browning Wall - Port Hardy, BC Mermaid Cove - Saltry Bay, BC Willis Point - Saanich Inlet, BC  ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Altitude Diver, Boat Diver, Drift Diver, Drysuit Diver, Enriched Air, Equipment , Ice Diver, Master Scuba Diver, Night Diver

Marlin  Vergo Divemaster  DM 211630   mvergo@telusplanet.net         FAVORITE DEPTH:  My favorite depth is between 10' and 30'. It is perfect for picture taking and you find more creatures in the shallows than you do at any other depth.  COURSES TAUGHT: Discover Local Diving, Discover Scuba, Discover Snorkelling, Scuba Refresher, Snorkeling   ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Oxygen Provider (DAN), Deep Diver, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Enriched Air, Gas Blender, Ice Diver, Rescue Diver, Trimix  (TDI)

Kevin  Yang Divemaster  DM

Nathyne  Barker Divemaster Candidate  DMC 000000

Taz  Bhimji Divemaster Candidate  DMC 000000

Jarek  Bucholc Divemaster Candidate  DMC

Trevalyn  Ffoulkes-Jones Divemaster Candidate  DMC 000000

Mark  Heim Divemaster Candidate  DMC 000000

Shawn  Keim Divemaster Candidate  DMC    shawnrkeim@gmail.com         NICKNAME:  Shooter  FAVORITE DIVE SAYING:  Big white rabbits are fluffy.  HISTORY:  I started diving in July of 2010, when someone from AquaSport got me hooked as an early birthday present. Bonus points if you can find out who :) Seeing as the two people I dive with on a regular basis are both intructors(hint). I have progressed through my certs fairly steadily as I am always around for a class or two. I have to admit that I was quite uncertain about this diving sport, but after my my open water dives on Vancouver Island and the sea life present I was hooked. I have traveled many places in Alberta, British Columbia and my most recent trip was to Mexico with a group from Aqua Sport. It was a truly amazing experience; both diving in warm water and cavern diving in the Centones of the Mayan Riveria. I will for sure be returning and completing my cave certification.   FAVORITE DIVES:  Pretty much anytime I am underwater is a favorite dive. But Vancouver Island and the Cenote diving in Mexico are my top favorites.  FAVORITE DEPTH:  I like any depth up to about 60 feet although I have gone deeper. There is alot to see in this range and for those of you who love air as much as I do, when you're shallower you get more bottom time.  ADVICE TO NEW DIVERS:  Take your time, build your skills and seek out any oportunity to get underwater with a qualified buddy. Remember your buddy checks and check you gauges often.  ADDITIONAL SPECIALTIES HELD: Advanced Open Water Diver, Drysuit Diver, Ice Diver, Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver

Tomasz  Kochanowicz Divemaster Candidate  DMC 000000   after.shock@shaw.ca

Paul  Patterson Divemaster Candidate  DMC

Thomas  Schwanke Divemaster Candidate  DMC