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Meet our Instructors

Meet the Scuba 2000 team ... a diverse bunch of Divemasters, Open Water Scuba Instructors, PADI Course Directors, etc.

Scuba 2000, a PADI 5 STAR Instructor Development Centre located minutes north of Toronto is only an hour away from some of Ontario's best dive areas.

STORE STAFF

alec_infophotoAlec Peirce (seahunter)

Dive Store Owner, Teacher; Diver; Entrepreneur; Outdoorsman

Current Certification: Scuba Instructor for 10 different training agencies (PADI Master Instructor, NAUI, ACUC, CMAS Level III, IDEA Instructor Trainer, NASE, CURE, DAN, TDI/SDI, RLLSC)

Scuba awards & recognitions: NAUI 35 year pin; PADI 30 year pin; SSI Platinum Pro 5000 Diver; International Legends of Diving Award (part of the original group of recipients of this very exclusive recognition); past member of the exclusive PADI International Resort and Retail Association Advisory Council; listed in the Who’s Who of diving and in the Diving Records of the Diving Almanac

Special Scuba Interests: I have one of the largest collections of vintage scuba equipment in North America including every 2 hose regulator, every issue of Skin Diver Magazine and dozens of mask, fins, spearguns, gauges, cameras, books and other items dating from the '50's on. I also have what is considered the largest collection of Sea Hunt and Lloyd Bridges memorabilia anywhere including every episode of that famous TV series with many on the original film and lots of personal items from Lloyd Bridges himself .

Favorite course to teach: I enjoy spearfishing so teaching the PADI U/W Hunter course is a lot of fun. My technical aptitude makes teaching the PADI Equipment course easy and enjoyable and of course, the PADI Vintage Diver course is a chance to relive my early days of diving.

Dive Experience: I first tried scuba diving in 1958, became certified in 1960, started teaching in 1969 and I’ve dived worldwide actively ever since with no interruptions. According to SSI, I have made approximately 6500 scuba dives. I’ve been all over North America (Florida and California are favorites), the Caribbean, the Maritimes and BC, the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, Africa and lots of quarries, lakes, rivers and ponds.

Best dive(s): Cozumel for great diving and fun; Toby for excitement and adventure; Barbados for variety and easy diving.

Worst dive: If anyone ever suggests that you try diving in Hudson’s Hole in Central Florida near Tarpon Springs, develop a cold quickly!

Other Interests: Big Game Hunting (8 of my trophies are listed in the SCI World Record Book); horseback riding; snowmobiling; motorcycles (I raced motorcycles for several years in the late '60's. I now restore classic bikes (Nortons, BSA's, etc).

Little known fact: I cry at movies.

Personal Goals: I'm very fortunate in that I've already lived most of my childhood dreams. There is nothing that I'm longing to do. I enjoy my life as it is – relaxing in the outdoors at our ranch and visiting our far-flung friends.

Personal Motto: "Improve yourself by helping others. Sometimes the best help is to make someone laugh!


stanboroughDiana Peirce

Current Certification: PADI Master Instructor

Best Scuba Course Taken: Equipment - I like understanding how things work and I really enjoy seeing how the equipment evolved. It's also interesting to see how many 'new' ideas aren't so new after all. A course that I would recommend to all.

Favorite course to teach: Open water - to witness the absolute joy of conquering the unknown. Rescue diver because it gives divers a totally new outlook on diving and other divers.

Best Place to Dive: A very difficult question. I love diving in Ontario because of all the old wrecks, BC is amazing because of the variety of life, Cozumel because I can be lazy with the drift diving, Fiji because of all the color and life, South Africa because of the sharks! What can I say? I love diving!!

Best dive ever made: The wreck of the Yongola off the north, west coast of Australia because of the incredible profusion of life (from small critters - cleaner shrimp, nudibranch, clown fish, etc. to large critters - barracuda, sharks, batfish, turtles, huge rays and a grouper called VW, guess why!) PLUS the mystery of a huge wreck.

Personal Motto: Enjoy today. Tomorrow comes and goes much too fast.

Hobbies or Sports: Horseback Riding, Skiing, Water Sports, Gardening and Reading.

Little known fact: Studied architectural drafting in college.

Inspirational Words: 'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.' Eleanor Roosevelt


steven_mark_brown Steve Brown

Current Certification: PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Best Scuba Course Taken: U/W photography as I used to work for an U/W photographer in the Cayman Islands.

Best Place to Dive: Toss up between Centennial Beach in Barrie and the Cayman Islands. Ok, actually, Cayman Islands.

Best dive ever made: When they opened Lighthouse Point -- in Grand Cayman, not Tobermory!

Worst dive ever made: Well, I almost died on my first dive in Killbear Provincial Park. Stay away from motorboat areas!

Personal Motto: What do you care what other people think?

Hobbies or Sports: Sailing, dog training, and photography!

Little known fact: Editors note -- He laughed, and said no comment.

Inspirational Words: There are no do-overs in life, live it.


INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF





helenpicHelen Bertolini-Saari

Occupation: Trampoline Coach/Administrator

Current Certification Level: PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, DAN Instructor

Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Open Water – Opened my eyes to the underwater world and the cool people at Scuba 2000 (which at the time of my first course was The Wet Shop on Yonge St.).

Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Snorkling and Skin Diving especially to kids! Kids are great! They have open minds and learn rapidly. They have so much energy and enthusiasm that it makes teaching them a true joy! Adults are great too!

Dive Experience:
Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why:
I don’t prefer one over the other! I just love to dive anywhere and everywhere. The warmer the better though.

Best Dive(s): All of my dives but diving the Great Barrier Reef was what hooked me!

Worst Dive(s): Haven’t had one yet. Although going to the Kingston hospital after a dive for my husband to get 3 staples in his head was not the best way to finish the day.

Other Interests: Trampoline, bungee jumping and jumping out of perfectly good airplanes!

Little Known Fact About Me: I was the 1996 Ontario Junior National Trampoline Champion and I can still do a back flip!

Personal Goal(s): Looking forward to go Hang gliding and scuba diving with my daughters!

Personal Motto: Find a job (or jobs) you love and you will never work a day in your life!

Inspirational words: Reach for the stars and dive all the seas!


liamprofiles2kLiam Brown

Occupation: Advertising

Current Certification Level: PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, DAN Instructor

Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Rescue. It's the first foray into professional diving. It changes your diving outlook from watching out for yourself to watching out for others. It's a great course for anyone interested in taking the next step in their diving career.
Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Advanced. It's great to see divers move from having a basic knowledge of scuba to learning more advanced diving techniques that will help them grow as a diver. Plus, an Advanced weekend in Tobermory is just so much fun!

Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why:
Both have their positives. Salt water diving tends to be, for the most part, easier diving, than that in fresh water. However, I believe diving fresh water improves your skills like nothing else can. I love the Great Lakes and I love big shipwrecks. Fresh water diving really can be fun!

Best Dive(s): The mangroves off of Caye Caulker in Belize. Lots of life, and really cool diving atmosphere. Forest City and Arabia in Tobermory and the SS Stavronikita in Barbados.
Little Known Fact About Me: I'm a licenced pilot?

Personal Goal(s): To dive the Cedarville wreck in the Mackinac Straits and the Lost Villages of the St. Lawrence.


brianclarkpictureBrian Clark

Occupation:
Engineer

Current Certification Level: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor

Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Divemaster – Learning the fundamentals of doing what we do was wonderful. Practicing the basic skills makes me a better, confident diver and a reliable buddy!

Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Discover Scuba is a great program in that a student sees a wonderful opportunity open up before them. Open Water Class/Pool provides the student with the proper skills to safely enjoy a wonderful life-long hobby!

Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why: Any water makes for great diving.

Best Dive(s): All dives are great dives!

Worst Dive(s): None


paulpicPaul Fihrer
Occupation: Solutions Consultants – if you have to ask it is not worth explaining
Current Certification Level: PADI IDC Staff Instructor
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA) – because it took me to the next level and I am not talking about instructional level
Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Instructor Development Course & Open Water , to see the student go from almost no confidence/knowledge to king of the hill in no time at all.
Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why:
Salt Water, simply more places, things and warm water to see.
Best Dive(s): In coldwater Toby, the old and new wrecks. In warm water - Mozambique, someone carries your stuff, cleans and looks after all your needs.

Worst Dive(s): Sodwana Bay (South Africa) one of those days were everything just went wrong no mater what we did (We still had a great day).

Other Interests: All outdoor activity
Little Known Fact About Me: I used to be a quiet and shy
Personal Goal(s): be better than I was yesterday and become a Master Instructor (MI)
Personal Motto: Live life for now, as you may be gone tomorrow
Inspirational words: Tell Me, I'll forget, Show Me, I'll remember, Involve Me, I'll learn


poulhansen_editPoul Hansen
Occupation: “Blessed is the man who has some congenial work, some occupation in which he can put his heart, and which affords a complete outlet to all the forces there are in him.” ~ John Burroughs
Current Certification Level: PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, baby (with hat to prove it – see pic to left. Funny story), SDI/TDI Instructor, DAN Instructor
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Ice diver! The anticipation and excitement of what it’d be like, and then the beauty of diving under the ice.
Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Open water class and pool. Love seeing the transition from non-diver to Scuba diver! Advanced because introducing newer divers to new dive environments. Toby is such a great place for it too. Ice specialty because it’s just very cool. Also, sharing the same anticipation and excitement I experienced on my first ice dives. Wreck specialty because, well, penetration baby… why else??? Ha, seriously, how can you not love the amazing historic wrecks we have access to here in Ontario. Drysuit specialty because I hate the incorrect assumption that cold water diving must mean being cold.
Dive Experience: Canada, US, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why: No preference. Both offer amazing memories.
Best fresh water dive(s):
Where: First Dive ever on the Arabia, Toby
Reason: Low viz made for a truly ghostly experience
Where: MSDT Deep training dive (November), Morrison’s Quarry, Quebec
Reason: Crystal clear viz, 130ft limestone drop-off to a lunar-like bottom.
Where: “Maytag Dive”, The Anchor, Toby
Why: Buy me a beer some time and I’ll tell you a crazy funny story (or 2 or 3 or 4…)
Where: Daryaw Wreck, Brockville
Why: 70’ air pocket – with a great buddy
Where: Washing Machine, Niagara River
Why: Crazy dive and then being picked up by Fort Erie Fire and Rescue (another funny story)
Best salt water dives:
Where: Sapona Wreck, Bahamas
Why: Very shallow dive with profuse marine life. You can also exit the water inside and explore the wreck on foot.
Where: Blue Hole, Belize
Reason: Go and you’ll know.
Where: Kelp Forests, Catalina Island, Cali
Why: Baby Horned Sharks
Where: Veterans Reef, Clearwater, Florida
Why: Pissed off a Nurse Shark I thought was sleeping and it let me know about it – whups (Greg, where’s your camera???)
Where: U-352 and The Papoose, Moorehead City, N.C.
Why: U-352 - “I’ll get outta here somehow” (see pic below). Papoose – Ragged-tooth sharks.
Worst Dive(s):
MSDT Wreck training dive, Morrison’s Quarry, Quebec
Why: I.B.S. – “UUUGGHH, get me outta here” (don’t get it? Google it.)
Other Interests: Flying, rock climbing, skiing, motorcycle riding.
Little Known Fact About Me: I hate plastic plants
Personal Goal(s): Create greater awareness of cruelty to animals. Go veg – animals and your body will appreciate it.
Personal Motto: Be an all-out, not a hold-out
Inspirational words: Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right ~ Henry Ford
Other comment: Some people confuse breathing with living – get out there and enjoy folks.



ahmedpicAhmed Helmi
Occupation: Real Estate Broker / Manager
Current Certification Level: PADI IDC Staff Instructor
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Dive Master Course, Most challenging and most interesting course.
Dive Experience: Open Water because it is the most satisfying. Teaching advanced, specially the deep dive since it is the most challenging.
Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why: I love the warm water diving and it happens to be in salt water mostly. So, I like salt water diving I guess.
Best Dive(s): Abu Dabbab in the south of the Red Sea.
Worst Dive(s): Can’t remember the location, but it was in Cuba, dead reef with no fish.
Other Interests: I love the rush of sky diving and many sports, soccer, basketball, skiing and horseback riding.
Little Known Fact About Me: I have a piercing.
Personal Goal(s): I would like to retire on a tropical island and teach scuba while sipping on Margaritas.
Personal Motto: “Live well, Love much, Laugh often” (I have it Tattooed to my back).
Inspirational words: Live each day like it is your last. Never be upset with the ones you love.
Other comment: Take courses with us, keep us employed. Meet people, Go places and Do Things in the water, lol.




staceyisonStacey Ison
Occupation: President of Toronto Honda
Current Certification Level: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Instructors. A huge accomplishment and tremendous feeling of success.
Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Open Water. I like working with new students. It’s the most rewarding
Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why: I like warm water whether it’s fresh or salty!
Best Dive(s): Near the Blue Hole in Belize. I felt like I was in an aquarium or watching Finding Nemo.
Worst Dive(s):
Other Interests:
I’m a passionate long distance runner, mountain biker and wine collector. I’m not really sure that they mix well!
Little Known Fact About Me: Personal Goal(s): Personal Motto: People do what you inspect not what you expect.
Inspirational words: Failure can be habit forming. Success is the only option.
Other comment: I have 3 daughters, all in their late teens and early twenties. My wife Jacquie, (a Rescue Diver) and I had them Padi certified at 10 years old. My oldest, Sierra, is an instructor and has taught in the British Virgin Islands, Fiji and Indonesia. My middle, Theo, is a Dive Master and my youngest Aja, is a Master Diver. Since then diving has become a family sport and the focus of every holiday we take. It has bonded us like nothing else could. I strongly urge parents to include their children in their scuba diving plans. The rewards are immeasurable and the memories will last a lifetime.



jimpic

Jim Jessiman
Occupation: Insurance Agent
Current Certification Level: PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Rescue: I learned more in a couple of hours than throughout all previous dives.
Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Dive Experience: Open water: I love to see the reaction when a new diver “gets it”.
Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why:
Salt, mainly because there is more of it.

Dive Experience:
Salt Water – 280+ dives 90% in warmish waters.
Best Dive(s): Palau Blue Corner

Worst Dive(s): Kingston “The Davie”
Other Interests: Hiking, Sailing, Travel Exploring
Little Known Fact About Me: Started my business life as an English teacher
Personal Goal(s): visit 100 countries (45 so far)
Personal Motto: Service, fun, and adventure
Inspirational words: Do or do not; there is no try



peterkpicPeter Kalanderopoulos

Occupation: Education
Current Certification Level: PADI IDC Staff Instructor, SDI/TDI Instructor
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Divemaster
Dive Experience: I have been diving since 1974
Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water: Salt
Best Dive(s): Greece 2006
Worst Dive(s): All dives are good.
Other Interests: Squash, rock climbing and biking
Little Known Fact About Me: I like to solve math problems.
Personal Goal(s): To retire and teach diving in Greece.
Personal Motto: Life is too short to harbour any ill will towards anyone.




kladySean Klady

Occupation: Real Estate

Current Certification Level: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor

Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Rescue Diver

you learn a great set of skills to help your fellow divers and a fun course to take.

Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Open Water – nothing beats congratulating newly certified divers.

Dive Experience: Ontario (all over), Bahamas, Belize, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Cozumel, Curacao, Florida, Tobago, Turks and Caicos.

Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why: Salt water – best visibility, lots of variety of fish and coral.

Best Dive(s): Tie between Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman and Belize Atolls (so far)

Worst Dive(s): “Wall of fear” – Tobago

Other Interests: Motorcycles, yoga, skiing and many more!

Little Known Fact About Me: Bona Fide Lawyer (there might be more but you have to get me drunk to disclose anything else)
Personal Goal(s): Teach scuba someplace warm and sunny full time – or win the lottery and scuba dive someplace warm and sunny ALL the time.

Personal Motto: Never give up

Inspirational words: You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
Other comment: I love teaching at S2K!



wloWarren Lo (Nickname: Warren_L (I wonder how I came up with that??))
Occupation: Investment Advisor
Current Certification Level: PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: The Divemaster Course was my favourite. This is the first of the leadership level courses and it really helped me to advance not only my own dive theory knowledge and skills, but showed me what a great pleasure it can be to help lead and introduce the sport of diving, which I love so much, to new divers.
Favorite Course To Teach & Why: Advanced Open Water. This course introduces divers, often recently certified, to a whole new realm of experiences in the diving world. And I get to show them the way first hand! Adventure dives I lead would include night diving, wreck exploration, deep diving, and many more.
Dive Experience:
Salt Water -
Cozumel, Mexico - warm water drift diving rules!, Bimini, Bahamas - warm water and sharks!, Catalina Island, California - amazing kelp forests
Fresh Water -
- Ontario - Tobermory - wreck diving and open water classes
- Ontario - Kingston - wreck diving at it's best
- Ontario - Brockville - my favourite wreck - "The Keystorm"
- Ontario - Humber Bay - easy to get to "impromptu" dive site
- Ontario - Lake Simcoe - fantastic ice diving
- Ontario - Chippawa River - Ontario's cozumel
- Ontario - Lake Erie - Long point wrecks
- Ontario - Kirkfield, Lake Muskoka, Toronto Harbour
Best Dive: Tobermory - Night Dive on the Arabia - Absolutely spectacular.
Worst Dive: There are bad dives? I would have to say Innerkip in August 2003. 3 inch visibility.
Other Interests: - Mountain biking, duathlons, skiing & snowboarding, golf, underwater photography, and maintaining the Scuba 2000 chat line, "The Diving Board"
Little Known Fact About Me: I love to cook! Call me "Emeril"!
Personal Goal(s): To continue to learn, both in life and in diving. No matter how much you know, there's always more to learn. And above all else, dive, dive, dive!
Personal Motto: "Live life to it's fullest. Have no regrets!"
Inspirational words: "In the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
"Yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope."
Kudos: Alec, for giving me the chance to prove myself, Brian & Dave for showing me the way, Jay for the enlightenment and mentoring, dive buddy Chris, who rarely turns down a dive, and all my friends at the shop without whose encouragement and support I might not have even tried!
Webmaster's Note: Warren is a very talented underwater photographer and many of the photos on this site were taken by Warren himself. You can check out his photos at www.warrenlophotography.com


natalkapicsNatalka Kisil MacKay

Occupation: Paramedic

Current Certification Level: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor

Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Divemaster - living the pro diver lifestyle

Dive Experience:Great Barrier Reef Australia, Aruba, Utila Honduras, Koh Tao Thailand.

Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why:Give me sun, beach, ocean, coral and fish! That's why I dive!

Best Dive(s): Glover's Atoll - Belize. Great wall dives, lots of fish and coral!

Little Known Fact About Me: I worked as a Veterinary Tech for 8 years.

Personal Motto: Never again say: woulda, coulda, shoulda, but didn't.

Inspirational words: Biggest fear in life is to be old and gray with regrets about what I never got to do.


mikepicMichael McCabe
Occupation: Custom Home Builder
Current Certification Level: PADI Master Instructor
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Ice Diver, definitely the most memorable course I’ve taken, challenging, exhilarating, fun and all at the same time rewarding
Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: I love to teach the Open Water Course, it is extremely rewarding to see that change from Non Diver to Certified Diver.

Dive Experience: Fiji, Red Sea, Roatan, Utila, Cozumel, Greece, Tobago, both coasts of Florida including the Keys, California. Locally: Tobermory, Niagara River, St Lawrence River, Brockville, Prescott, Picton and Kingston.
Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why: Salt Water, Love fish ID
Best Dive(s): The Duane in Key Largo, Fiji, & the Red Sea

Worst Dive(s): Like they say a bad day of diving is still better than a good day at work!!

Other Interests: Photography, Carpentry, Hockey
Little Known Fact About Me: Played bass guitar for a rock band called “The Toads” in the mid seventies.
Personal Goal(s): Diving in Indonesia
Personal Motto: One day at a time , one step at a time
Inspirational words: Anything is possible if you have the nerve
Other comment: I believe Scuba Diving to be the single most enjoyable ongoing experience that any person can participate in. It is relaxing, exciting, exhilarating it encourages you to see the world and gives you the opportunity to meet hundreds of new people.



nadiapicNadia Pellegrino

Occupation: Real Estate Investor
Current Certification Level: PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, DAN Instructor
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: The Ice Diving course. I was amazed at how bright it really was under 18 inches of ice. It was a very COOL experience!!
Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why:
Open water. I love working with students and seeing the huge smiles on their faces when they understand what they are doing.
Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why:
I have no preferences. I will dive anywhere, anytime, anyhow.
Dive Experience:
300+ dives in places like Cozumel, Florida Keys, California, Bahamas, Dominica, Honduras, Socorro Islands, and of course…Ontario(Niagara River, Tobermory, Brockville, Kingston)

Worst Dive(s): What!! There is such a thing!!!

Other Interests:
Canadian Ski Patrol, rock climbing, flying gliders, fitness, hiking, camping, fishing
Personal Goal(s): Retire on the beach somewhere in the Caribbean
Personal Motto: Always strive to be the best you can be, and when you get there, go a little harder
Inspirational words: Live, Love, Laugh…you can never do too much.

joelpicsJoel Pomerantz (Nickname: Scuba Dog)
Occupation: Automated Automotive Systems

Current Certification Level: PADI Master Instructor, DAN Instructor

Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Rescue, It made me feel more comfortable in the water knowing that I could fend for myself and be able to help other divers if needed.

Favorite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Open Water: I love to see new divers complete their open water course. Rescue: Lets me see advancing divers improve on knowledge and skills.

Dive Experience:

Salt Water -most of the Caribbean, S. Africa, North Carolina, Florida, Costa Rica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Fiji, Egypt
Fresh Water - Ontario, Ohio

Best Dive(s): Fiji for the life, S. Africa with the 15’ Tiger Shark and eye to eye with a Whale Shark
Worst Dive: I would not call a dive bad, just not great

Other Interests: Motorcycles, Photography

Little Known Fact About Me: I like the sun and always have a good time.
Personal Goal(s): Always setting new ones
Personal Motto: Enjoy it while you can.
Inspirational words: Have fun at whatever you do.



davidpic

David Racioppa
Age: Still a pre-teen in dog years
Occupation: Professional Scuba Diver
Current Certification Level: PADI IDC Staff Instructor, DAN Instructor
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Rescue. During this course I was challenged by two other divers, also taking the course, to continue on to the Divemaster course with them. The rest is history.
Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: I enjoy teaching all the PADI courses, Specialities, Rescue, Divemaster, Assistant Instructor but if I had to pick one favourite it would be Open Water Class and Pool. This is where it all begins for divers and it’s all new and fresh. I still remember my first time and the Instuctor that taught me. As an Instructor now I enjoy being part of that experience.

Dive Experience:

Salt Water: Aruba, Anguilla, Antigua, Cozumel, Cuba, Curacao, Florida, Greece, Grenada, Italy, Ireland, Jamaica, Red Sea, San Andres, St Lucia St Martin

Fresh Water: Tobermory, Lake Superior, Lake Ontario, Lake Simcoe, Niagara River, Lake Muskoka, Island Lake, & various Quarries
Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why:
I don’t have a preference I like diving both fresh and salt water.
Best Dive(s): Lots of great dives but the best dive that I’ve done recently was Devil’s Throat Cozumel diving with my son.

Worst Dive(s): My first Open Water dive. It was at Big Bay Point late October, no hood, no gloves, I don’t think I’ve ever been so cold. We came back the following day for dive #2 properly equipped.
Other Interests:
Jr Hockey, Softball and Golf. (in that order)
Little Known Fact About Me: OMHA/GTHL Certified Coach and Trainer
Personal Goal(s): to always have goal(s)
Personal Motto: “When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It” Yogi Berra
Inspirational words: " Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. "

~ Mark Twain



leopicLeo Rubino
Occupation: Automotive
Current Certification Level: PADI IDC Staff Instructor, DAN Instructor
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Rescue, I think the rescue course is the beginning or I should say the tipping point into the professional side of diving, and it was the course were my confidence level increase, was the most noticeable. I became a safer, more aware and better skilled diver.
Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: I like to teach Peak Performance Buoyancy and Open water. The response on both courses is always the same, every diver comes out of both courses with big smiles. With O/W I like seeing the new divers faces’ once they complete the course. That grin from ear to ear is what I look for, and for PPB, well everyone comes out of it with the same grin, especially after shaving off a few pounds on their weight belt.

Dive Experience: Took my first open water course with Scuba 2000 (Then known as ‘The Wet Shop’) back in 1991 that was the beginning haven’t reached the end yet!
Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why: I prefer any water I can dive or teach in!
Best Dive(s):
Cozumel never get tired of diving there.

Worst Dive(s): Penetang night dive. Don’t get me wrong the dive was actually okay, never really had a bad dive, but the boat ride was just the worst, the conditions were horrible, plus we had rain and really big waves, oh, and divers were getting sick -- what fun!
Other Interests: Golf, Motorcycles, Photography, Trapshooting, skiing
Little Known Fact About Me: I like to cook.
Personal Goal(s): To be the best that I can be.
Personal Motto: Try to have fun and smile
Inspirational words: Yesterday has past, tomorrow is unknown, live for today

tsandersTim Sanders (Nickname: Splash)
Occupation: Parts Driver, Newmarket Honda
Current Certification Level: PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Advanced Course. Taking it right after my Open Water let me experience a lot in a short time and really got me hooked.
Favorite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Open Water Course. Like other Instructors I enjoy the wonder of the first timer, but, it is the special joy of someone having trouble with a skill when they look at you after finally completing it and they no longer feel like a failure because everyone else did it the first time.
Dive Experience:

Salt Water
- Night, Deep, Wreck , Tobago, Cuba, North Carolina
Fresh Water - Night, Deep, Wreck, Ice, Low Visibilty, Tobermory, Lake Ontario, Lake Simcoe, Bonne Terre Missouri
Best Dive(s): The "Arabia" being so intack. Bonne Terre for the Main Elevator structure reaching majestically toward the sunlight at the surface.
Worst Dive: The "ALICE G" during my Open Water Course. Being the last divers out my buddy and I found highly silted, zero visibilty conditions that meant we only found the side of the wreck or the shore wall by bouncing into them.
Other Interests: Old Cars, History, First Aid
Little Known Fact About Me: The very shy kid I was could never be as outgoing as a Divemaster or ( Horrors ! ) an Instructor should be so I never thought of or planned on going this far when I first started. Thanks to certain current and previous "WETSHOP"
People for the help and inspiration.
Personal Goal(s): To have no goals. Goals to me are wish lists of "What I would like to do." Instead, live life to the best of your ability doing or at least trying whatever interests you during a given period of time.
Personal Motto: Most things happen for a reason so, good or bad, they were probably meant to be. ( Also, There is only one time it is essential to dive. That time is now. )
Inspirational words: Diving is ADVENTURE, EXPLORATION, RELAXATION and for some people PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT. Whatever it is to you, it is always ENJOYMENT !
Kudos: Alec and Diana for the business they have built and everything they have accomplished.
To everyone who has joined us in this "Extreme" sport. It is the people that make it the great thing that it is.


jasonpicJason Serroul

Occupation: Scuba 2000 Service Tech & Paramedic

Current Certification Level: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, DAN Instructor Trainer

Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why:
The Advanced course is by far the most fun course to take and to teach. Divers are already certified and have much more freedom on dives. Most of the divers know the staff and have diver friends with them taking the course. The course involves more diving and gaining experience and less sitting on the bottom doing skills. Divers always get so excited when they hear they get to go NIGHT diving or DEEP diving!

Dive Experience: I have been diving since I was about 11 years old and am a few years shy of 20 years diving. I have been diving all over North America. I also have been the service technician at Scuba 2000 for 6 years now. Taking apart and making a regulator or BC or any piece of gear work better than it ever has before is one of my true loves!

Best Dive(s): The Waome in Lake Muskoka, Punta Sur in Cozumel, Oriskany in Florida

Worst Dive(s): In 17 years I have done a lot of dives that no one should ever do……..Ask me about them sometime in Toby and I might just tell you!!!!
Other Interests: I’m also a paramedic so I love teaching first aid and CPR. I play every sport I can. Also I love spending every free minute I have with my two little girls!

Little Known Fact About Me: I have an obsession with all things Harry Potter.



kevinspicKevin Smith

Occupation: Project Manager, Information Technology
Current Certification Level: PADI IDC Staff Instructor
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Dive Master, it pushed me mentally and physically towards my first step of being a PADI professional
Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Dive Experience: Enriched Air Nitrox, for the extended bottom. My first EANx dive convinced this was a fantastic benefit to diving. I want everyone to be certified.
Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why:
Salt. Born in Nova Scotia, salt water has always been in my life. In warm or cool temperature diving, there is always something new to experience.
Best Dive(s):
Night diving in Bonaire with “Charlie” the tarpon who used our dive lights to hunt for dinner. Bonaire’s commitment to preserving an underwater nature park delivers an amazing diving experience.

Worst Dive(s): Honestly, not had a bad dive.
Other Interests: A life long Information Technology geek, starting in the “punch card” days (go Google it kids).
Little Known Fact About Me: Started diving with the Open Water course at Scuba 2000 in January 2003. Was hooked on scuba from the first pool session.
Personal Goal(s): Obtain my IDCS rating.
Personal Motto: “Life is short, eat dessert first”.

Inspirational words: “Good divers are always learning”, the motto of Dive Training magazine. I believe this is very true with the rapid evolution in equipment, training and practices.

Other comment: I continue to be surprised and amused by the endless variety of strange, unique, sometimes silly items Alec shares in his weekly “Vintage Scuba @ S2K” section (www.vintagescuba.com). Alec, put out an iPad application for the world to enjoy.



kellyphotosKelly Torrens

Occupation: Inside Sales for a tour company

Current Certification Level: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, DAN Instructor

Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Divemaster – I became a certified diver at eleven years old and aspired to teach from that point onwards. The divemaster course was a long-awaited first step!

Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Open Water – there is something special about introducing new divers to scuba.

Dive Experience:
Salt Water –
Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Barbados, South Africa, St. Helena, Brazil (Fernando), Turks & Caicos
Fresh Water – Toby, Brockville/Rockport, Lake Simcoe, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Muskoka, etc.

Best Dive(s): A shark dive in the aquarium at Ushaka Marine World (Durban, South Africa).

Worst Dive(s): I can’t think of any… I think that says something. ;)

Other Interests: Ashtanga yoga, learning new languages, rock climbing.

Little Known Fact About Me: I spent six months living on a tall ship before starting university.

Personal Goal(s): To work in a museum!

Personal Motto: Give everything in life your best effort and never wonder if your results could have been better if you’d only tried.

Inspirational words: "Waiting patiently doesn't suit you. I can see you have a great deal of water in your personality. Water never waits. It changes shape and flows around things, and finds the secret paths no one else has thought about." - Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha



billvassnewpicBill Vass

Occupation: Intellectual Property Lawyer

Current Certification Level: PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Divemaster; this course brings it all together – dive theory, dive skills and teaching.

Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Open water to watch a whole new world open to divers; Advanced Open Water to see divers develop confidence, self awareness and take their diving to the next level.

Dive Experience: Tobermory; Cozumel; Jamaica

Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why:
No preference, but the salt water bucket list is the longer list right now.

Best Dive(s): Riding the current in Cozumel

Worst Dive(s): There are no bad dives; just bad visibility


Other Interests: My family, golf, fly fishing

Little Known Fact About Me: I play ice hockey at least once a week year-round.

Personal Goal(s): To keep learning

Personal Motto: Life is Great

Other comment: Thanks to Diana and Alec for giving me the opportunity to learn this great sport. Greg and Joel for their teaching and mentoring.



gregpicGreg Vaysman

Occupation: Finance
Current Certification Level: PADI Course Director
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Instructor Development Course. I would’ve never guessed such a challenging experience could be so much fun.
Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Divemaster and Assistant Instructor. Call me crazy – but I actually like teaching Physics! Besides, I enjoy developing divers into dive leaders.

Dive Experience: North America, South America, Galapagos, Australia, Thailand

Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why: No real preference - both have great things to offer
Best Dive(s): The wreck of Yongala, Australia

Worst Dive(s): Hmm…. Veteran’s Reef in Florida – most expensive dive I ever made – ask me or Poul Hansen about it some time J
Other Interests: Skiing, Biking
Little Known Fact About Me: I lived in three different countries
Personal Goal(s): To promote diver safety in Ontario and around the world.
Personal Motto: Go Big Or Go Home!


Occupation: Project Director, Computer Software Industry.
Current Certification Level: PADI Divemaster, PADI EFR Instructor, Master Scuba Diver.
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Divemaster. Learn to be diving professional.
Dive Experience: 150+ dives in Ontario, started with Advanced OW dives in Tobermory with Scuba 2000 in September 2001.
Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water: No preference, I like both.
Best Dive(s): Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Worst Dive(s): None so far.
Other Interests: Downhill skiing.
Little Known Fact About Me: I was a licensed stockbroker.
Personal Goal(s): No need to work and go diving every day.
Other comment: Contact me at LeeVu1 (at ) yahoo.ca

leevuLee Vu

Occupation: Project Director, Computer Software Industry

Current Certification Level: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, PADI EFR Instructor

Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Divemaster. Learn to be a diving professional.

Dive Experience: 150+ dives in Ontario, started with Advanced OW dives in Tobermory with Scuba 2000 in September 2001.

Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why:
No preference, I like both.

Best Dive(s): Nha Trang, Vietnam.

Worst Dive(s): None so far!

Other Interests: Downhill skiing.

Little Known Fact About Me: I was a licensed stockbroker.

Personal Goal(s): No need to work and go diving every day.

Other comment: Contact me at LeeVu1 (at ) yahoo.ca



danpics Dan Wexler
Occupation:
Automotive Management

Current Certification Level:
PADI IDC Staff Instructor, DAN Instructor
Other Certifications/Specialities: PADI EFR Instructor, PADI Specialty Instructor, DAN O2 Instructor, Equipment, Wreck, Deep, Nitrox, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Search & Recovery Diver.

Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Rescue Diver – It gave me a new sense of confidence as a recreational diver / Divemaster – It put all the previous certifications to a professional level.
Favourite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Open Water – The awe in the students face when they submerge for the first time and their feeling of accomplishment. Rescue – The individual attains a great sense of purpose and ability.

Dive Experience: Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean, Various Canadian Lakes, Swimming Pools

Prefer Salt Water or Fresh Water & Why: I don't prefer one over the other! I just love to dive anywhere and everywhere. They both have a lot to offer.

Best Dive(s): Every single dive I have ever done!

Worst Dive(s): No such thing for me. Even the ones I could call iffy had a lesson and experience.

Other Interests: Motorcycling, Flying, Motorsports

Little Known Fact About Me: In 2007 I came real close to a tornado in Iowa. Another story for another day!

Personal Goal(s): To become the best I could be in everything I do.

Personal Motto: He who laughs last laughs last!

Inspirational words: It’s your life. You call the shots and make all the decisions. Choose well.


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