Staff, Crew & Boats
Who We Are
All our Instructor, Dive Master, Back-up, and Support staffs are experienced divers who enjoying sharing their love of diving with other people. Our staff of instructors alone has a combined total of over 65 years of experience in teaching people to dive. All of our instructors are certified to teach a multitude of specialty diving courses, and are recognized by SSI as either Advanced Open Water Instructors or Master Instructors, up to Assistant Instructor Trainers. In addition, we have PADI instructors on staff.
Our Fearless Leaders
Bob Karl - Contact Bob
SSI Master Instructor/SSI Assistant Instructor Trainer
SSI Instructor for Multiple Specialties
University of Minnesota Faculty Instructor (Course# PE1205)
US Coast Guard Certified Captain: Great Lakes & Inland Waters
30+ year veteran of the local SCUBA industry
3500+ dives logged around the world
Shawn Jones - Contact Shawn
SSI Assistant Instructor Trainer
SSI Instructor: Advanced Open Water & Multiple Specialties
US Coast Guard Certified Captain: Great Lakes & Inland Waters
Instructor Staff
Ricky Biga
SSI Open Water Instructor
Quote About Diving: "I scuba dive because space is boring."
Michelle Curci
SSI Open Water Instructor
Bill King
SSI Open Water Instructor
Andy Leidel
SSI Instructor: Advanced Open Water & Multiple Specialties
Manufacturer certified technician for Atomic Aquatics and
Scubapro; Aqualung Master Technician
Diving since 1988
Current Area of Diving Interest: "Underwater Photography."
Andy's UMN SCUBA photos
John Mazzarella
SSI Instructor: Advanced Open Water & Multiple Specialties
Manufacturer certified technician for Atomic Aquatics and Scubapro; Aqualung Master Technician
Mark Pagel
SSI Assistant Instructor Trainer
SSI Master Instructor/PADI Advanced Open Water Instructor
30+ year veteran of the local SCUBA industry
Manufacturer certified technician for Atomic Aquatics, Scubapro, Apeks, and a bunch of other brands; Aqualung Master Technician
Mary Radtke
SSI Open Water Instructor
Manufacturer certified technician for Aqualung and Atomic Aquatics
Advice to New Divers: "If you're looking for me,You better check under the sea, 'cause that is where you'll find me, Underneath the sea, lab, Underneath the water, Sealab, at the bottom of the sea."
Ken Ries
SSI Instructor Advanced Open Water & Multiple Specialties
Ken's Hokku About Diving:
"under sea
though buddied, alone - peaceful.
where I Am"
Brad Rolfs
SSI Assistant Instructor Trainer
SSI Instructor: Advanced Open Water & Multiple Specialties
TDI Advanced Nitrox, Decompression Procedures, and Trimix
GUE Fundamentals of DIR / TDI Advanced Gas Blender
Manufacturer certified technician: Aqualung; Atomic Aquatics
Quote About Diving: "At all levels, dive education should be a mentoring process. The learning, and teaching, shouldn't end when a certification card is issued."
Nathan Wong
SSI Open Water Instructor
PADI Open Water Instructor
Samuel Wong
SSI Open Water Instructor
PADI Open Water Instructor
Assistant Instructors, Dive Masters & Backups
Rachel Pederson
PADI Dive Master
David Yang
SSI Dive Control Specialist/Assistant Instructor
Current Diving Interests: Ice Diving, Spearfishing
Quote About Diving: "Diving for me is a special feeling because of the peaceful serenity. All you hear is the whisper of bubbles, maybe the sound of a parrotfish crunching coral, or the booming of a grouper. Other than that, there are no yelling, no talking, no noise, just tranquility."
David Paulu
SSI Dive Control Specialist/Assistant Instructor
Manufacturer certified technician for Scubapro; Aqualung Master Technician
Favorite Place to Dive: "Isle Royale in Lake Superior. Even though the water is a little chilly the wrecks are awesome."
Erik Green
SSI Dive Control Specialist/Assistant Instructor
Favorite Place to Dive: "The warm waters of Lake Superior."
Current Area of Diving Interest: Shipwrecks and underwater technology (ROVs, drop cameras, side scan sonar)."
Quote About Diving: "The key to a good dive is a calm mind."
Seth Mayotte
SSI Dive Control Specialist/Assistant Instructor
American Red Cross First Aid & CPR/AED Instructor
Quote About Diving: "Maintaining mental buoyancy is essential for a good dive."
Milena Sivertson
SSI Dive Control Specialist/Assistant Instructor
Rachael Brandt
Ryan Brandt
Matt Brisbin
Newell Fisk
Elizabeth Hazekamp
Holly Nowacki
Noah Young
Boats
Sunshine II
30' Trojan with twin 225 horsepower engines. Equipped with a full galley, running water, and head. Sleeps six. Ready for six divers, plus Captain and crew.
Betsy
20' Bombard hard hull with twin 60 horsepower engines.
Carries up to six divers, plus Captain and crew.
Roadtrip
18' Avon hard hull with a single 100 horsepower
engine. Carries four to six divers, plus Captain and crew.
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