The Owners

Lynn and Scott Taylor

In the beginning: 
Lynn's father and mother (Ernie and Violet Busnardo) founded A-1 in 1959.

Years of diving: 
Lynn and Scott started diving in the 60's (yes, they're old!) 

Role at A-1: 
Lynn overseas the travel agency, accounting and Scott. 

Scott primarily overseas the education department but dabbles in all aspects of the business.

Diving Credentials:
Lynn is a Master Instructor, Emergency First Aid Instructor and Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor.

Scott is an Instructor Trainer for PADI, DAN and the Handicapped Scuba
Association.

Personal passion:
Spending time with their kids and grandkids.

Non-Diving Activities:
They love ATVing, Motorcycling, Sporting Events and spending every moment they can with their grandkids Dominick and Trinity.

Favorite food:
Lynn is a chocoholic.
Scott is a meat and tators fan.  No "greens" allowed!

Favorite Dive Location:

Lynn's favorites include the Galapagos Islands "because of the high-voltage diving and large number of BIG critters," the Philippines, Solomon Islands and the South Pacific because of the "incredible colors and beauty."

Scott's a huge fan of the Red Sea, Truk Lagoon (wrecks baby), Galapagos (fish on steroids), Thailand and the Philippines (great massages)

Philosophy:
Treasure our family and friends, thank God for all of His blessings and live life to the fullest.

Our Retail Crew

Shane Taylor

Role: General Manager, Downtown Aquarium Programs Director

Real Job: Organize, schedule and conduct Aquarium dive programs, daily business operations, sales, marketing, promotions, merchandizing and displays

Diving Credentials: PADI Master Instructor, Professional Aquarium Dive Guide, Trip/Tour Escort, Master Service Technician.

Personal passions: Ocean and Shark Conservation, Shark Awareness, Photo and Video, Music…

Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Wakeboarding, Snowboarding, Motorcycling, Kick-Boxing, breaking stuff, fixing stuff, good times with good friends, enjoying time at home with my dogs

Favorite food: Italian! Of Course!

Favorite Dive Location: Love every place I have had the privilege to visit but Galapagos is the best place to see a large variety of "big animals" so far for me.  Guadalupe diving with Great White Sharks blew me away too.  Any chance to dive with Sharks, count me in!

Bob Martellini

Role:  Operations Manager & Retail Sales. I have been with A-1 Scuba since Aug 1988.

Diving Credentials: Started diving in 1975 and went into diving full time in 1988.   I became a PADI instructor in Jan 1989

Real Job: Being a loving husband, father and grandfather

Personal Passions: Spending time with my family and close friends, also helping to raise my youngest (2 years old) grandson.

Non-Diving Activities: Motorcycling (been a rider for 45 years) and working around the house

Favorite Food: I love a large variety of food but would have to put Mexican and Italian at the top

Favorite Dive Location: I have enjoyed many places for different reasons. Channel Islands, Indonesia, Cozumel, Truk, Dominica and Roatan are just a few.

Ryano

Role:  Retail Supervisor, Resident Break-dancer.  Wanna have a hand stand contest?

Diving Credentials:  I've been diving just about 4 years and looking to finish my professional training.

Real Job:  Designated Driver

Personal Passions:  Watching the Nuggets, spending time outside, cooking, and playing with my dog, Cody

Non-Diving Activities:  Playing basketball, brea-kdancing, frisbee golf, drawing, 4 wheeling, concert going, and hitting diving boards.

Favorite Food:  Chile Rellenos

Favorite Dive Location:  Anthony's Key Resort in Roatan

 

Don Miller

Role:  Retail Support, EFR Instructor

Diving Credentials: Open Water Diver

Real Job:  Jazz Musician

Personal Passions:  History and the arts

Non-Diving Activities:  Raising my boy, loving my wife, the outdoors and playing jazz.

Favorite Food:  Coffee

Favorite Dive Location: Cozumel

Eric Yester

Role:  Play Facilitator

Diving Credentials: PADI Master Instructor, Emergency First Response Instructor, SDI/TDI Open Water Scuba Instructor, with 14 Instructor Specialties

Real Job:  What - this is my real job

Personal Passions: Having Fun, and yes that is a passion, golf, biking, music, outdoors, movies, just going out and living

Non-Diving Activities:  Sleep, show me were that is not a activity

Favorite Food:  Well that’s like asking who yours favorite child but I guest it would be beer and yes it is a food

Favorite Dive Location: Again - tough for me. It’s a combination of the place and the people as my favorite, as I don’t care if it’s 39 degrees or 100 degrees water temperature. I’m there, and yes I dove in those ranges.

Tammy

Role:  To be part of a great team

Real Job: Bookkeeper

Diving Credentials: I currently am only a snorkeler, but look forward to getting certified.

Personal passion: Spending time with my husband and son

Non Diving Activities: Attending my son's sport events, rollerblading, and swimming

Favorite food: Italian, chicken and of course chocolate

Favorite Dive Location: Maui

Storm

Role:  Retail guru

Diving Credentials: Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Real Job:  Certified Phunologist on the Pro Leisure Tour

Personal Passions: Being alive and all outdoor activities

Non-Diving Activities:  Cycling (pedal and motor) golfing & sailing

Favorite Food:  Liquids (that’s why I’m so skinny)

Favorite Dive Location: Cayman’s, Red Sea, Palau………………

Our Travel Agents

Lynn Taylor

Role:  Owner, Director of Travel Agency – "Island Dreamer"

Real Job:  Schedule, design and escort A-1 Group Trips and do whatever is necessary around the dive store, like cleaning toilets – yuk!

Diving Credentials:  PADI Master Instructor, IDC Staff Instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor, DAN Provider and Amature Photographer

Personal Passion:  Spending time with my family & friends - especially my two precious grandkids.

Non-Diving Activities:  Snow and water skiing, driving ATV's, Horseback ridding and cruising with my husband on his motorcycle

Favorite Food:  Anything chocolate

Favorite Dive Location:  I have quite a long list.  My favorites are the Galapagos because of the exciting high-voltaage diving and the large number of BIG critters, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and anywhere in the South Pacific because of the incredible colors and beauty.  I enjoy many Caribbean destinations as well.

Carolyn

Role:  Travel Agent Extraordinaire!

Diving Credentials:  Open Water 20 years ago. Shark diving at the Aquarium twice!

Real Job: I LOVE booking travel for everyone – divers and non-divers- right up until they go and leave without me.

Personal Passions: Diving, travel, Basset Hounds, my adult children and Lasagna

Non-Diving Activities: My 2 Bassets, Sunny & Champ (he has blue-eyes!!), keep me pretty busy with typical Basset antics, gardening, anything to do with water (I swim, sail, dive and basically try to waterski), hiking, flying and anything Pink Floyd.

Favorite Food: Anything Italian, especially Lasagna!

Favorite Dive Location: I dove a wreck in the Bahamas and will never, ever forget what a kick in the fins it was…

Katie Ann

Role:  Travel Consultant

Diving Credentials:  I have taken resort dive certifications in Turks and Caicos, Jamaica, and Antigua and I really am hooked so now I am in the process of getting my PADI c-card as soon as possible.

Real Job: Mother/Wife

Personal Passions:  Travel and gardening.

Non-Diving Activities: hiking, bike riding, shopping, playing with my daughter!

Favorite Food: Teriyaki Steak and Crab legs.

Favorite Dive Location:  Antigua because this was my first dive experience, I am excited to see more!!

Gwen Wells

Role: Certified Travel Counselor

Real Job: Travel is my Profession/Career & I love it!

Diving Credentials: None – I have taken classes but due to a medical problem I cannot dive

Personal passion: Colorado Rockies Baseball

Non Diving Activities: Rockies Baseball – 13 yrs Season Ticket Holder – Attend 70+ games a year

Favorite food: Whatever is in front of me as long as I didn’t have to cook it!

Favorite Dive Location: Cozumel

Our Service Technicians

Ken Snyder

Role:  Run the Service Department.

Diving Credentials: Assistant Instructor and Equipment Specialty Instructor.

Real Job:   Master Service Technician

Personal Passions:  Enjoying life!  Eating.

Non-Diving Activities:  Riding my FJR, and dirt bike, water skiing, air-chairing, hiking. Most anything fun!

Favorite Food:  Lobster, Pizza, any Italian food

Favorite Dive Location: Anthony's Key is hard to beat. Best country - Costa Rica.

Jack Davis

Role:  Service Technician and Assistant Instructor

Diving Credentials: Assistant Instructor, Equipment Instructor.

Real Job:  Firefighter

Personal Passions:  Enjoying life!  Diving anywhere!!

Non-Diving Activities: Backpacking, cross-country skiing, water skiing, surfing 

Favorite Food:  Lobster, T-Bone Steak, any spicy food and of course Italian food.

Favorite Dive Location: Anthony's Key is hard to beat. La Paz for large animals (whale sharks)

Our Instructors

Aaron

Role: Instructor, Aquarium Dive Guide, and Group Leader

Diving Credentials:  Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Emergency First Responder Instructor, and DAN Dive Emergency Management Instructor.  Past experience in Equipment Service and Live-Aboard dive guide.

Real Job: Business Development Manager for National Mortgage Company.  Diving is my fun job!!!

Personal Passions: Enjoying time with friends/family, reading, movies…and of course meeting new friends through diving!

Non-Diving Activities:  Travel, cooking, motorcycle riding, and wake boarding.

Favorite Food:  Too many to list.  Italian, Thai, & Caribbean are great but always trying out new recipes.  (Love curried goat and Jamaican meat pies)

Favorite Dive Location: North East Grand Cayman and Little Cayman…Bloody Bay never disappoints!

Bill

Role:  Dive Guide at the Downtown Aquarium, Scuba Instructor at A-1 Scuba and Travel Center

Diving Credentials: Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Digital Underwater Photography Instructor, Mind Body and Spirit Diver.

Real Job: Teaching diving is real for me!!
I retired from a career as parole officer in 2005.
I must say I like this better, I haven’t had to handcuff a diving student yet!

Personal Passions:  I love to travel - and anything to do with the water.

Non-Diving Activities: My passion for the water extends to Windsurfing. I also enjoy Cycling and Skiing.

Favorite Food: Whatever the local fare happens to be!

Favorite Dive Location:  Bonaire for the easy shore diving and it’s a quick drive over to Lac Bay for some afternoon Windsurfing!

Brian

Role:  Instructor, Aquarium Dive Guide

Diving Credentials:  Instructor, EFR instructor

Real Job: Aquarium Assistant Dive Safety Officer

Personal Passions: Family, Friends, Water

Non-Diving Activities: Looking for anyone who wants to play Volleyball

Favorite Food: Pizza

Favorite Dive Location: Florida Keys

 

Carol

Role:  Instructor: Coordinate the Divers with Disabilities Program

Diving Credentials: PADI MSDT, EFR Instructor, DAN Instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor

Real Job: Recreation Therapist at Craig Hospital

Personal Passions: My canine kids and being outdoors

Non-Diving Activities: Swimming, Stained Glass, Gardening, hanging out with my dogs

Favorite Food: Tillamook Cheese

Favorite Dive Location: If not Chatfield, it would be Bonaire

 

Chris Hatfield

Role:  Recreational & Technical Diving Instructor, Gas Blender Instructor

Real Job:  Technical Consultant, Hitachi Data Systems and Advertising Sales Manager, Toyota Trails magazine and www.tlca.org

Diving Credentials:  PADI Master Instructor, Technical Diving International Instructor Trainer

Personal Passion:  Scuba diving and four-wheeling

Non-Diving Activities:  Four wheeling, part time Toyota Land Cruiser mechanic, family PC support

Favorite Food:  There isn't much I won't eat.

Favorite Dive Location:  Rangiroa, Tahiti and Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman

Dave

Role: Enthusiastic Open Water Scuba Instructor

Real Job:  I have been a Water Treatment Plant Operator and Lead Maintenance Tech for the Denver Water Department for 28 years.

Diving Credentials:  Open Water Scuba Instructor, Emergency First Response Instructor.

Personal Passion:  Family, traveling and diving.

Non-Diving Activities:  Reading, hiking, hunting, and fishing.

Favorite Food:  Road kill, but it's hard to find someone to watch out for traffic!

Favorite Dive Location:  Cozumel, Mexico

Doug

Role:  Instructor

Diving Credentials:  PADI IDC Staff Instructor, DAN DES Instructor, Emergency First Response Instructor, Instructor for 14 PADI Specialties

Real Job:  Chief Financial Officer of a group of affiliated broker/dealers and registered investment advisors

Personal Passions:  Opening up the underwater world to new divers.  It's a big world.  So few people get to explore its vastness. 

Non-Diving Activities:  Riding my Harley and flying my airplane.  I get in a few licks on my guitars every now and then as well.

Favorite Food:  Cheese pizza!

Favorite Dive Location:  Cozumel – It's close, the island is nice, the reefs and fish are great and drift diving is the easiest!  It's a great A1 group trip!

Fawn

Real Job: Lucky me, I don't really have one!

Diving credentials: PADI MSDT, HSA, DSAT, & EFR Instructor

Personal passion: Diving!

Non-Diving Activities: Traveling, Live Music, Mountain Biking, Kayaking

Favorite Food: Grilled Salmon

Favorite Dive Location:
Wildwood Falls, Oregon

Jack

Role: instructor

Diving Credentials: padi msdt, hsa instructor

Real Job: volunteer aquarium diver, red cross instructor, retired lockheed martin, retired us army, retired national ski patrol

Personal Passions: diving with my wife, digital underwater photography esp macro photography

Non-Diving Activities: tae kwon do, teaching at my church, camping with my wife

Favorite Food: tiramisu, sugar free hazelnut soy latte

Favorite Dive Location: turks and caicos, niihau

Jeff

Role:  Instructor (since 1993)

Diving Credentials:  Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Real Job: Certified General Appraiser (Commercial buildings and land)

Personal Passions: Teaching diving, underwater photography, grandkids and family

Non-Diving Activities: Bicycling, reading

Favorite Food: Tell me something I don't like!

Favorite Dive Location: Depends. For "beauty" it's Palau. For "wrecks" it's Truk.  For "closest good place" it's Cozumel.

Jennie

Role:  Master Instructor

Diving Credentials: Master Instructor since 2004; Open Water Scuba Instructor since 1999; Diver since 1994; Specialty Instructor in Peak Performance Buoyancy, Project Aware, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation, Altitude, Boat, Drift, Deep, Dry Suit, Enriched Air, Night, Medic First Aid and Care for Children with AED

Real Job: Global Learning and Development Specialist focused on leadership training programs

Personal Passions: Scuba diving, travel, triathlons, animals, reading, movies, and education

Non-Diving Activities: Ph.D. student at University of Denver

Favorite Food: Mexican food and ice cream

Favorite Dive Location: Cozumel for overall diversity of diving and fun island activities

Joanne

Role:  scuba instructor at A-1

Diving Credentials:  Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Real Job:  chemistry teacher at Lakewood H.S.

Personal Passions:  diving and traveling, of course!

Non-Diving Activities:  embroidery and quilting, bike riding

Favorite Food:  sushi and anything Italian

Favorite Dive Location:  Galapagos Islands

Jennifer Leyden

Role: Instructor for the Arapahoe High School Program

Real Job: Mom/Wife/Physical Education Teacher/American Red Cross Instructor

Diving Credentials: PADI Instructor; Diving for 11 years

Personal passion: Family; Everything to do with water: in, above & under it

Non Diving Activities: sports; fitness; horses

Favorite food: I don’t really like food, I like dessert.

Favorite Dive Location: I’m still looking. Suggestions?

John

Role: Open Water Scuba Instructor

Real Job: Diving is my life. I have been a professional
“DIVE BUM” for over 40 years.

Diving Credentials: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. Marine Biology Degree from California State University Long Beach. I have been a marine scientist and research diver on various projects around the world. I now work with OCEANS FOR YOUTH as a volunteer educator to bring the joy of diving and ocean conservation to young people. I am also active in GREENPEACE, COUSTEAU SOCIEITY, and the AMERICAN CETACEAN SOCIEITY.

Personal passion: My family and grand kids and diving. I'm not sure in what order.

Non Diving Activities: Blue Water Sailing, Big Game Fishing. BOATS, DIVING and FISHING makes for a happy life.

Favorite food: Dorado fish “Mahi Mahi” that I caught.

Favorite Dive Location: Kona Hawaii

Louise

Role:  Scuba Instructor, Instructor Harassment specialist

Diving Credentials:  PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, DAN Instructor

Real Job:  Computer nerd for Vantage Marketing Research, Inc.  International Sales Representative for Baron Worldwide.

Personal Passions:  Teaching Diving

Non-Diving Activities:  traveling, reading, backcountry skiing

Favorite food:  Big fat juicy Steak!

Favorite Dive Location:  Indonesia

Mike

Role:  Scuba instructor, you may also see me running around at the May sale working on the AV equipment or in the classrooms working on the computers

Diving Credentials:  MSDT (Master Scuba Diving Instructor) EFR instructor, and DAN DEMP instructor

Real Job: I'm still looking for a real job, in the mean time I do Network and Internet Security for a firm that deals in the stock market.

Personal Passions: My Son and his well-being, and making money in the stock market

Non-Diving Activities: Anything that doesn't have to do with computers

Favorite Food: I have to choose? – hmmm if it's chocolate I'll eat it

Favorite Dive Location: Where it's wet and warm – I admit, I DON'T like the cold

Peter

Role:  Instructor

Real Job: Microsoft Engineer with a large healthcare provider

Diving Credentials: PADI Staff Instructor, BSAC Advanced Diver, Rebreather and gas blender instructor.  Diving since 1975

Personal passion: Being with family and friends

Non Diving Activities: Shooting & enjoying the great Colorado outdoors

Favorite food: Has to be steak

Favorite Dive Location: Red Sea off Saudi Arabia, Scapa Flow

Rita

Role:  Instructor

Diving Credentials:  Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor, Specialty Instructor, EFR Instructor.

Real Job: Deputy Director of Planning and Development for the City of Centennial

Personal Passions:  My husband Pete. 

Non-Diving Activities:  Motorcycle riding – street and dirt (also certified to teach you how to ride a motorcycle). Snowboarding. Tae Kwon Do.   

Favorite Food:  Anything hot and spicy!

Favorite Dive Location:  I like it all….from Chatfield to the Carribean and beyond, from east coast to west coast, fresh water to salt water, and early morning to night.  Give me enough water to put me under and a full tank and I am "gone diving."

Robert

Role:  PADI Instructor and Handicapped Scuba instructor.   I enjoy helping disabled students experience scuba for the first time

Diving Credentials:  PADI Instructor and HSA Instructor

Real Job: I've run a GIS/map making company for the past 20 years.

Personal Passions:  Building my business, volunteering, and of course diving, particularly with the latest and greatest high tech equipment.

Non-Diving Activities: Lifting, reading, volunteer for Salvation Army, Dartmouth alumni activities.

Favorite Food: Ribeye Steak

Favorite Dive Location: Komodo Islands in Indonesia

Scott Taylor

Role:  Owner, obedient husband & dive-a-holic

Real Job:  I can honestly say that I'm a diver through and through.  I most enjoy teaching instructor level courses and classes for divers with disabilities.

Diving Credentials:  Instructor Trainer for:  PADI, DAN and the Handicapped Scuba Association

Personal Passion:  Spending time with my wife, kids and grandkids

Non-Diving Activities:  Motorcycling, ATVing, playing ball with my grandson and dancing with my granddaughter.

Favorite Food:  Meat and tators.  Not a "green" fan.

Favorite Dive Location:  I can't name just one, so here's my top five (in order) Red Sea, Truk, Palau, Galapagos, Thailand & the Philippines.

Shane Taylor

Role: General Manager, Downtown Aquarium Programs Director

Real Job: Organize, schedule and conduct Aquarium dive programs, daily business operations, sales, marketing, promotions, merchandizing and displays

Diving Credentials: PADI Master Instructor, Professional Aquarium Dive Guide, Trip/Tour Escort, Master Service Technician.

Personal passions: Ocean and Shark Conservation, Shark Awareness, Photo and Video, Music…

Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Wakeboarding, Snowboarding, Motorcycling, Kick-Boxing, breaking stuff, fixing stuff, good times with good friends, enjoying time at home with my dogs

Favorite food: Italian! Of Course!

Favorite Dive Location: Love every place I have had the privilege to visit but Galapagos is the best place to see a large variety of "big animals" so far for me.  Guadalupe diving with Great White Sharks blew me away too.  Any chance to dive with Sharks, count me in!

Stacie

Role:  Instructor

Diving Credentials:  PADI master scuba diver trainer, Emergency First Responder instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor.

Real Job:  Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the field of mental health. I have a private psychotherapy practice and I also provide pro bono services to people who could otherwise not afford services.

Personal Passions: My work as a social worker and the privilege of helping others; spending time with my friends and family; and of course DIVING!

Non-Diving Activities:  Reading, working out.    

Favorite Food:  I love all kinds of foods, but I have to say that Mexican and Indian are among my favorites.

Favorite Dive Location:  Cozumel.

Stosh Ritchie

Role: Instructor and Aquarium Dive Guide

Real Job: Computer Consultant

Diving Credentials: Master Scuba Diving Trainer

Personal passion: Besides making a mean Margarita (learned from my days as bartender), making sure that all of our diving friends have a great time!

Non Diving Activities: Watersports, sailing, skiing, travel

Favorite food: Mexican

Favorite Dive Location: Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

Tammi

Role:  Instructor and Class Clown ;)

Diving Credentials:  Master Instructor and DAN Instructor

Real Job: Manager of an Animal E.R.

Personal Passions: TRAVEL, playing with my dogs, anything in the water.

Non-Diving Activities: Did I mention Travel? Vegas is always good!

Favorite Food: Mexican the spicier the better, or a good ole’ steak!

Favorite Dive Location: HMMM Galapagos is the ultimate, Cozumel for a close quick trip or Chatfield -- yup I said Chatfield!

Tim

Role: Retail Support, Aquarium Dive Guide, Scuba Instructor

Real Job: This is my real job!

Diving Credentials: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, Emergency First Response instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor

Personal passion:  Underwater exploration and photography

Non Diving Activities: Snowboarding, bicycling, rock climbing, School

Favorite food: sushi

Favorite Dive Location: Molokai, Hawaii

Todd

Role:  Downtown Aquarium Dive Program Manager and A-1 Instructor

Diving Credentials:  PADI MSDT, DAN Instructor, EFR Instructor, NAUI Instructor Trainer

Real Job: Corporate Dive Safety Officer for the Downtown Aquarium and Landry's

Personal Passions: hangin' with my wife and dogs, travel anywhere and  sushi

Non-Diving Activities: motorcycles, golf, food and wine, hiking

Favorite Food: BBQ...Sushi...BBQ...Sushi...Martini's

Favorite Dive Location: Roatan Honduras

Wendie Murray

Role:  Training Manager in the Education Department, Dive Guide at the Downtown Aquarium and A-1 group trip leader

Diving Credentials: MSDT Instructor, DAN DEMP Instructor, HSA Instructor

Real Job: Playing at A-1

Personal Passions:  I enjoy working with kids and experiencing different cultures around the world.

Non-Diving Activities: Sand volleyball, camping in the summer and enjoy hanging out at the lakes on our boat.

Favorite Food: Hot Wings

Favorite Dive Location:  Philippines and the Galapagos

Kate

Role:  Sales associate at A-1, Assistant Instructor and resident Cheeto Addict.

Diving Credentials:  I am a Divemaster working on my Assistant Instructor. I lived in Bonaire studying Slippery Dick mating habits (seriously), and had a brief stint working at the Divers Alert Network(DAN) as a Research Intern.

Real Job: Blonde Representative: Englewood Chapter

Personal Passions: Writing, reading, shoes and daisies.

Non-Diving Activities: Camping, running, biking, and finding a good concert.

Favorite Food: Any kind of fish or seafood. Oh, and Cheetos!

Favorite Dive Location: Tie between Aguila on Roatan and 1000 Steps on Bonaire

Brad Anderson

Role: Assist with Arapahoe High School and other A-1 classes

Diving Credentials:  Divemaster

Real Job: Facility/Program Supervisor of aquatics for the City of Englewood.  My main focus is operations of Pirates Cove Water Park

Personal Passions: Spending time with family and teaching

Non-Diving Activities: Skiing, softball, watching sporting events

Favorite Food: Mexican Food & Italian

Favorite Dive Location: Curacao

Our Assistant Instructors

Antti

Role: Assistant Instructor, Dive guide at the Aquarium

Real Job: Construction Project Manager

Diving Credentials: Assistant Instructor

Personal passion: Diving, climbing and skiing

Non Diving Activities: Outdoors

Favorite food:  meat balls and potatoes

Favorite Dive Location: Thailand and Philippines, off the coast of BC is a great cold water diving with giant octopus.

Jack Davis

Role:  Service Technician and Assistant Instructor

Diving Credentials: Assistant Instructor, Equipment Instructor.

Real Job:  Firefighter

Personal Passions:  Enjoying life!  Diving anywhere!!

Non-Diving Activities: Backpacking, cross-country skiing, water skiing, surfing 

Favorite Food:  Lobster, T-Bone Steak, any spicy food and of course Italian food.

Favorite Dive Location: Anthony's Key is hard to beat. La Paz for large animals (whale sharks)  

Jade

Role: Assistant Instructor

Diving Credentials: PADI AI

Real Job: student and Assessment & Referral Specialist for Exempla Healthcare

Personal Passions: Diving, Freemasonry, Reading

Non-Diving Activities: Walking the dogs, Movies, Reading, Lodge activities

Favorite Food: Lobster Bisque

Favorite Dive Location: Where ever I can get to

Ken Snyder

Role:  Run the Service Department.

Diving Credentials: Assistant Instructor and Equipment Specialty Instructor.

Real Job:   Master Service Technician

Personal Passions:  Enjoying life!  Eating.

Non-Diving Activities:  Riding my FJR, and dirt bike, water skiing, air-chairing, hiking. Most anything fun!

Favorite Food:  Lobster, Pizza, any Italian food

Favorite Dive Location: Anthony's Key is hard to beat. Best country - Costa Rica.

Jenn

Role:  Assistant Instructor

Diving Credentials:  PADI Rescue Diver, although I’m working my way towards Instructor and HAS Buddy diver.

Real Job:  Student

Personal Passions:  I love seeing the joy when I can help people discover and accomplish something new.

Non-Diving Activities:  Swimming, Triathlons, Skiing, Volunteering, Smiling and Laughing.

Favorite Food:  I consider myself an equal opportunity eater. I love to try new things, and even if I don’t like it, I just call it “adventures in eating”.

Favorite Dive Location:  I’ve loved everywhere I’ve had the opportunity to dive so far.

Adam

Role: Assistant Instructor

Real Job: Engineer

Diving Credentials: Divemaster

Personal passion: Exploring the unknown

Non Diving Activities: Rock Climbing, Motorcycles, Skiing, Hikes, Travel

Favorite food: Indian - but not before diving

Favorite Dive Location: Belize

 

 

 

Michael

Role:  Assistant Instructor

Diving Credentials:  PADI AI

Real Job: Writing software for a financial services company

Personal Passions: Diving and my yellow Labrador retriever

Non-Diving Activities: Hiking, bicycling, travel and surfing the web

Favorite Food: Pizza. hot, cold, whatever!

Favorite Dive Location: Kelp forests of the California Channel islands

Nathalie

Role: Assistant Instructor

Diving Credentials:  PADI diver since 1986

Real Job: International Sales Consultant

Personal Passions: Traveling

Non-Diving Activities: Painting, Cycling, Archery

Favorite Food: Thai

Favorite Dive Location: So many favorite places. On the top of the list, it used to be Palau and Truk lagoon. Tioman island has now moved to the first spot.

Butch

Role: Assistant Instructor

Diving Credentials:  PADI Assistant Instuctor, Lead Diver at Denver Aquarium

Real Job: Business Owner – Embroidery by Design, Inc., Engineer

Personal Passions: Family & diving

Non-Diving Activities: Boating, biking, skiing, muscle cars, flying, dirt bikes

Favorite Food: Pizza & Mexican food

Favorite Dive Location: Cozumel, Roatan, anywhere it is wet!

AnnaMaria

Role: Assistant Instructor

Diving Credentials:  PADI Assistant Instructor, Volunteer Diver at Denver Aquarium

Real Job: Business Owner – Embroidery by Design, Inc

Personal Passions: Family & Friends – meeting new people, going new places & trying new things……. And of course Diving!

Non-Diving Activities: Travel & outdoor activities, volunteering, music

Favorite Food: Sushi, Mexican food & Wine

Favorite Dive Location: Cozumel & Roatan so far – I can’t wait to explore others

Our Divemasters

Kelly Lusk

Role:  Divemaster

Real Job:  Attorney by day, diver by nights and weekends.

Diving Credentials:  PADI Divemaster

Personal Passion:  Loving my family and friends as well as anyone that I have the pleasure of meeting.

Non-Diving Activities:  Reading, practicing Zen Buddhism, yoga, and playing Rock Band and Little Big Planet with my brother.

Favorite Food:  Mom's lasagna

Favorite Dive Location:  Galapagos is my favorite so far, but there is still a lot of world out there to dive.

Jes

Role:  Divemaster at the Downtown Aquarium and at A1.

Diving Credentials: Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, and Divemaster

Real Job: Elementary school teacher.

Personal Passions: Enjoying time with friends and family.

Non-Diving Activities: Skiing, tennis, golf, bocce ball, watching the Nuggets, and road trips around Colorado!!!

Favorite Food: Thai and Indian (I couldn't decide)

Favorite Dive Location: Little Cayman Island

 

Kris

Role: I am a Divemaster who assists instructors, especially underwater photo classes with the artificial reef, and love to help with bubblemakers for kids.

Real Job: I am a Chef: at this time working in a senior living facility, and I moonlight as Grandma of 4.

Diving Credentials: PADI Divemaster with some specialties: underwater photo, wreck, cenote & cave diver being my favorites. I have been a member of the Landry’s Downtown Aquarium Team for almost 7 years.

Personal passion: Diving, photography, and the art of food and entertaining.

Non-Diving Activities: Ride motorcycles, ski, snowmobile, river-raft, ride horses, and love sailing or motor boating. I sew and paint a bit too. My Grandkids are trying to teach me to fish.

Favorite food: Ice Cream

Favorite Dive Location: Australia: Great Barrier Reef

Matt

Role: Divemaster

Real Job: Technical Security Supervisor

Diving Credentials: PADI Divemaster

Personal passion: Going new places and meeting new people

Non Diving Activities: Fly fishing, camping, rafting, the bar olympics, local music, and walking around Denver looking for adventure!

Favorite food: Anything with a little spice to it

Favorite Dive Location: Every new place I go has something unique, it's to hard to pick a favorite.

Judy

Role: Divemaster

Real Job: Financial Planner

Diving Credentials: PADI Divemaster, volunteer diver at the Downtown Aquarium

Personal passion: Spending time w/family, friends, and my chocolate Lab.

Non Diving Activities: Skiing, tennis (lefties rule!), swimming, and travel

Favorite food: Probably Italian

Favorite Dive Location: I’ve liked ‘em all – but the Turks and Caicos are great.

Peter

Role: Divemaster

Real Job:Energy Consultant

Diving Credentials: PADI Divemaster

Personal passion:I like doing technical diving.  It adds a lot more flexibility in how and where you can dive.

Non Diving Activities: When I'm not diving I'm windsurfing

Favorite food: Twinkies!

Favorite Dive Location: Locally, Lake Turquoise, it usually has the clearest water in Colorado.  Otherwise Florida and the Pacific Northwest.

Rich

Role: Divemaster

Real Job: Investment advisor for high net worth individuals

Diving Credentials: PADI Divemaster

Personal passion: Diving, travel, reading, dining and enjoying life!

Non Diving Activities: Spending time with the wife and our animals, travel, gaming, watching the UFC and planning the next dive trip

Favorite food: Chicken fried steak or sauerbraten, too close to call

Favorite Dive Location: Fiji for amazing diving in an exotic locale, Chatfield for a dive trip that doesn't involve planes, hotels and wondering if it's safe to drink the water

Amy

Role:  Divemaster

Diving Credentials:  PADI Divemaster

Real Job: Annuity Wholesaler

Personal Passions:  Aside from diving - traveling!

Non-Diving Activities:  Dining out and drinking vino, sipping on lattes and reading the news, UFC, learning about pretty much anything, watching CNBC business documentaries (sick, right?), shopping at Whole Foods, enjoying beautiful weather, and cherishing time with my pets and husband

Favorite Food:  Chocolate melty cake; s’mores; big, delicious, colorful salads; and the cheese enchiladas at La Sandia

Favorite Dive Location:  Roatan, because that’s where I married the love of my life and spent my honeymoon with him in the subaquatic

Bruce

Role:  Divemaster

Diving Credentials:  PADI Divemaster, DAN DEMP, EFR

Real Job: IT Manager

Personal Passions:  , spending time with friends and family & travel

Non-Diving Activities:  Horses and making sawdust

Favorite Food:  Dessert

Favorite Dive Location:  Philippines ,so far, but they keep getting better