Meet The Team

Meet The Denver Team

The Owners Of A-1 Scuba & Travel Center – Lynn & Scott

Click on the images below to learn more about our staff.

Owners

Retail Crew

Shane

Bob

Eric

Tammy

Andrew

Brett

Clay

Kayce

Travel Department

Lynn

Katie

Keith

Service Department

Shane

Bill

Brian

Instructor Trainers

Scott

Chris

Carol

Butch

Heather

IDC Staff Instructors

Lynn

Wendie

Todd

Instructors

Shane

Bob

Lynn

Scott

Louise

Chris

Carol

Butch

Heather

Andrew

Anna M

Bill

Cliff

Dan

Dave

Jennifer

Joanne

Mike

Rita

Stacie

Steve

Todd

Tom

Tony

Julie

Thomas

John

Andrew

Cliff

Assistant Instructors

Sean

Adam

Chelsea

Don

Jack

Jade

Rafal

Jeff

Dave

Mitzi

Kayce

Heather

Divemasters

Bruce

Kevin

Joe

Michael

Johnny

Eric

Owners

Lynn and Scott Taylor

Years of diving:
Lynn and Scott started diving in the late 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 PADI Master Instructor, DAN 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, Jet Skiing, Sporting Events and spending every moment they can with their grandkids Dominick, Trinity, Brodie and Mila.

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 can’t name just one, so here’s his top six: Philippines, Thailand, Truk, Palau, Galapagos and Cozumel

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

Our Motto:

The grass will never grow under our feet but the sand will always remain between our toes!

Shane

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

Bob

Role: Operations Manager & Retail Sales and PADI Instructor. 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, and mostly spending quality time with my youngest grandson.

Non-Diving Activities: 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.

Eric

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

Andrew

Role: Instructor & Sales Specialist

Diving Credentials: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association Dive Master, PADI TecRec, DAN DEMP & DFA Pro Instructor

Real Job: Professional student

Personal Passions: Marine & aquatic studies, travel & culture, animal welfare, and cooking

Non-Diving Activities: Traveling, backcountry skiing, hiking, and hockey

Favorite Food: I love my seafood (sustainable of course)

Favorite Dive Location: Where ever I’m going next…I love Socorro Island and the big animals there

Brett

Role: Sales Specialist

Diving Credentials: Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air, Wreck Diver

Real Job: Bigfoot Hunter

Personal Passions: Southwest Archeology, music, sports memorabilia, spending time with family and friends

Non-Diving Activities: Mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, fitness, reading

Favorite Food: Steak, burgers, Italian, pasties

Best Dive Location: I have enjoyed every place I have been, but favorite is probably Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon

Clay

Role: Sales Specialist and All Around Good Guy

Diving Credentials: Padi Divemaster

Real Job: Superhero

Personal Passions: Food. Spending quality time with quality people. Food. Working with animals. Cooking. Also food.

Non-Diving Activities: Anything outdoors! Running, jumping, climbing trees, kayaking, tennis, watermelon game (look it up), hiking, camping, building snowmen…you get the idea.

Favorite Food: Fresh wings and a mean pina colada.

Favorite Dive Location: Heron Island in the Great Barrier Reef, though I hope to stumble across new ones as the years pass.

Kayce

Role: Spreading good vibes

Diving Credentials: SSI Assistant Instructor

Real Job: Part time in A-1 retail department, Bartender/Server

Personal Passions: Coral reef restoration, cleaning our oceans, and saving the planet one straw at a time

Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Hiking, snowboarding, weightlifting, and yoga

Favorite Food: All the food…but mostly pizza

Favorite Dive Location: So far diving in the British Virgin Islands is my favorite, but I can’t wait to get more locations under my belt and discover more of our beautiful underwater world.

Lynn

Role: Owner, Director of Travel Agency – “Island Dreamer” and Instructor

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: SSI AIT, 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 four 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.

Katie

Role: Travel Consultant (15 years plus) Sandals CSS agent* includes specialty travel sales to Sandals and Beaches properties in the Caribbean.

Diving Credentials: PADI Open Water. Working as a travel agent in a quality dive store like A-1 is like a kid working in a candy store. I want to go on all the trips!

Real Job: Mother/Wife

Personal Passions: Travel/Diving and Gardening.

Non-Diving Activities: Hiking, bike riding, shopping, driving my daughter to all her events and functions!

Favorite Food: Teriyaki Steak and Crab legs.

Favorite Dive Location: I will find one and let you know, so far I love every place I’ve dove

Keith

Role: Travel Consultant & PADI Scuba Instructor

Real Job: Travel Agent/Consultant My brother said “I have never had a real job.” As a travel agent working in California and Colorado for over 14 years, I was able to travel to 6 out of 7 continents. As a PADI MSDT Instructor for 10 years, I dove almost every day in Hawaii. I have enjoyed traveling and it has been very rewarding. I love having excited clients returning from their vacations and sharing all the fantastic memories they experienced with me. It makes my day. I can’t wait to help plan their next adventure. Come visit me” Let’s talk stories and plan your next vacation .”

Diving Credentials: PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and ERF Instructor (with only one leg, I lost 1 leg below the knee in a motor cycle accident while in my twenties) Spent 10 years teaching diving in Hawaii on the island of Maui and certified over 400 divers.

Personal Passion: Helping people have experiences of a lifetime – like showing a diver a turtle underwater for the first time or someone returning from vacation and sharing all the fantastic memories they experienced with me.

Non-Diving Activities: Disc Golf, White Water Rafting, Softball, Travel, Snow Skiing, Billiards, Photography, and Watching College Football. GBR – Nebraska!

Favorite Food: Meat and Taters … I grew up in Nebraska

Favorite Dive Location: That is a hard question for me – for a long time, I thought Palau was awesome until I dove the Philippine’s. I saw more new species of fish then I had ever seen before and the variety of soft coral color’s were amazing. It was a mind blowing experience. Another love of mine is wreck diving. I’ve had the opportunity to see a Sherman tank underwater, swim a lap on the deck of an old cruise ship 100ft underwater and I found a WWII Corsair off the coast of California. Ask me next year and my answer might change!

Shane

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!

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 at A-1: Service technician

Personal Passions: Scuba diving, ocean and global conservation and consciousness

Non-Diving Activities: bass playing, song writing, snowboarding and family

Favorite Food: Ethiopian

Favorite Dive Location: Columbia deep and Punta Sur

Scott

Role: Owner, obedient husband & dive-a-holic and Course Director

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, jet skiing, camping…………..

Favorite Food: Meat and tators. Not a “green” fan.

Favorite Dive Location: I can’t name just one, so here’s my top six: Philippines, Thailand, Truk, Palau, Galapagos and Cozumel

Chris

Role: Recreational & Technical Diving Instructor, Gas Blender Instructor

Real Job: Sr. Storage Engineer, Sirius Computer Solutions and Advertising Sales Manager, Toyota Trails magazine, www.tlca.org

Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor Trainer, PADI Master Instructor, Technical Diving International Instructor Trainer, PADI Tec Deep Instructor

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

Carol

Role: Instructor: Coordinate the Divers with Disabilities Program and Swimming Instructor

Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor Trainer, PADI MSDT, EFR Instructor, DAN Instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor and IDC Staff 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

Butch

Role: Professional Recreator

Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor Trainer, PADI IDC Staff Instructor, PADI Master Instructor, EFR Instructor Trainer, DAN DEMP Instructor, A1 Scuba Dive Guide at the Denver Aquarium, Denver Aquarium Dive Academy Instructor.

Real Job: Mechanical Engineer

Personal Passions: Family & teaching scuba diving

Non-Diving Activities: Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Skiing, Flying, Motorcycles, Traveling

Favorite Food: Pizza & Mexican Food

Favorite Dive Location: Anywhere it is Wet!

Heather

Diving credentials: SSI Instructor Trainer,PADI IDC Staff Instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor, Specialty Instructor, Emergency First Response Instructor.

Personal passion: Having new experiences in new places (although my family and friends might argue it’s Frankie Valli). I’m an adrenalin junkie.

Non-Diving Activities: Time with family and friends-both two and four legged, travel, reading and photography.

Favorite Food: Nobody makes anything that tastes as good as mom does-except dad!

Favorite Dive Location: My favorite locations are always wherever I happen to be blowing bubbles at the time, most recently Lembeh Strait and Palau. Thanks to all of the great dive buddies along the way who have made diving such an incredible experience!

Lynn

Role: Owner, Director of Travel Agency – “Island Dreamer” and Instructor

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: SSI AIT, 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 four 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

Wendie

Role: Aquarium Dive Guide, PADI Instructor, A-1 group trip leader and PADI Starfish Swimming Instructor Trainer

Diving Credentials: IDC Staff Instructor, EFR Instructor, DAN DEMP Instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor and PADI Starfish Swim Instructor Trainer.

Real Job: Program Director at the Denver Downtown Aquarium

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

Non-Diving Activities: Volleyball, Running (I think), Skiing, camping and enjoy hanging out with good friends.

Favorite Food: Hot Wings

Favorite Dive Location: Philippines and the Galapagos

Todd

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

Diving Credentials: SSI AIT, 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

Shane

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!

Bob

Role: Operations Manager & Retail Sales and PADI Instructor. 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, and mostly spending quality time with my youngest grandson.

Non-Diving Activities: 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.

Lynn

Role: Owner, Director of Travel Agency – “Island Dreamer” and Instructor

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: SSI AIT, 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 four 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

Scott

Role: Owner, obedient husband & dive-a-holic and Course Director

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, jet skiing, camping…………..

Favorite Food: Meat and tators. Not a “green” fan.

Favorite Dive Location: I can’t name just one, so here’s my top six: Philippines, Thailand, Truk, Palau, Galapagos and Cozumel

Louise

Role: Scuba Instructor and Instructor Harassment specialist

Diving Credentials: PADI Course Director, DAN Instructor Trainer, EFR Instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association 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

Chris

Role: Recreational & Technical Diving Instructor, Gas Blender Instructor

Real Job: Sr. Storage Engineer, Sirius Computer Solutions and Advertising Sales Manager, Toyota Trails magazine, www.tlca.org

Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor Trainer, PADI Master Instructor, Technical Diving International Instructor Trainer, PADI Tec Deep Instructor

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

Carol

Role: Instructor: Coordinate the Divers with Disabilities Program and Swimming Instructor

Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor Trainer, PADI MSDT, EFR Instructor, DAN Instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor and IDC Staff 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

Butch

Role: Professional Recreator

Real Job: Mechanical Engineer

Personal Passions: Family & teaching scuba diving

Non-Diving Activities: Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Skiing, Flying, Motorcycles, Traveling

Favorite Food: Pizza & Mexican Food

Favorite Dive Location: Anywhere it is Wet!

Heather

Diving credentials: SSI Instructor Trainer,PADI IDC Staff Instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor, Specialty Instructor, Emergency First Response Instructor.

Personal passion: Having new experiences in new places (although my family and friends might argue it’s Frankie Valli). I’m an adrenalin junkie.

Non-Diving Activities: Time with family and friends-both two and four legged, travel, reading and photography.

Favorite Food: Nobody makes anything that tastes as good as mom does-except dad!

Andrew

Role: Instructor & Sales Specialist

Diving Credentials: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association Dive Master, PADI TecRec, DAN DEMP & DFA Pro Instructor

Real Job: Professional student

Personal Passions: Marine & aquatic studies, travel & culture, animal welfare, and cooking

Non-Diving Activities: Traveling, backcountry skiing, hiking, and hockey

Favorite Food: I love my seafood (sustainable of course)

Favorite Dive Location: Where ever I’m going next…I love Socorro Island and the big animals there

Anna M

AnnaMaria

Role: Instructor, Swimming Instructor and Professional Recreator

Diving Credentials: SSI and PADI Instructor, Dive Guide at Denver Aquarium, Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor and DAN DEMP Instructor

Real Job: Independent Distributor at AdvoCare

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, Little Cayman, Bonaire & Fiji

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!

Cliff

Role: Instructor

Diving Credentials: I have been a PADI certified diver since 2003. I am now a Divemaster, and plan to keep learning and improving my skills.

Personal passion: Diving…of course! I love improving my diving skills and knowledge. There’s a long list of additional training I would like to do, and a lifetime of great destinations to visit!

Non-Diving Activities: I enjoy spending time outdoors; anywhere from a tropical beach to a 14’er. I hike, snowboard, sail, and fly fish, I really enjoy learning new things, and trying new activities.

Favorite Food: Anything I haven’t already tried! I love trying new foods, and rarely meet a meal I don’t enjoy. I can’t pick one favorite, but my top choices are sushi, Indian, and Cuban.

Favorite Dive Location: The British Virgin Islands. The BVI’s were great because I could combine two hobbies: sailing and scuba. There’s a great freedom in being able to rent a sailboat and go where ever I want to go. Wreck dive sounds like fun? We can sail to the Wreck of the Rhone. Afternoon snorkeling session? Set sail for The Baths on the west coast of Virgin Gorda!

Dan

Role: Instructor and Swim Instructor

Diving Credentials: PADI Starfish Swim Instructor, PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, & EFR Instructor.

Personal Passion: Traveling to places I’ve never seen before and listening to all kinds of music.

Non-Diving Activities: Backpacking/camping or just about anything outdoors; working out (running); playing & watching sports (especially football), hanging with family & friends; and ping-pong!

Favorite Food: Any type of rice & pizza.

Favorite Dive Location: The Hawaiian island of Niihau.

Dave

“SUPER DAVE” – HONORABE ALL-TIME CREWMEMBER

Dave was a loyal crewmember of A-1 for many years. He was a friend to many, loving husband, companion, highly qualified instructor, ambassador of diving and a REALLY, REALLY GOOD GUY!!

He will be forever remembered for his unending smile, upbeat personality, friendly disposition and ability to make those around him feel special. Those of us fortunate to know him are better as a result.

Love ya man!!

Jennifer

Role: Instructor for the Arapahoe High School Program and Swimming Instructor

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?

Joanne

Role: Instructor

Diving Credentials: PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer And Specialty Instructor; Emergency First Response Instructor; DAN Dive Emergency Specialist Instructor; Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor.

Real Job: Retired school teacher

Personal Passions: Diving and Traveling, of course!

Non-Diving Activities: Riding my bicycle. Machine embroidery and quilting. Reading. Snowshoeing.

Favorite food: Sushi and all things Italian

Favorite Dive Location: Galapagos and Indonesia for big adventure. Cozumel for close-by and fabulous. Chatfield Cay….. for the visibility.

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

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.”

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.

Steve

Diving Credentials: DiveMaster, DAN DEMP, Advanced Diver, Instructor, Enriched Air, Rescue Certified.

Real Job: Economic Development for the City of Wheat Ridge

Personal passion: I enjoy working and teaching and getting others excited about the undersea world.

Non-Diving Activities: You mean there are other things besides diving? I’m a curious person, as you can see by the look in my picture. I love trying new things. You’ll find me, golfing, working on our 1906 home, hiking, and finding the gem of dining in Denver.

Favorite food: Chocolate anything

Favorite Dive Location: Cozumel is just so convenient and great diving, then it’s the Philippines followed by the Caribbean. Other than that, my favorite place is “the next dive trip location.”

Todd

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

Diving Credentials: SSI AIT, 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

Tom

Role: SCUBA Instructor

Diving Credentials: PADI Master Instructor; DAN DEMP Instructor; Handicapped Scuba Association, HSA, Instuctor, Aquarium Guide.

Real Job: I’m actually retired. This allows time to spend on my association with A-1 Scuba. I gain great personal enjoyment, satisfaction and meaning in the process of introducing people to Scuba.

Personal Passions: Time spent with family, grandchildren and close friends.

Non-Diving Activities: I like to read, swim, ride bikes, putter in the garden and play with my dog.

Favorite Food:Anything accompanied by crusty bread and red wine

Favorite Dive Location: Keeps changing; so many places, so little time

Tony

Role: Instructor

Real Job: Sales Manager for Fay Myers Motorcycle World

Diving Credentials: PADI Instructor, Denver Downtown Aquarium Dive Guide, Aquarium Volunteer and DAN DEMP Instructor

Personal passion: Family & Friends, and doing anything my grandaughter tells me to.

Non Diving Activities: Motorcycling, hunting & fishing, playing golf, hanging out with friends, and other stuff that’s fun!

Favorite food: NOT Liver! Sushi is way up on the list, but overall I’m pretty flexible.

Favorite Dive Location: I get excited about any, and all of them. I think to date, my favorite is the Spiegel Grove wreckdive, in Key Largo Florida. If you can catch it on a moderate current day, the American flags flying on the bridge will take your breath away!

Julie

Role: Instructor

Real Job: Certified Nurse Assistant/Unit Coordinator

Diving Credentials: PADI Divemaster, Denver Downtown Aquarium, Volunteer and New Volunteer Diver Trainer

Personal passion: Family and friends, and spending time with my grandchildren.

Non-Diving Activities: Motorcycling, hunting & fishing, beginner kayaking, hanging out with friends, and other stuff that’s fun!

Favorite food: Steak, chicken tenders, fish and chips. Actually I’m a very picky eater. Nothing Spicy!

Favorite Dive Location: Roatan, Honduras. I love wreck dives, and seeing sharks and rays.

Thomas

Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor; PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and Specialties; HSA – Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor; DAN Instructor – Diving Emergency Management Provider, CPR & First Aid, Emergency Oxygen, and Marine Life Injuries.

Real Job: Retired Naval Reserves, Benefit and Training Specialist.

Personal Passions: Live music, theater, traveling, fun people, higher learning, and spending time with my kids, grand kids and dogs.

Non-diving Activities: Bicycling, pool league (the other pool), camping, a good movie, and playing my old vinyl.

Food: All I’m saying is you’ve never seen me crying and eating tacos at the same time.

Favorite dive spot: Any place I sink beneath the surface.

“From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free” ~ Jacques Yves Cousteau.

John

Diving Credentials: PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.

Real Job: Rocket Scientist. I develop software for, and design ground launch control and monitoring systems.

Personal Passions: World travel. And of course, diving while I’m seeing the world.

Non-Diving Activities: Trail biking, road bike tours, skiing, and horseback riding.

Favorite Food: Anything but olives, brussels sprouts, and beets.

Favorite Dive Location: Indonesia. The biodiversity is second to none. I can’t leave out Cozumel, my home away from home.

Andrew

Diving Credentials: Instructor

Personal Passions: Having fun and making sure others around have fun, and spreading the work that Sharks need our protection.

Non-Diving Activities: Road biking, golf and mentoring my kids school robotics program.

Favorite Food: Sushi …. no …. dim sum….. no …..sushi….. no …. BOTH.

Favorite Dive Location: Difficult choice between Manta Rays in Kona, Drift diving in Cozumel or Wall diving in Grand Cayman

Cliff

Diving Credentials: I’ve been a PADI certified diver since 2003. I’m a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and SSI Advanced Open Water Instructor. I’m certified to teach the following specialties: Basic and Advanced Wreck, Sidemount, Self-reliant Diver, Drysuit, Nitrox, Deep, Navigation, Night, Buoyancy, Altitude, and Boat.

Personal passion: Diving…of course! I have gravitated towards the more technical side of scuba diving. When I’m not instructing, most of my recent diving energy has been directed to decompression dives and overhead environments (caves and shipwrecks). Soon, I will also be playing with my newest obsession; a closed-circuit rebreather.

Favorite Food: Anything I haven’t already tried! I love trying new foods, and rarely meet a meal I don’t enjoy. I can’t pick one favorite, but my top choices are sushi, Indian, and Cuban.

Favorite Dive Location: All over Florida! No, it’s not an exotic destination, but it’s close, affordable, and has all types of diving. Looking for some shipwrecks to dive? The Southern Florida area has an amazing collection of wrecks for all levels of diver. In the mood for a cave dive? North Florida is home to some of the most famous cave diving in the world! Easy shore dive? Blue Heron Bridge. Reefs? John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

Sean

Role: Assistant Instructor

Diving Credentials: SSI and PADI Divemaster

Real Job: Helping our wonderful customers find the SCUBA goods they need to have a great time on their diving excursions!

Personal Passion: Geography, maps, databases, and spatial relationships.

Non-Diving Activities: Bodysurfing, Snowboarding, Backpacking, Disc Golf, Krav Maga, Crossfit, Darts, Rolling Bar, Watching the 49ers and SJ Sharks, and Reading Sci-Fi Books.

Favorite Food: Bone-in Ribeye Steak, Medium Rare!

Favorite Dive Location: Super secret cold water dive spots in San Diego. Just kidding, if you dare to brave the cold water and marginal visibility of SD come into the shop and I will point you in the right direction!

Adam

Diving Credentials: SSI and PADI Assistant Instructor, Aquarium Volunteer, TEC50

Real Job: Market analyst

Personal passion:Learning, traveling, and the Oxford comma

Non-Diving Activities: Backcountry skiing, ice hockey, photography

Favorite Food: Rib eye, sashimi, bordeaux, craft beer, anything exotic

Favorite Dive Location: Fiji, Cayman Islands, Bonaire and a little slice of paradise called Kingfisher Pond in Littleton

Chelsea

Diving Credentials: Assistant Instructor and Volunteer Diver at Denver Aquarium

Real Job: Entrepreneur Extraordinaire. I own a company that manages virtual sales and support teams. We believe in greater success through collaboration! Our motto is: Success requires three bones – wishbone, backbone & funnybone

Personal passion: Travel and Diving. The two go hand in hand don’t they? Love everything about travel, from the journey to the destination and especially getting outside the ordinary. And what’s more off the beaten path than jumping off the boat?

Non-Diving Activities: Hiking – I summit a new 14’er every year, aerial arts, cruiser bike rides, reading in hammocks, and cooking ambitious ethnic dishes for fun (so at least my taste buds can travel when I can’t)

Favorite food: Seafood (sustainably caught only of course). I get hungry when I dive….Shhhh, don’t tell the fish!

Favorite Dive Location: Hawaii in a heartbeat <3

Don

Role: Assistant Instructor

Diving Credentials: PADI Divemaster

Real Job: Plumbing Contractor

Personal Passions: Spending time with family and friends, playing with my dog Tangybear, anything to do with water.

Non-Diving Activities: Motorcycles street and dirt, Boating, water and snow skiing, camping, fishing, fixing things, making new friends thru scuba and picking on grandkids.

Favorite Food: Steak and seafood, mexican

Favorite Dive Location: Cozumel, looking forward to many more

Jack

Role: 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

Rafal

Role: Assistant Instructor and Downtown Aquarium Guide

Real Job: Software Engineering Consultant

Diving Credentials: SSI and PADI Divemaster

Personal passion: Letting life happen and living every day to the fullest

Non Diving Activities: Hanging out with friends and family, travel, skiing, reading, playing music, decompressing in Vegas

Favorite food: Ensure

Favorite Dive Location: Playa Del Carmen Cenotes, Cozumel, Cayman Islands, Texas, Vermont… to name a few.

Jeff

Diving Credentials: Assistant Instructor and Aquarium Guide

Real Job: I climb trees. Arborist for the City and County of Denver.

Personal passion: Travel

Non-Diving Activities: Hockey, Flyfishing, Bee keeping, Beer making

Favorite food: Vegetarians, a majority of my food only eats vegetables.

Favorite Dive Location: Suicide Cliffs, Okinawa, Japan; Lighthouse Reef, Belize

Dave

Real Job: Several at the moment…Civil Engineer for the Bureau of Reclamation involved in design and construction of water projects throughout the west, Underwater Inspector for Bureau of Reclamation, Asst. Chief of Evergreen Fire/Rescue, and trip leader for a non-profit based in Denver for construction of homes and school rooms in rural Guatemala…

Diving Credentials: Been a certified diver since 1993, PADI Master Scuba Diver, PADI Divemaster, Technical Diver in Surface Supplied Kirby Morgan Hard Hat Diving and OTS Full Face Mask diving for the Bureau of Reclamation Diving Program…

Personal passions: Spending time with Family and Friends, being the best Firefighter/EMT that I can become for my community, learning something new…

Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Firefighting, skiing/snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, fly fishing, woodworking, building things, just being in the mountains with family and friends…

Favorite food: Italian, or anything that someone cooks for me…

Favorite Dive Location: Australia, Bonaire, Little Cayman, Pacific Northwest, Shasta Dam…

Mitzi

Role: Instructor and Swim Instructor

Diving Credentials: SSI Divemaster, PADI Starfish Swim Instructor, DAN DFA Pro Instructor

Personal Passions: Getting people excited about or reconnected with the outdoors, providing environmental education, and spearfishing invasive lionfish.

Non-Diving Activities: Riding my motorcycle, cooking, camping, swimming, traveling, and video games.

Favorite Food: Nachos – specifically my Philly cheese steak nachos with horseradish cheddar cheese. In general, if there are nachos, I’m eating them.

Favorite Dive Location: So far, Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve in southern Belize. Lots of places yet to discover.

Kayce

Role: Spreading good vibes

Diving Credentials: SSI Assistant Instructor

Real Job: Part time in A-1 retail department, Bartender/Server

Personal Passions: Coral reef restoration, cleaning our oceans, and saving the planet one straw at a time

Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Hiking, snowboarding, weightlifting, and yoga

Favorite Food: All the food…but mostly pizza

Favorite Dive Location: So far diving in the British Virgin Islands is my favorite, but I can’t wait to get more locations under my belt and discover more of our beautiful underwater world.

Heather

Diving Credentials: Assistant instructor and Aquarium Guide

Real Job: Clinical Chemistry and IT Consultant

Personal Passion: Travel and Art

Non-Diving Activities: Fly fishing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Mountain Biking, reading, and art

Favorite Food: Cheese of all kinds

Favorite Dive Location: Anywhere I can see marine life

Bruce

Diving Credentials: PADI divemaster, HSA dive buddy

Real Job: Service engineer on diagnostic X-ray equipment

Personal Passions: Grandkids, diving, cars

Non-Diving Activities: Playing with grandkids, travel chasing my two labs

Favorite Food: Everything

Favorite Dive Location: Cozumel

Kevin

Diving Credentials: PADI Divemaster

Real Job: Clinical Social Worker

Personal passions: Staying present in the moment with whomever I am with, where ever I am at.

Non-Diving Activities: Road or mountain biking (though I crash more on the mountain bike), camping and hiking

Favorite food: Chinese

Favorite Dive Location: The A-1 pool, the Denver Aquarium or the Mushroom Forest at Curacao

Joe

Credentials and Role at A-1: Joe is a divemaster who really enjoys helping others learn about diving.

Years of diving: Joe has been certified since the year 2000.

Personal passion: Joe loves his wife Kathy who is an expert diver, his kids, grandkids, and dog Chester.

Non-Diving Activities: Joe is retired and does part-time teaching for Colorado Community Colleges Online. He loves long distance running and does a marathon each year. His Dog Chester is his favorite running partner and is great at the Dock Dogs “Big Air” competition. Joe is a beekeeper and plays tennis and golf.

Favorite food: Pizza and ice cream. More ice cream please!

Favorite Dive Location: Joe and Kathy go to Cozumel each year. It’s the best. But he has also dived Lake Pueblo, Vancouver Island, Hawaii, Florida, North Carolina, and many other locations. A thrill was abalone free diving at Fort Bragg, CA.

Michael

Diving Credentials: SSI Divemaster

Real Job: Safety Diver (Mermaid Wrangler) at the Downtown Aquarium and providing excellent customer service to our guests!

Personal Passion: Photography

Non-Diving Activities: Backpacking, Soccer and playing the Legend of Zelda.

Favorite Food: Sushi (sorry fishes!)

Fav Dive Location: Florida Keys and the Downtown Aquarium!

Johnny

Role: PADI Divemaster

Real Job: Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley

Personal Passions : I run a non-profit in Denver called the Puksta Foundation which provides access to higher education for Colorado students with both financial need and a commitment to social justice.

Non-Diving Activities: I love snowboarding!! I also enjoy traveling, cooking with my wife and hiking/backpacking.

Favorite food: That’s a tough one… but if I have to choose it’s Thai, Italian and Ice Cream of course!

Favorite Dive Location: Bonaire for the laid back shore-diving vibe and wherever I’m heading next.

Eric

Diving Credentials: PADI Divemaster, HSA dive buddy

Personal Passions: Family, Friends, Veterans, and (of course) blowing bubbles

Non-Diving Activities: Traveling, Cycling, Camping, Pushing myself

Favorite Food: Alaskan king crab legs (but I have a serious soft spot for donuts, meatball subs, and all those “healthy” things in life)

Favorite Dive Location: Anywhere I can see Octopuses or Manta Rays

Navigation

Meet The Denver Team

The Owners Of A-1 Scuba & Travel Center – Lynn & Scott

Retail Crew

Travel Department

Service Department

Instructor Trainers

IDC Staff Instructors

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Assistant Instructors

Divemasters

A-1 SCUBA LOCATION

STORE HOURS

Retail Store

Travel Center

LEARN TO SCUBA DIVE

Owners

Shane

Bob

Eric

Tammy

Andrew

Brett

Clay

Kayce

Lynn

Katie

Keith

Shane

Bill

Brian

Scott

Chris

Carol

Butch

Heather

Lynn

Wendie

Todd

Shane

Bob

Lynn

Scott

Louise

Chris

Carol

Butch

Heather

Andrew

Anna M

AnnaMaria

Bill

Cliff

Dan

Dave

Jennifer

Joanne

Mike

Rita

Stacie

Steve

Todd

Tom

Tony

Julie

Thomas

John

Andrew

Cliff

Sean

Adam

Chelsea

Don

Jack

Jade

Rafal

Jeff

Dave

Mitzi

Kayce