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.
Click on the images below to learn more about our staff.
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 Master Instructor, DAN Instructor and Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor.
Scott is an Instructor Trainer for SSI, 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 favorites: Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Truk, Palau, Galapagos and Cozumel
Philosophy:
Treasure our family and friends, thank God for all of Gods 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!
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: 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: Playing with my kids (twins!), 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.
Favorite Animal: Manta Ray
Role at A-1: Operations Manager & Retail Sales. I have been with A-1 Scuba since Aug 1988.
Real Job: Being a loving husband, father, and grandfather
Diving Credentials: Started diving in 1975 and went diving full time in 1988. I became an instructor in Jan 1989.
Personal Passions: Spending time with my family and close friends, and mostly spending quality time with my youngest grandson.
Favorite 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.
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
Favorite Non Diving Activities: Attending my son’s sport events, rollerblading, and swimming
Favorite food: Italian, chicken and of course chocolate
Favorite Dive Location: Maui
Role at A-1: Sales Specialist
Real Job: Bigfoot Hunter
Diving Credentials: Advanced Open Water, Enriched Air, Wreck Diver
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
Favorite Dive Location: I have enjoyed every place I have been, but favorite is probably Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon
Favorite Animal: Kittens
Roll at A-1: Retail Supervisor
Diving Credentials: Open Water Diver
Personal Passions: All things Oceans and Wildlife, Music, Family & Friends, Technology, Sports.
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: I enjoy anything Outdoors from Skiing/ Snowboarding to playing Disc Golf with friends and hiking. I also really just enjoy relaxing outside.
Favorite Food: PIZZA!
Favorite Dive Location: The Bahamas or Belize
Favorite Animal: Sea Turtles
Role at A-1: Retail Specialist
Real Job: Retail
Diving Credentials: PADI Master Instructor
Personal Passions: Traveling
Non-Diving Activities: Disc Golf
Favorite Food: Beer
Favorite Dive Location: California
Favorite Animal: Wombat
Role at A-1: Training Coordinator
Real Job: Mom, College Student, and Business owner
Diving Credentials: SSI Divemaster
Personal Passions: Designing, Freediving, Spearfishing
Non-Diving Activities: Creating any kind of art, Reading or Playing with my Daughters
Favorite Food: Japanese/Thai
Favorite Dive Location: As of right now the Downtown Aquarium
Favorite Animal: Green Sea Turtle
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, 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.
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: 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: Playing with my kids (twins!), 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.
Favorite Animal: Manta Ray
Role at A-1: Instructor and Service Technician
Diving Credentials: SSI AIT, DAN Instructor, DEMP 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
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Motorcycles, golf, food and wine, hiking
Favorite Food: BBQ…Sushi…BBQ…Sushi…Martini’s
Favorite Dive Location: Roatan Honduras
Favorite Animal: Liger…Duh
Role at A-1: Instructor / Aquarium Dive Guide
Real Job: Service Tech / Alaskan Fishing Captain Guide
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor, PADI Instructor
Personal Passions: Snowboarding, Fishing, Underwater Ecology
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Hockey, Golfing
Favorite Food: Buffalo Wings
Favorite Dive Location: 1st Cathedral, Lanai, Maui
Favorite Animal: Orca
Role: Owner, obedient husband & dive-a-holic and Instructor Trainer
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: SSI, 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 ones: Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Truk, Palau, Galapagos and Cozumel
Role at A-1: Instructor Trainer / Instructor
Real Job: Technical Support Engineer
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor Trainer, PADI Master Instructor, DAN Instructor
Personal Passions: Scuba diving and four-wheeling
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Four wheeling, watching Hockey and Football
Favorite Food: There isn’t much I won’t eat.
Favorite Dive Location: Tahiti
Favorite Animal: Cat
Role at A-1: Instructor and Coordinator for the A-1 Divers with Disabilities Program
Real Job: Recreation Therapist at Craig Hospital
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor Trainer, DAN Instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor
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
Role at A-1: Instructor and Instructor Trainer
Diving credentials: SSI Instructor Trainer, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor, Specialty Instructor, DAN Instructor, PADI Master Instructor.
Personal passions: Having new experiences in new places (although my family and friends might argue it’s Frankie Valli). I’m an adrenaline junkie.
Favorite 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, Palau and Galapagos. Thanks to all of the great dive buddies along the way who have made diving such an incredible experience!
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: 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: Playing with my kids (twins!), 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.
Favorite Animal: Manta Ray
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, 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.
Role: Owner, obedient husband & dive-a-holic and Instructor Trainer
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: SSI, 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 ones: Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Truk, Palau, Galapagos and Cozumel
Role at A-1: Instructor Trainer / Instructor
Real Job: Technical Support Engineer
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor Trainer, PADI Master Instructor, DAN Instructor
Personal Passions: Scuba diving and four-wheeling
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Four wheeling, watching Hockey and Football
Favorite Food: There isn’t much I won’t eat.
Favorite Dive Location: Tahiti
Favorite Animal: Cat
Role at A-1: Instructor and Coordinator for the A-1 Divers with Disabilities Program
Real Job: Recreation Therapist at Craig Hospital
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor Trainer, DAN Instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor
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
Role at A-1: Instructor and Instructor Trainer
Diving credentials: SSI Instructor Trainer, Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor, Specialty Instructor, DAN Instructor, PADI Master Instructor.
Personal passions: Having new experiences in new places (although my family and friends might argue it’s Frankie Valli). I’m an adrenaline junkie.
Favorite 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, Palau and Galapagos. Thanks to all of the great dive buddies along the way who have made diving such an incredible experience!
“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!!
Role at A-1: Instructor
Real Job: Commercial Appraiser (Land and Buildings)
Diving Credentials: SSI Specialty Instructor
Personal Passions: Underwater photography
Non-Diving Activities: Bicycling and watching the grand kids play ice hockey
Favorite Food: Anything you put in front of me (unless its super spicy)
Favorite Dive Location: Depends. For “beauty” it’s Palau. For “wrecks” it’s Truk. For “closest good place” it’s Cozumel.
Favorite Animal: Manta Ray
Role at A-1: 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
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.
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor, PADI MSDT (Master Scuba Diving Instructor) DAN DEMP instructor
Personal Passions: My Son and his well-being, and making money in the stock market
Favorite 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
Role at A-1: Instructor
Real Job: Retired, Volunteer Colorado Master Gardener
Diving Credentials: SSI Specialty Instructor, PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, HSA Instructor
Personal Passions: Doing fun activities and adventures with my husband Pete.
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Travel, Motorcycling, Snowboarding, Gardening, 4-wheeling
Favorite Food: Anything hot and spicy, chili verde in particular
Favorite Dive Location: Cozumel for the ease of getting there, drift diving, and friendly people and Mexico’s Riviera Maya for the spectacular cenotes! And Kona, the Big Island in Hawaii for the manta ray dive and black water dive! And…..so many more to choose from.
Favorite Animal: Above water, dogs. Under water, manta rays.
Role at A-1: Instructor and Service Technician
Diving Credentials: SSI AIT, DAN Instructor, DEMP 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
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Motorcycles, golf, food and wine, hiking
Favorite Food: BBQ…Sushi…BBQ…Sushi…Martini’s
Favorite Dive Location: Roatan Honduras
Favorite Animal: Liger…Duh
Role at A-1: Instructor, Specialty Instructor, Denver Downtown Aquarium Guide
Real Job: Certified Nurse Assistant/Unit Coordinator
Personal passions: Family and friends, and spending time with my grandchildren.
Favorite 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.
Role at A-1: Instructor and Downtown Aquarium Guide
Real Job: Software Engineering Consultant
Personal passions: Letting life happen and living every day to the fullest
Favorite 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.
Role at A-1: Instructor
Real Job: Professional Engineer for Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, specializing in concrete design, inspection, and analysis of hydraulic structures.
Diving Credentials: Been a certified diver since 1993, Technical Diver in Surface Supplied Kirby Morgan Hard Hat Diving and OTS Full Face Mask diving for the Bureau of Reclamation Diving Program and SSI instructor
Personal passions: Spending time with Family and Friends
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Snowboarding, Mountain biking, and Backpacking/Camping
Favorite food: Italian, or anything that someone cooks for me…
Favorite Dive Location: Bonaire and Cozumel
Favorite Animal: Octopus
Role at A-1: Instructor / Aquarium Dive Guide
Diving Credentials: SSI Specialties Instructor, HSA Instructor; DAN Instructor
Real Job: Retired Naval Reserves, Retired Benefit and Training Specialist
Personal Passions: Live music, theater, traveling, fun people, higher learning, and spending time with my kids, grand kids and dogs.
Favorite Non-diving Activities: Bicycling, pool league (the other pool), RV-ing and camping, a good movie, and playing my old vinyl.
Favorite Food: All I’m saying is, no one has ever seen me crying and eating tacos at the same time.
Favorite Dive Location: : So many and so little time. In the bucket – Kamado Island and Hawaii. Out of the bucket – Galapagos, Red Sea, and Great Barrier Reef.
Favorite Animal: : So many and so little time. In the bucket – Kamado Island and Hawaii. Out of the bucket – Galapagos, Red Sea, and Great Barrier Reef.
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor
Real Job: Dive Safety Officer at the Denver Downtown Aquarium and providing excellent customer service to our guests!
Personal Passions: Photography
Favorite 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!
Role at A-1: Instructor
Real Job: Clinical Psychologist
Personal Passions: Despite the usual connotations of my “real job” being to help people, I’m actually generally trying to convince people that they aren’t as crazy as they’ve been told they are. Along with the occasioned armchair philosophizing, I love teaching and sharing knowledge with others in a multitude of settings.
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Although I’m generally trying to find ways to be in the water, I also enjoy cooking, playing tennis, and trying to train my endlessly stubborn dog.
Favorite Food: Scrambled eggs
Favorite Dive Location: Cenotes in Mexico
Favorite Animal: Skunk
Role at A1: Instructor
Real Job: Research Scientist (Geologist)
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor
Personal Passions: Music, Diving, Skiing
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Diving 🙂
Favorite Foods: Bacon
Favorite Dive Site: Pinnacles Reef, Puerto Rico
Favorite Animal: Animal from the Muppets – My Spirit Muppet
Role at A-1: Instructor
Real Job: Personal Trainer
Diving Credentials: SSI Open Water Instructor
Personal Passions: Fishing, Diving, Camping, Weight Lifting, Snowboarding
Favorite Food: Steak
Favorite Dive Location: Grand Cayman
Favorite Animal: My Dog
Role at A-1: Instructor / Aquarium Dive Guide
Real Job: Service Tech / Alaskan Fishing Captain Guide
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor, PADI Instructor
Personal Passions: Snowboarding, Fishing, Underwater Ecology
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Hockey, Golfing
Favorite Food: Buffalo Wings
Favorite Dive Location: 1st Cathedral, Lanai, Maui
Favorite Animal: Orca
Role at A1: Instructor / Dive Guide
Real Job: Research and Development Engineer
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor, PADI Dive Master
Personal Passions: Diving and Rock Climbing
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Rock climbing, jungle trekking, traveling, cooking, playing Overwatch, and spending time with family and friends.
Favorite Foods: Thai
Favorite Dive Site: Similan Islands, Thailand
Favorite Animal: Sharks
Role at A-1: Instructor/Dive Guide
Real Job: Behavior Analyst
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor, PADI Dive Master
Personal Passions: Exploring new places, and embracing new experiences.
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Traveling, rock climbing, cooking
Favorite Food: Panang Curry
Favorite Dive Location: Richelieu Rock, Thailand
Favorite Animal: Dolphin
Roll at A-1: Instructor and Aquarium Guide
Real Job: Firefighter/EMT for South Metro Fire Rescue
Diving Credentials: SSI Open Water Instructor, Dive Guide at Denver Aquarium, South Metro Fire Rescue Dive Rescue Team
Personal Passions/Favorite Non-Diving Activities: When I am not planning my next dive vacation, you can find me on the golf course. My wife of 25 years and two daughters (17,20) are my biggest passion.
“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.”
Favorite Food: The local cuisine of wherever I am traveling to.
Favorite Dive Location: Ultimately any location that I am underwater with my family. If I had to pick one location that stands out, that would be Roatan, Honduras. This is the first place I was able to dive with both of my daughters at the same time. That memory will last forever.
Role at A-1: Instructor
Real Job: Retired
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor, PADI Instructor
Personal Passions: Skiing, Cycle, Scuba
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Boating
Favorite Food: Meat and Potatoes
Favorite Dive Location: Cozumel
Favorite Animal: Spotted Eagle Ray
Diving Credentials: Assistant Instructor
Real Job: Plumbing Contractor
Personal Passions: Spending time with family and friends, playing with my dog Tangybear, anything to do with water.
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Motorcycles street and dirt, boating, water and snow skiing, camping, fishing, fixing things, making new friends throuh scuba and picking on grandkids.
Favorite Food: Steak and seafood, Mexican
Favorite Dive Location: Cozumel, looking forward to many more
Diving Credentials: Assistant Instructor
Real Job: RN at the Medical Center of Aurora and Highlands Behavioral Health
Personal Passions: Diving, Freemasonry, Reading
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Walking the dogs, Movies, Reading, Lodge activities
Favorite Food: Lobster Bisque
Favorite Dive Location: Where ever I can get to
Role at A-1: Assistant Instructor
Diving Credentials: SSI Assistant Instructor
Real Job: Retired and loving the freedom of not having to work.
Personal passions: Historical Site, Traveling
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Road or mountain biking (though I crash more on the mountain bike), camping and hiking
Favorite Food: Thai
Favorite Dive Location: Roatan
Favorite Animal: Rescue Dogs
Role at A-1: Assistant Instructor, Craig day dive buddy
Diving Credentials: Divemaster, HSA dive buddy
Personal Passions: Family, Friends, Veterans, and (of course) blowing bubbles
Favorite 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
Role at A-1: Assistant Instructor, HSA Dive Buddy
Real Job: Veterinary Radiologist
Personal Passions: My dogs, biking, diving
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Traveling to Europe to do the famous bicycle climbs.
Favorite Food: Whipped Cream
Favorite Dive Location: Roatan
Role at A-1: Assistant Instructor, HSA Dive Buddy
Real Job: Sr. Director of Production Operations at NRTC – we bring broadband to rural America!
Diving Credentials: SSI Assistant Instructor, HSA Dive Buddy
Personal Passions: Being a Grandma and spreading positivity
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Family time, Traveling, Photography, Yoga, Spending time with our dogs, Gardening, SUP, Hiking, Playing on the Sea Doos, Reading, Learning
Favorite Food: Indian food – all of it!
Favorite Dive Location: Great Barrier Reef
Favorite Animal: Dogs (above water), and Rays (below water)
Role at A-1: Assistant Instructor, Aquarium Guide
Real Job: Engineer
Diving Credentials: SSI Assistant Instructor
Personal Passions: I have a passion for the outdoors, the underwater world in particular. I also enjoy learning, building new skills, and taking on personal DIY projects.
Non-Diving Activities: Hiking, skiing, hobby DIY projects, traveling, and spending time with friends
Favorite Food: Food in general, but BBQ is some of my favorite
Favorite Dive Location: Caribbean, but anywhere I can see marine life is great
Favorite Animal: Sharks
Role at A-1: Assistant Instructor, HSA Dive buddy
Real Job: Owner Temperature Needs LLC HVAC
Personal Passions: Travel, Family & Creating
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Hiking, being at the lake, mountains, garden
Favorite Food: Indian but really like it all
Favorite Dive Location: That spot where I got to go underwater and blow bubbles, Ya that one
Role at A-1: Assistant Instructor
Real Job: Tattoo and Laser Specialist (owner, Castle Rock Tattoo and Laser Removal Co).
Diving Credentials: SSI Assistant Instructor/Naui AOW, and a bunch of extras! SSI Bronze
Personal Passion: Diving and Tattooing/Lasering
Non-Diving Activities: Tattooing, Travel, Guns!
Favorite food: All and anything exotic!
Favorite Dive Location: Caribbean, Fiji
Favorite Animal: Habu
Real Job: I was almost retired but darn if someone offered me a job. I work as a Project Manager for a utility construction company.
Diving Credentials: SSI Assistant Instructor, SSI Dive Guide, SSI Snorkeling Instructor, PADI Master Scuba Diver, DAN DEMP Certified
Personal Passions: I do love the water and have found scuba diving to be one of my passions. I enjoy being a volunteer diver at the Downtown Aquarium and look forward to becoming a dive guide there.
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: I find spending time with our grand-babies very satisfying; I tend to get us in trouble. I enjoy photography (both above and below the surface) because you can hunt and shoot things without all the mess! I like to play ice hockey, work out at the gym and go for extended bicycle rides.
Favorite Food: I do like Italian dishes and, if it’s chocolate, I’ll eat it.
Favorite Dive Location: I really enjoy the South Pacific part of this Big Blue Marble with Lembeh Strait, Indonesia being one of my favorites. I am always open to trying new dive locations.
Role: Assistant Instructor
Real Job: 8th grade science teacher at Laredo Middle School in Cherry Creek School District
Diving Credentials: Assistant Instructor
Personal passion: Teaching kids to love learning, teaching divers to love to dive (and dive safely), and dogs, including our English Cream Golden Retrievers, Duke and Maisie
Non-Diving Activities: I love to travel, go camping, and reading
Favorite food: My mother’s lasagna
Favorite Dive Location: The Florida Keys, particularly the wrecks, and Grand Cayman’s Governor’s Wall
Role at A-1: Divemaster
Real Job: Dragon Slayer
Diving Credentials: SSI Divemaster
Personal Passions: Scuba
Non-Diving Activities: Baseball, Beach time
Favorite Food: Filet mignon
Favorite Dive Location: Socorro
Favorite Animal: Octopus
Role at A-1: Dive Master
Real Job: Water Treatment Plant Manager
Diving Credentials: SSI Dive Master
Personal Passions: Spending time with family, Traveling, Scuba diving, Animal and environmental conservation
Non-Diving Activities: Reading, Visiting New York City, Volunteering at Max fund (No-kill animal shelter) with the cats
Favorite Food: Indian
Favorite Dive Location: Anywhere under water is great, but the Socorro Island area was really amazing!
Favorite Animal: Vultures, tigers, sharks, polar bears, Octopus, cats, dogs, barracuda, whales, elephants, … How can I Choose?
Role at A-1: Divemaster
Real Job: Firefighter/Paramedic/Dive Team Member
Diving Credentials: SSI Divemaster, DEMP
Personal Passions: Helping anyone that needs it
Non-Diving Activities: Dirt biking, running with family
Favorite Food: Chicken wings and Beer…can’t have one with out the other!
Favorite Dive Location: Cozumel…inexpensive, easy to get to and great diving
Favorite Animal: Chicken
Role at A-1: Training Coordinator
Real Job: Mom, College Student, and Business owner
Diving Credentials: SSI Divemaster
Personal Passions: Designing, Freediving, Spearfishing
Non-Diving Activities: Creating any kind of art, Reading or Playing with my Daughters
Favorite Food: Japanese/Thai
Favorite Dive Location: As of right now the Downtown Aquarium
Favorite Animal: Green Sea Turtle
Role at A-1: Dive Master
Real Job: Utility Worker, Construction Manager for local water utility
Diving Credentials: SSI Divemaster
Personal Passions: Family, friendships, travel, skiing, and diving too!
Non-Diving Activities: Somewhere between couch potato and hanging out in the mountains or traveling. Our dogs will not be denied an afternoon walk.
Favorite Food: Mexican
Favorite Dive Location: A couple, Cozumel is like if God and Mother Nature got together and made an adventure park for SCUBA divers. Coron Bay, Philippines is like if the US Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy got together and made an adventure park for SCUBA divers…still taking applications for my favorite dive location.
Favorite Animal: Dogs or Sea Turtles.
Role: Divemaster
Real Job: Medical Specialist
Diving Credentials: I have been a certified diver for over 25 years and had the privilege to go diving all over the world. I have also volunteered as a diver at the Denver aquarium and enjoyed helping out the facility where I can. The most exciting dives I have done were in Colorado while volunteering with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Personal Passion: My individual passions having fun and helping others because of the enjoyment I get from both.
Non-Diving Activities: Skiing, Snowboarding, Backpacking, Rock Climbing, Hockey, Fishing, and any other adventurous activities
Favorite food: Oysters
Favorite Dive Location: Monterey Bay
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: 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: Playing with my kids (twins!), 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.
Favorite Animal: Manta Ray
Diving Credentials: SSI IT Staff Instructor, DAN DEMP Instructor, Handicapped Scuba Association 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
Role at A-1: 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
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.
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor, PADI MSDT (Master Scuba Diving Instructor) DAN DEMP instructor
Personal Passions: My Son and his well-being, and making money in the stock market
Favorite 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
Role at A-1: Instructor and Service Technician
Diving Credentials: SSI AIT, DAN Instructor, DEMP 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
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Motorcycles, golf, food and wine, hiking
Favorite Food: BBQ…Sushi…BBQ…Sushi…Martini’s
Favorite Dive Location: Roatan Honduras
Favorite Animal: Liger…Duh
Role at A-1: Downtown Aquarium Guide
Real Job: Market Analyst
Diving Credentials: SSI Assistant Instructor, Aquarium Guide, TEC50
Personal Passions: Learning, traveling, food
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
Role at A-1: Instructor, Specialty Instructor, Denver Downtown Aquarium Guide
Real Job: Certified Nurse Assistant/Unit Coordinator
Personal passions: Family and friends, and spending time with my grandchildren.
Favorite 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.
Role at A-1: Instructor and Downtown Aquarium Guide
Real Job: Software Engineering Consultant
Personal passions: Letting life happen and living every day to the fullest
Favorite 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.
Diving Credentials: Assistant Instructor and Aquarium Guide
Real Job: I climb trees. Arborist for the City and County of Denver.
Personal passions: Travel
Favorite 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
Role at A-1: Assistant Instructor
Diving Credentials: SSI Assistant Instructor
Real Job: Retired and loving the freedom of not having to work.
Personal passions: Historical Site, Traveling
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Road or mountain biking (though I crash more on the mountain bike), camping and hiking
Favorite Food: Thai
Favorite Dive Location: Roatan
Favorite Animal: Rescue Dogs
Role at A-1: Instructor / Aquarium Dive Guide
Diving Credentials: SSI Specialties Instructor, HSA Instructor; DAN Instructor
Real Job: Retired Naval Reserves, Retired Benefit and Training Specialist
Personal Passions: Live music, theater, traveling, fun people, higher learning, and spending time with my kids, grand kids and dogs.
Favorite Non-diving Activities: Bicycling, pool league (the other pool), RV-ing and camping, a good movie, and playing my old vinyl.
Favorite Food: All I’m saying is, no one has ever seen me crying and eating tacos at the same time.
Favorite Dive Location: : So many and so little time. In the bucket – Kamado Island and Hawaii. Out of the bucket – Galapagos, Red Sea, and Great Barrier Reef.
Favorite Animal: : So many and so little time. In the bucket – Kamado Island and Hawaii. Out of the bucket – Galapagos, Red Sea, and Great Barrier Reef.
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor
Real Job: Dive Safety Officer at the Denver Downtown Aquarium and providing excellent customer service to our guests!
Personal Passions: Photography
Favorite 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!
Role at A-1: Instructor / Aquarium Dive Guide
Real Job: Service Tech / Alaskan Fishing Captain Guide
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor, PADI Instructor
Personal Passions: Snowboarding, Fishing, Underwater Ecology
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Hockey, Golfing
Favorite Food: Buffalo Wings
Favorite Dive Location: 1st Cathedral, Lanai, Maui
Favorite Animal: Orca
Role at A-1: Assistant Instructor, HSA Dive buddy
Real Job: Owner Temperature Needs LLC HVAC
Personal Passions: Travel, Family & Creating
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Hiking, being at the lake, mountains, garden
Favorite Food: Indian but really like it all
Favorite Dive Location: That spot where I got to go underwater and blow bubbles, Ya that one
Role at A-1: Instructor/Dive Guide
Real Job: Behavior Analyst
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor, PADI Dive Master
Personal Passions: Exploring new places, and embracing new experiences.
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Traveling, rock climbing, cooking
Favorite Food: Panang Curry
Favorite Dive Location: Richelieu Rock, Thailand
Favorite Animal: Dolphin
Roll at A-1: Instructor and Aquarium Guide
Real Job: Firefighter/EMT for South Metro Fire Rescue
Diving Credentials: SSI Open Water Instructor, Dive Guide at Denver Aquarium, South Metro Fire Rescue Dive Rescue Team
Personal Passions/Favorite Non-Diving Activities: When I am not planning my next dive vacation, you can find me on the golf course. My wife of 25 years and two daughters (17,20) are my biggest passion.
“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.”
Favorite Food: The local cuisine of wherever I am traveling to.
Favorite Dive Location: Ultimately any location that I am underwater with my family. If I had to pick one location that stands out, that would be Roatan, Honduras. This is the first place I was able to dive with both of my daughters at the same time. That memory will last forever.
Role at A1: Instructor / Dive Guide
Real Job: Research and Development Engineer
Diving Credentials: SSI Instructor, PADI Dive Master
Personal Passions: Diving and Rock Climbing
Favorite Non-Diving Activities: Rock climbing, jungle trekking, traveling, cooking, playing Overwatch, and spending time with family and friends.
Favorite Foods: Thai
Favorite Dive Site: Similan Islands, Thailand
Favorite Animal: Sharks
Role at A-1: Assistant Instructor, Aquarium Guide
Real Job: Engineer
Diving Credentials: SSI Assistant Instructor
Personal Passions: I have a passion for the outdoors, the underwater world in particular. I also enjoy learning, building new skills, and taking on personal DIY projects.
Non-Diving Activities: Hiking, skiing, hobby DIY projects, traveling, and spending time with friends
Favorite Food: Food in general, but BBQ is some of my favorite
Favorite Dive Location: Caribbean, but anywhere I can see marine life is great
Favorite Animal: Sharks