LA's Scuba Dive Team - Learn Scuba From LA's Best Dive Professionals

Qualified to Teach: Technical, Nitrox, Deep, Night, Search & Recovery, Wreck, Rescue

Student Certifications: 2459

Bio: I grew up and started diving here in Los Angeles, and YES I confess that in the 80's I was one of those macho-man underwater hunters. But after diving throughout the years I began to notice a change in the local eco-system. Less fish at our local reefs, no more Otters, no more Abalone, less Giant Sea Bass and an unbalanced Kelp-Forests due to warming waters. Fueled by my love of diving and concern for our reefs I had a change of heart and started volunteering in the Kelp restoration projects, teaching ecological courses, got rid of my spear-gun and started shooting fish with cameras instead. Now I own Eco Dive Center, the first solar powered dive shop with the best eco-minded dive team. I've taught diving all over the world and I have never seen such a fun group of energetic, strict on safety and dedicated eco-minded teammates.

My Gear: BCD: ScubaPro Knight Hawk w/Intergrated Air Source, weight system, SMB all attached. COMPUTER: Suunto Hel02 REGS: ScubaPro MK25/s600 & ATOMIC B2. Can't decide which one I love the most. FINS: AquaLung SlingShots MASK: Atomic Sub-Frame WETSUIT: BodyGlove Eco Suit DRYSUIT: BARE HD ProDry TANK: LP95

Qualified to Teach: Instructor for 18 different specialties, Beginners, Adavanced, Rescue, Divemaster and Instructors

Student Certifications: 856

Bio: There are three things I love most about diving. Teaching swimming, snorkeling and bubble making to the community's young future divers lets me share my passions with our next generation. I also enjoy traveling & diving the world, I've been to amazing reefs like Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Cancun & Cozumel, Thailands Similan Islands, Fiji, Costa Rica and the famous Galapagoes... but our SoCal Islands are still my favorite. Our waters have the some of the most biodiversity in the world & that gives me lots to teach. So, look out for my "Eco Diver Specialty Course" that I'm creating. I also love watching people change because of scuba diving. Transform another human being & change a life for the better - forever. This is why I love my jobs... co-owner of Eco, travel agent, scuba instructor and volunteer diver for organizations like Heal the Bay and AWARE. Lots of jobs... but I love it!

Qualified to Teach: Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, Divemaster and a bunch of specialties

Student Certifications: 135

Bio: I am in love with scuba diving. California diving is some of the most beautiful diving I have ever experienced. I will never get tired of Anacapa Island and the California Sealions that have made it their home. Teaching scuba to others is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. It is also rewarding to teach all of the new (and experienced) divers about conservation and how important that is for the underwater environments they are exploring. Lets save the fishes! Be safe fellow divers!

My Gear: Regulators: Apex Flight (Stage 3), Aqua Lung Mikron with Calypso Octo and Scubapro Air 2 BCDs: Scubapro Bella and Deep Outdoors Predator Wing w/ OMS Backplate system Computers: Suunto Cobra and Suunto D9 w/ transmitter (I have a back up analog gauge too) Wetsuits: Aqua Lung Sol-Afx and Aqua Lung Aquaflex Drysuit: Mobby's Dryfit by Mares Masks: Scubapro Vu and Atomic Framless Snorkel: Scubapro Nexus Fins: Aqua Lung Slingshots and Tusa Xpert Zooms Bags: Scubapro Atlas and Aqua Lung Traveler 1600 (the biggest bag in the world) I guess I love Aqua Lung!

Qualified to Teach: Open Water SCUBA diver, Night, EAN (Nitrox), Search & Recovery, Underwater Navigator, Dry Suit, Equipment Specialist

Student Certifications: 69

Bio: I started my dive career with Eco Dive Center in July of 2007. I was going on vacation in Hawaii and wanted to get certified first. Boy, was I bit by the SCUBA bug! Just sitting in the pool and breathing underwater was all it took for me to be completely hooked! I bought a complete set of gear before I even finished my Open Water class. After my Open Water Cert, I started taking more & more classes, Advanced Open Water, Night Diver, Search & Recovery, Nitrox, Rescue Diver as well as diving, diving, diving - and I haven't looked back! I dive for the sheer beauty of our underwater world and all the animals in it. I was always fascinated by Merlin Perkins and Jacques Cousteau as a kid - now I am my own underwater explorer! I'd love to show you some of the fascinating creatures living right here in So Cal - like Bat Rays, Cabezons, and Sarcastic Fringeheads (yes, that's the name of a real fish). By the way, I got certified at 43 and became an Instructor at 44, so if you’re “not twenty anymore” don’t worry about it. Stop hesitating and give us a call at Eco Dive Center. We’d love to show you how safe and fun SCUBA is! All of us at Eco Dive Center are committed to keeping our oceans clean and viable for generations to come. I currently support REEF Check and Project AWARE, both of which work to protect our ocean environments around the world. You can find links to both on our “Eco Diver Links” page under “resources.” So what are you waiting for? Join us….we'd love to introduce you to some of our favorite neighborhoods in Southern California…..like Catalina, Anacapa, and Santa Cruz Islands!

My Gear: Atomics Aquatics ST1 First Stage and Primary Regulator with Atomics Aquatics SS1 Stainless Steel “Safe Second” Inflator. This regulator is so well made it requires service only every 2 years (rather than every 1 year like most others). It also has a super comfy mouthpiece with swivel attachment which increases overall comfort – this is something you come to appreciate after lots of time spent diving. My SS1 Inflator reduces 1 hose while maintaining ability to easily share air for safety and increased streamlining. COMPUTER: (1) SUUNTO D6 wrist computer. Mixed gas, multi-mode, decompression dive computer with integrated digital compass. All the features you need and looks sexy too. (2) SUUNTO COBRA console computer. I really like the quick-release feature on this air integrated computer. The screens are very easy to navigate and there are a great variety of settings for just about every user. I find the big read-out is a plus for my over 40 eyes too.

Qualified to Teach: Beginners, advanced, rescue, wreck, deep, nitrox and divemaster

Student Certifications: 49

Bio: SCUBA diving has completely changed my life and to say I fell in love with SCUBA diving would be an understatement. I became Open Water certified in June 2006 in Ventura, California. I received my Advanced Open Water in August 2007 while vacationing in Utila, Honduras. I graduated to Rescue Diver status in San Diego, California in June 2008 before moving to Bali, Indonesia to obtain my Divemaster and sit for the Instructor Exam. I lived and worked in Indonesia and met some amazing people along the way. I also had the most amazing dives of my life while in Bali. After Bali I lived in Cairns, Queensland, Australia and worked with a dive operator on the GBR before moving back to the states in mid 2009. I became involved with ECO when I met Ron on a trip to the Eureka Oil Rigs. After asking fellow divers about ECO Dive Center and hearing nothing but rave reviews I decided this was the place for me. My love for water (fresh or salt), the environment, teaching and enjoying life is what bonds me to my fellow ECO’ers. “I breathe easiest underwater.” – Jessica “Decibel” Bashaw

My Gear: Regulator- SCUBAPRO MK25 and S600 with an Oceanic gauge console; BCD- SCUBAPRO Lady Hawk; Computer- Suunto Mosquito; Wetsuit- Pinnacle 7mm with Merino Lining and Nemo 5mm (custom made); Gloves- SCUBAPRO; Fins- SCUBAPRO Twin Jet Max (adjustable and full foot); Boots- Pinnacle 7mm Merino-Barracuda; Mask: SCUBAPRO, Snorkel: Riffe Stable; Bag: Akona Mesh backpack-style and Akona Progression roller-style.

Qualified to Teach: Beginners to professional

Student Certifications: 93

Bio: My dive career started 13 years ago in the Caribbean as a triple-W (aka Warm-Water-Wussie). My aunt owns a dive shop on St. John so most of my dive experience has taken place in the US and British Virgin Islands. I became an instructor in 2005, but it wasn’t until 2008 when I became a member of the Eco Dive Team that I really learned how to teach scuba. I’ve quickly adapted to the cooler waters and have really grown to love the kelp forests of the California Coast. Some of you may have seen me underwater with some intense camera gear. My other passion in life is photography and I recently got the opportunity to take my skills to the hills. I’ll be heading up to beautiful Lake Tahoe to take photos of some crazy ski bums. Drop me a line if you find yourself in the Tahoe area and we can do some skiing or fresh water diving. But don’t forget your drysuit because this place is cold. See you next summer!

My Gear: Mares and ScubaPro

Qualified to Teach: Beginner to Divemaster

Bio: I have been swimming almost as long as I have been walking so scuba diving seemed to be the next logical step. Growing up in Newport Beach just steps from the beach I have been drawn to the ocean and find I am often more comfortable in water than on land. Weather it was my first "real job" as an ocean life guard or surfing when there is a swell or diving when there isn't I have been sensitive to the ocean environment and it is a dream come true to be able to share my love for the ocean with others thru diving. Working with a dive center that shares my passion for ocean conservation and education is a blessing. I feel diving is about exploring places few people get to see but most of all its about having FUN!

My Gear: Scubapro MK 25 and S600 OCTO: I have a Scubapro Air2 on both of my BCD's and a Scubapro R295 (I like to keep my buddies safe) BCDs: Dive Rite aluminium backplate with Travel wing and OMS large weight pockets, Scubapro Equator BCD, FINS: Atomic Splits and Scubapro Twin Jet Max MASK: Atomic Subframe, WETSUIT: Henderson thermoprene, hernderson hooded vest, Xcel infinity COMPUTER: Suunto Helo2, Cobra2, D3... they are all Suuntos I also have a mini pressure gauge on a new miflex hose.

Qualified to Teach: 14 different PADI Diver Specialties, Divemaster, Rescue, Advanced, Open Water and EFR

Student Certifications: 421

Bio: Trained as a scuba diver here in Southern California, I never get enough of sharing my passion for the ocean and the environment with new divers. For me, diving has been a life-altering event. Come join us. You may find your life changed forever, just as it has changed ours. The very best day I can spend, is a day when I am floating weightless, through the kelp forests, watching the sun filtering through into a mosaic of beauty. Come play.

My Gear: Regulators: Atomic ST1 and Scuba Pro MK25S600T BCD’s: Scuba Pro Glide and Dive Rite Transpac Harness System Exposure Protection: Henderson Hyperstretch 7mm wetsuit with Henderson Hyperstretch 5/3 hooded vest. DUI CLX450 Dry suit Alternate Air Sources: Atomic SS1 inline, Scuba Pro R190 Octopus Computers: Suunto Cobra, Suunto Stinger Compasses: Suunto SK7 retractable Semi Closed Rebreather: Dolphin Dreager Fins: Apollo Pro Split Fins Reels: Manta Senior, OMS Finger Spool

Bio: Love for the water and all the creatures in it was a gift given to me as a baby. I was learning to swim at the same time I was learning to walk. In 2004 I was working on my degrees in Animal Training and Wildlife Education. A SCUBA certification was a requirement to work with marine mammals so, I signed up with about 20 of my fellow classmates. Off to Catalina we went. From the first splash; I was hooked. Gidget said it best "It positively surpasses every living emotion I've ever had." I've been lucky, getting to travel to places like Rohatan, Hawaii, and Cozumel has been a lot of fun! As a divemaster/ EFR instructor and future open water instructor I want to be able to share these experiences with as many people as possible. 71% of the earth is covered with oceans. To explore it with amazing people would be an awfully big adventure. Are you in? "Honest to goodness it's the absolute ultimate!"- Gidget

Qualified to Teach: Night diver, EAN (Nitrox), Deep Diver, Boat Diver

Student Certifications: 19

Bio: I grew up back in Boston and have had a love of the ocean ever since I can remember. I have been intrigued and mystified by the beauty of the ocean my entire life which led me to learn to dive and also made me eager to help to protect it. I began diving about 10 years ago and have been hooked ever since! Diving is a passion, whether it’s diving the colossal kelp forests here in Southern California or exotic tropical locations like Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Cozumel, The Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Hawaii, The Florida Keys or The Virgin Islands – I can’t get enough. It is the coolest thing to be able to spend my weekends sharing my love of the ocean with others and to be able to teach them the incredible sport of diving is just awesome! Fortunately, there are so many amazing spots around the world it’s possible for every diver to have their own favorite. Why not take the plunge, jump in, and discover your own underwater paradise?

My Gear: BCD: Scuba Pro Bella Fins: , Atomic Aquatics Split Fins Mask: Atomic Aquatics Subframe Computer: Suunto Cobra 2 Wetsuits: Aqualung Solafx 8/7mm, Henderson Titanium Hyperstrech 5mm Gloves: Scubamax 5mm, Scubapro 3mm

Qualified to Teach: Water; Advanced Open Water; Rescue; Divemaster; Specialty courses

Student Certifications: 45

Bio: I grew up in Southern California and have been diving quite a while. In my other life I am a practicing surgeon, and that is fun, but my most fun comes from diving. When done right the beauty and feeling of weightlessness is unsurpassed and I love helping others experience these feelings. I found that the lessons learned in becoming an accomplished diver can be applied to other aspects of life. So join me in this unique experience. Also in September, for the more experienced diver I will be offering a Cavern specialty course that I guarantee will be a blast!

My Gear: My list of gear is coming soon...

My Photo Gallery: Coming soon...

Qualified to Teach: PADI Open Water Diver and Advanced

Student Certifications: 45

Bio: I fell in love with diving before I ever swam in the ocean. My dad, Bill, was an avid diver when I was young and I remember him coming home and telling me all his scuba diving stories. Everything he would talk about, from the creatures he would see to the plants and shells he would describe, I fell in love with the ocean and I knew someday I would be just like my dad and breathe underwater. Flash forward to 2005, I was finally certified, but it wasn’t until 2007 that I started diving with ECO Dive Center and really progress in diving. I became a dive master in 2008 and every time I get to dive, I love it more and more. I enjoy watching people dive for the first time and see how excited they get and knowing that I had something to do with that is an awesome feeling. I have been diving in places like the Dominican Republic, Cozumel, Cancun, Hawaii and I hope to continue to add to that and soon! But SoCal is by far the best, you can’t beat swimming through a gorgeous kelp forest with a sea lion whizzing by you. In the future I would like to work my way up to a Specialties Instructor, Tec Instructor and someday, Staff Instructor. I plan on traveling as an Instructor as well; I would love to see what the entire ocean has to offer and experience as many different cultures as I can. Along with being an instructor, I also enjoy assisting on research and/or restoration projects. Working at ECO has opened my eyes to just how much we can do as divers in protecting the ocean and all of the organisms in it and take pride in the ocean thriving and being as beautiful as ever for current and future divers.

My Gear: BCD – Zeagle Stiletto,Primary Regulator: Atomic B2, Secondary Regulator: Oceanic Alpha 8, Wetsuit: Aqualung SolAfx 8 mm, Fins: Atomic Splitfins, Dive Computer: Suunto D6

Qualified to Teach: Beginners and advanced divers

Bio: Coming soon...

My Gear: My list is coming soon...

Qualified to Teach: Scuba Diver, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue, Divemaster, Specialty Courses

Student Certifications: 78

Bio: I learned to scuba dive in 2002 off the coves of Laguna Beach, CA. There's not much I'd rather do than strapping on a tank. It's my escape from the cubicles of corporate America and the next best thing to being an astronaut. My car is always sandy and my wetsuit is rarely dry. I dived all along Southern CA before making a temporary move to the midwest. Not satisfied with silty, dead rock quarries and rusty, sunken cars, I came back home to the glorious Pacific. There is nowhere else in the world where you can fly and chase sunlight through a kelp forest, see dozens of species, and have a seal as your dive buddy all in the same weekend. Scuba diving can be whatever you want it to be - a leisurely stroll, high octane adventure, or a relaxing night looking up at the stars as the ocean cradles you gently. Let us show you a world you never knew existed and you'll understand first hand why it's so important to keep it safe. There's a whole lot of planet you haven't seen yet... you want in?

My Gear: Atomic B2 (primary regulator), Atomic SS1 (alternate regulator), Zeagle Ranger LTD (BCD), Oceanic Atom 2.0 (air-integrated, hose-less wrist computer), Atomic Subframe (low volume mask), Atomic SV2 (snorkel), Atomic Splitfins w/spring straps, XCEL 9.7.6 Semidry (9/7/6mm wetsuit), Body Glove EXO (7mm wetsuit), Scubapro Form 2 (5mm wetsuit), Bare Dryhood (bib-less hood), Akona Roller Backpack (gear bag), Worthington HP 130 (high pressure steel tank), 2x Catalina S80 (aluminum tank), Sony DSC-W290 w/Sony housing + Sea & Sea YS-27DX strobe.

Qualified to Teach: Specialty Instructor – 16 Specialties

Student Certifications: 65

Bio: I got interested in scuba diving in the early 90’s after a vacation to the Cayman Islands. Not certified yet, I spent the vacation snorkeling and wishing I could stay down longer with the marine life. By the next vacation I was certified and have been actively diving since. After many years of diving I became a Divemaster in 2001. I started a local dive club that grew to several hundred members. The dive club had one important theme, that being, continue your diving education and be a safe and active diver. The dive club enabled me to utilize my Divemaster skills by being a mentor to many new divers, and, by taking new divers and having them gain experience through active diving. On a professional level I enjoyed Divemaster duties, especially during open water classes. In 2007, while visiting the Eco Dive Center to buy some piece of gear I did not need, Ron talked to me about being an instructor and before I knew it, I was a PADI instructor. Since that time I focused on teaching advance courses through Divemaster. I look forward to the challenge of teaching new students at Eco Dive Center and watching these same students learn as they progress through their diving careers by continuing their education and remaining active divers.

My Gear: My gear: I have a lot of gear.

Qualified to Teach: Instructors, Divemasters, Rescue, Nitrox, Deep, Night, Search & Recovery, Wreck, Dry Suit, Rescue, DPV, Boat, Drift, Digital Underwater Photography, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Coral Reef Conservation, Underwater Naturalist

Student Certifications: 69

Bio: Since both my parents are active divers since the 70's, Yes I grew up with scuba all around me. My thirst for adventure and exploration resulted in frequent camping/diving trips down to Baja, Sharm el-Sheikh– Red Sea, Truk Lagoon, The Caymans and all over Mexico. After moving to Los Angeles I advanced my training through PADI and LA County’s SCUBA program and worked as a divemaster on the Magician Dive Boat in Los Angeles. I'm involved with Oceana, Green Peace, Surfrider Foundation and other organizations that are aimed at protecting our oceans. I'm told I have an easy going nature, I guess it's good for beginner divers right? I like sharing my experiences that help experienced divers expand their knowledge.

My Gear: BCD: ScubaPro Classic w/Integrated Scubapro Air 2, COMPUTER: Suunto Cobra 2 GUAGES: Scubapro 2-Guage Console REGS: Scubapro MK25UL/s600; Poseidon Cyklon; Apeks Tungsten FINS: Apollo BioFin Pro; Mares Quattro MASK: Atomic Sub-Frame SNORKEL: Scubapro Twin Valve Shotgun 2 WETSUITS: Scubapro 7mm & 3mm hooded vest; 3mm; BARE 7mm; BOOTIES: Scubapro DRYSUIT: DUI TANK: LP95 Scubapro; LP109 OMS; LP121 OMS DIVE TOOL: Scubapro

Qualified to Teach: All the core PADI classes and some additional specialties like, Nitrox and Photo. Fluent in Mandarin

Student Certifications: 39

Bio: Growing up on a tiny island in Asia, it was ironic that I was an aquaphobe. Refusing to give in to irrational fear, I decided the best course of action was to do something extreme. During summer break in 1999, I flew to a tiny island in Malaysia, and got certified as an Open Water Diver. Since then, it has been an amazing odyssey which has brought me all over the USA and Asia diving and sharing my love of the underwater realm with students eager to jump into the water and explore. My passions include macro photography and muck diving which was fuelled by trips to Mabul and Lembeh Straits, the muck diving capital of the world. Even our local beaches can offer excellent muck diving opportunities with lots of cool critters to be found in the sand and I never pass up an opportunity to dive them.

My Gear: List of gear coming soon...

Qualified to Teach: Open water, advanced, rescue and divemaster

Student Certifications: 29

Bio: After a leave of absence he's back! Bio Coming soon...

My Gear: List of gear coming soon...

Qualified to Teach: Open Water, Advanced, Rescue, Divemaster and a few specialties.

Bio: Coming soon...

My Gear: Regulators: Scuba Pro MK22 and Seaquest Air 2. BCD: Seaquest Predator. Exposure suit: 6.5mm Bare Farmer John. Gloves: Aqualung Flex Thermocline. Boots: Oceanic Venture. Fins: Mares Advantix III. Computer: Suunto Vytec w/ transmitter.

Qualified to Teach: Beginners to Divemaster

Bio: I became a certified diver, as well as a member of DAN in 2007 after returning from 27 months serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I currently hold over 19 PADI Specialties and EFR Instructor. I love to travel and take every opportunity to dive. I love most about diving is that every dive brings a new adventure and helping people attain sometimes life long dreams. SCUBA!