President - SDI Instructor Trainer, PADI Master Instructor
Diving professionally since 2004, all I can say is that I wish I did it sooner. The underwater world is something that can’t be described in mere words. It’s something that has to be experienced first-hand. From the moment of my very first underwater breaths, I knew I was hooked.
I enjoy local dive spots, as well as traveling to exotic dive destinations such as, Cozumel, Bonaire, Turks & Caicos, Caymans Islands, Belize, Honduras and Hawaii. My passion for diving has led me to capture this mind-blowing underwater world through underwater photography and videography. Please take a look at our Gallery for some of my favorites.
As an SDI Instructor Trainer and PADI Master Instructor, I teach courses from the initial Scuba Discovery up through the professional level courses of Divemaster, Assistant Instructor and Open Water Scuba Instructor. I also conduct crossovers from other training agencies to SDI, TDI and ERDI, all in-house.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do, than the things you did do! Dream, Discover, DESCEND
SDI, ERDI Instructor
At young age, I became fascinated with the underwater world by watching Jacques Cousteau and looking at pictures of diving in National Geographic magazines. I grew up in central Michigan and snorkeled in and around Mackinac Island. Joining the US Navy at 18, I started diving in 1991 graduating Second Class Diver School in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Spending 7 years Active Duty as a Diver, I took leave in Fall of 1998. I worked as a commercial diver for 10 months in the Midwest area and then obtained a firefighting position at Great Lakes Naval Training Center and quickly obtained my certifications for firefighting and Dive Rescue International certifications. Then in a few years, my Public Safety Scuba Instructor certification in 2005. I taught for 16 years the Members of Lake/ McHenry County Special Response Team and other agencies from the Midwest area including police and the Chicago FBI Swat Team. I was able to obtain my DR I Trainer certification and Full-Face Mask Instructor along with his Dry suit Instructor. Remaining in the US Naval Reserves from 1999 through 2014, I retired from Naval Experimental Diving Unit based out of Panama City, FL.
Recently, I crossed over most of my certifications to Scuba Diving International/ SDI and Emergency Diving International/ERDI through Crystal Blue Diving. I am retiring soon from the Fire Department and look forward to sharing my passion and experience in teaching recreational scuba courses to new divers. I enjoy spending time at home with his wife of 26 years on the small farm we have built together.
“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” ― Jacques Cousteau
PADI OWSI Instructor
Maddison is a Crystal Lake native and her love for the underwater world started from a very young age. She completed her book and pool in Crystal Lake and then finished her open water certification in the beautiful waters of The Cayman Islands. Her love of the water continued growing as she began to see a dive career in her future! Maddison attended Barry University in Miami where she majored in Sports Management with a concentration in the Diving Industry. As part of her college program, she was able to travel to Bonaire for two weeks every summer to expand upon her experience and ultimately lead her to obtain her Divemaster certification. Upon graduation, she traveled to Chuuk, Micronesia for diving in Truk Lagoon. It was here she did some of the most amazing wreck diving in the world! After her adventures in Micronesia, Maddison traveled to Utila, Honduras to complete her Instructor certification. From there Maddison began working as a Dive Instructor in Key Largo at Amy Slate’s Amoray Dive Resort. When Maddison is not in the water she loves spending time with her growing family and enjoying time with her two puppy daughters.
PADI OWSI Instructor
I became an open water scuba diver in 2005. My first trip was to Cozumel, which was the first time I had ever been out of the United States, on an airplane, and seeing the ocean. My first ocean dive was like experiencing a different world. There was so much color and aquatic life, it was so peaceful and relaxing. Instantly, I knew I wanted to be underwater as much as possible and I went on to become a PADI Instructor in 2007. Scuba diving has allowed me to travel all over the world and meet some great people along the way. It truly is a life changing experience!
SDI, PADI Assistant Instructor
I have been diving since I was 13 and became a Divemaster in 2009. I love to share my passion for diving with new students. I enjoy both local and Caribbean diving and I love to capture the underwater world through photography. Lanie's passion and enthusiasm for diving and teaching is truly contagious!
PADI Assistant Instructor
I fell in love with our underwater world at the early age of 15. All it took was one dive and I was hooked. What was just something fun to do on the weekends has now become a life-long passion for marine-life, diving, teaching and traveling the world. My Open Water certification led to many others, Advanced Open Water Diver, PADI Specialty Courses (Wreck Diver, Ice Diver, to name a few), and my favorite, Rescue Diver. Once I attained the Master Scuba Diver certification, I wanted to continue to challenge myself so in 2013, I joined the tribe of PADI Professionals by getting my Divemaster certification. As exciting as it is to be a scuba diver, teaching students and seeing their eyes light up as this new world is open to them, is even better.
George completed the PADI Assistant Instructor course in 2016, and is able to teach the following PADI Courses: Discover Scuba Diving, Peak Performance Bouyancy, Project AWARE and AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Specialty.
PADI Divemaster
I started diving when I was 18 and fell in love with diving. I love the challenge and adventure of all aspects of diving. I’ve been able to dive in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Great Lakes and many of the local dive spots in the Midwest. I enjoy teaching, working and meeting new people and sharing my enthusiasm for diving with them.
PADI Divemaster
I started diving in 2008 and was instantly hooked being under the water. In 2013, I obtained my Rescue Diver & Divemaster certifications and have been involved in training, teaching and guiding students ever since. I have certifications in Nitrox, CPR/AED, 1st Responder First Aid and O2 Administration.
In the water I enjoy the reefs, wreck diving and the abundant sea life which never ceases to amaze me. I have been diving in Bonaire, the Philippine Islands, Turks & Caicos, Belize, The Bahamas (via the Aggressor boats), the Florida Keys, Roatan, Cayman Islands, Cozumel and the Cenotes in the Mexican Riviera. Work is just a means to support my habit of being in the water.
See you in the water!
Marketing Manager
SDI Rescue Diver
I completed my Open Water certification with my husband in 2012 prior to our honeymoon in Mexico. Once I dove in the Caribbean I knew I wanted to do it more! I went on to complete my Advanced Open Water in 2014 while on one of the group trips to Cozumel. Most recently, I completed my Rescue Diver course in 2023 and I look forward to continuing my dive journey!
