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Pacific Wilderness Sales Team & Staff Instructors

Jeff Smith Fred Colburn Roger Jaquette  
Josh Bakin Freddie Contreras Jake Sprinkle

Pacific Wilderness Support Staff & Instructors

Jeff Highley Seann Bogguess Eduardo Lopez Frank Craig
Kris Pattarasirin Josh Sprinkle Bill Paoli James Thomas
Patrick Farina   Christian Kniess

Pacific Wilderness Divemasters & Support Staff

Wayne Rolle Russ Wells Helen Johnson Angelique Neugent
Sonja Johnson Michelle Van Vliet Rayna Sorida

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Pacific Wilderness Sales Team & Staff Instructors

 

Jeff Smith

President

PADI Master Scuba Diver - Certified 1978

Specialty Diver Certifications

Equipment Repair Tech

Boat Diver Deep Diver
Drift Diver Dry Suit Diver
Gas Blender Equipment Specialist
Emergency First Responder Naturalist
Navigation Night Diver
Nitrox Diver Rebreather-Draeger
Search and Recovery U/W Hunting
U/W Photography-Digital U/W Photography-Film
Wreck Diver  
Dacor Spare Air
Hydro Ops Tank Inspector
Oceanic U.S. Divers
Scubapro Viking
SeaQuest Zeagle
ProSub Sherwood
Aqualung Suunto
Apeks DrySuit Repair
DUI Hazmat Certified

DOT Certified  

Diving Experience: Includes extensive logged dives in Southern California with additional diving experience throughout Mexico, Costa Rica, Bonaire, Roatan, Hawaii, Fiji, Galapagos, Grand Turks & Caicos, Australia, Cuba, the Red Sea, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Yap, Palau and Truk Lagoon (Micronesia).

Special Achievements: Has served as test diver & gear evaluator for US Divers (Aqualung),  Scubapro, SeaQuest, Oceanic, Zeagle, U.K., Princeton, Draeger Rebreathers & Catalina Cylinders. Contributed in the design of the US Divers’ "Pivot" console and design contributions for Oceanic, SeaQuest & Zeagle Dive Equipment. Professional Awards of Support from PADI, US Divers, Dacor, Oceanic, Sea Pearls, Catalina Conservancy Divers, Los Angeles Black Underwater Explorers (LABUE), Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation, Project Aware, Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation & the Los Angeles Fire Department.

SCUBA advisor for Homeland security Operations in Los Angeles and Orange County Area.  Work closely with the Sheriff's Emergency Services Division, Sheriff's Underwater Bomb Squad, Los Angeles Fire Department Dive Team, Los Angeles Police Dive Team, Los Angeles Lifeguards, U S Coast Guard, FBI Dive Operations, Los Angeles & Long Beach Port Security, Metropolitan Water District, Disneyland, Cabrillo Aquarium & Aquarium of the Pacific.  

HAZMAT Certification / Trainer for - Compressed Air Tanks, Fill Station Operations, Tank Inspection & Hydro Ops.  Expert Witness and Advisor for Dive Accident investigations for the Los Angeles County Sheriffs. Scuba Advisor for marine operations at Disneyland.  Published Underwater photographer with photos in several Magazines, Dive Publications, Security Publications, California Diving News and the Los Angeles Times.

Served as Safety Diver/ Gear Tech for Research Group in Galapagos - which included Jean Michele Cousteau & Dr. Richard "Murph" Murphy.

Diving Philosophy: Can best be summarized with my favorite quote by Cousteau…"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. Buoyed by water, he can fly in any direction, up, down, sideways. Underwater man becomes an archangel." Diving is about peace. Diving is freedom in its’ purest form.

Contact Jeff Smith: Jeff@pacificwilderness.com

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Fred Colburn

Training Manager / Equipment Repair Head - San Pedro

PADI Course Director - Certified 1988

Specialty Diver Certifications
* denotes specialties taught by the instructor

Teaching PADI

Equipment Repair Tech

Technical Nitrox Navigation*
DAN Oxygen* Night Diver*
Deep Diver* Nitrox*
Drysuit Diver* Nitrox Blender*
Equipment* Draeger Rebreather*
Emergency First Responder* Advanced Deep Air*
Advanced Nitrox* Advanced Nitrox*
Cave Diver Trimix Diver
Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Emergency First Responder (Adult)
Rescue Diver
Divemaster
Assistant Instructor
Instructor
EFR Instructor
DAN O2 Instructor
Dacor Spare Air
Hydro Ops Tank Inspector
Oceanic U.S. Divers
Scubapro Viking
SeaQuest Zeagle
ProSub Sherwood
Apeks Hazmat Certified
Suunto Aqualung

DrySuit Repair

DUI

DOT Certified  

Diving Experience: Includes comprehensive diving experience in Southern California & the Channel Islands with additional diving experience throughout Mexico, Hawaii, Florida, Bahamas, Galapagos, Fiji, Bonaire, Saba, St. Kitts, Cayman, Costa Rica, Honduras, Red Sea, Thailand, Malaysia, Tahiti, Grand Turk, Philippines, Australia, Cuba, Truk Lagoon & Pemba Island (East Africa).

Special Achievements: Test diver & gear evaluator for US Divers, SeaQuest, Oceanic, Zeagle & Scubapro. Numerous Professional Awards of Excellence from PADI. Rated Equipment Repair Technician for US Divers, Scubapro, Dacor, SeaQuest, Oceanic, Zeagle, Viking, Spare Air, Draeger Rebreathers, HAZMAT Certification / Trainer for - compressed air tanks, fill station operations, Tank Inspection & Hydro Ops. Earned E.M.T. rating in 1998.  Recently dove the "Andrea Doria" in 2003!

Diving Philosophy:    Diving is an experience that cannot be paralleled by any other sport in the world. It is an awe inspiring escape from the fast-paced lifestyle in which we live here in Southern California. The experience is indescribable, and words can rarely do justice to the beauty of the underwater world.

Contact Fred Colburn: Fred@pacificwilderness.com

 

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Roger Jaquette

Manager (Orange Location) / Instructor

PADI Master Instructor - Certified 1990

Specialty Diver Certifications
*denotes specialties taught by instructor

Teaching PADI

Equipment Repair Tech
Boat Diver* Deep Diver*
D.P.V. Diver* Drift Diver*
Dry Suit Diver* Night Diver*
Equipment Specialist* Navigation*
Dan O2* PADI O2
Openwater
Advanced
Emergency First Responder (Adult & Child)
Rescue
Dan O2 Provider
Divemaster
Aqualung Tank Inspector
Apeks Hazmat Certified
SUUNTO Scubapro

Diving Experience: Washington State, British Columbia, Oregon, Northern & Southern California, Florida, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands & Hawaii

Special Achievements: HAZMAT Certification for compressed air tanks, filling station operations, tank inspector. Rated equipment repair technician for, AquaLung, Suunto & SeaQuest.  Participated in Tagging and Study of Giant Puget Sound Octopus!

Dive Philosophy: Diving is great because everybody wins!

Contact Roger Jaquette:  Roger@pacificwilderness.com

 

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Freddie Contreras

Sales Associate / Instructor (Fully Bilingual teaching in Spanish & English)

PADI Instructor - Certified 2001

Specialty Diver Certifications
*denotes specialties taught by instructor

Teaching PADI

Equipment Repair Tech
Deep Diver Navigation
Night Diver Nitrox Diver
Peak Buoyancy* Project Aware*
U/W Photo  
Openwater
Advanced
Emergency First Responder (Adult & Child)
Rescue
Divemaster
Hazmat Certified Tank Inspector
   
   

Diving Experience: Southern California, Oil Rigs, Ensenada - Cabo San Lucas - & Cozumel, Mexico.  

Special Achievements: HAZMAT Certification for compressed air tanks, filling station operations, tank inspector. Rated equipment repair technician.

Diving Philosophy: Get away from the Hustle & Bustle of the City - Head to the Ocean and Jump In!  The Peace and Quiet of the Ocean Below will relieve you of all your worries.  Peace & Quiet Awaits You!

Contact Freddie Contreras:  Freddie@pacificwilderness.com


 

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Josh Bakin

Sales Associate / Instructor

PADI DiveMaster  - Certified 2007

Specialty Diver Certifications Equipment Repair Tech

Deep Diver

Equipment

DrySuit Diver Full Face Mask Diver
Dan O2

U/W Hunter

Digital Photography

Night Diver

Dry Suit Diver

Navigation

Enriched Air Diver

Wreck Diver

Hazmat Certified Tank Inspector
   
 

 

Diving Experience:  Honduras, Central and Southern Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Bahamas, Southern California, Hawaii.

Special Achievements: HAZMAT Certification for compressed air tanks, filling station operations, tank inspector

Diving Philosophy: Underwater is where I go to find complete bliss and I have a 100% success rate.

Contact Josh Bakin: JoshB@PacificWilderness.com


 

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Pacific Wilderness Support Staff & Instructors

 

 

Jeff Highley

PADI Master Instructor - Certified 1992

Specialty Diver Certifications
* denotes specialties taught by the instructor

Teaching PADI

DAN Oxygen* Navigation
Deep Diver* Night Diver*
Dry suit Diver* Nitrox
Naturalist Emergency First Response*
Equipment* Wreck Diver*
Search & Recovery* O2 First Aid*
Advanced Deep Air Technical Nitrox
Trimix Cave Diver
Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Emergency First Responder (Adult)
Rescue Diver
Divemaster

Diving Experiences: Central and Southern California, Channel Islands, Costa Rica, Bonaire, Hawaii, Mexico, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Indonesia, Florida, Yucatan and Cuba.

Special Achievements: Has evaluated gear for U.S. Divers (AquaLung) and Oceanic. Equipment   HAZMAT Certification for compressed air tanks, filling station operations.

Diving Philosophy: Just get wet and have fun doing it, unless you're in a dry suit (but still have fun!).

Contact Jeff Highley: JeffH@pacificwilderness.com

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Seann Bogguess

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer - Certified 2002

Specialty Diver Certifications
* denotes specialties taught by the instructor

Teaching PADI

Boat Diver* DAN Oxygen*
Deep Diver* Drift Diver*
Night Diver* Nitrox*
Equipment Peak Buoyancy*
Photography Wreck Diver*
  Cavern*
Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Rescue Diver
Divemaster

Diving Experiences: Includes Southern California (Channel Islands, San Diego) Cozumel,  Riviera Maya – Cenotes, Hawaiian Islands, Italy–Adriatic Sea. North Florida Caves, Mexico Caves. Philippines, Micronesia. Germany.

Special Achievements:  Hazmat certification for compressed air tanks, filling station operations. Emergency Medical Services CPR and First Aid Instructor. Pulmonary Function Technician. Certified phlebotomist. Full Cave, Techincal Cave, Trimix, Advanced Trimix, Advance Nitrox, Decompression procedures. Member of International Association of Nitrox and Techincal Divers, National Association for Cave Diving, National Speleological Society – Cave Diving Section.

Diving Philosophy: The Mystery of the Sea is pure. Diving illuminates some of that Mystery. Why not experience it?  

Contact Seann Bogguess: Seann@pacificwilderness.com

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Eduardo Lopez

Teaching in Spanish (CURSOS DE BUCEO, PADI, EN ESPAÑOL)

PADI Instructor - Certified 2004

Specialty Diver Certifications
* denotes specialties taught by the instructor

Teaching PADI

Emergency First Response Nitrox*
DAN O2  
   
   
   
Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Emergency First Responder (Adult)
Rescue Diver
DiveMaster

Diving Experience: Comprehensive diving experience in Southern California, Isla Mujeres, Tulum & Puerta Vallarta.

Special Achievements: HAZMAT Certification for compressed air tanks, filling station operations.

Diving Philosophy: When you are Diving, you can feel the force of the Water - you feel like you're flying.  You can experience the Beautiful Colors of the Ocean and be close to an abundance of underwater Creatures.  It helps me to feel close to Nature.

Contact Eduardo Lopez: Eduardo@pacificwilderness.com

 

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Frank Craig

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer - Certified 2001

Specialty Diver Certifications
* denotes specialties taught by the instructor

Teaching PADI

Dry Suit Diver*

U/W Photographer*

Deep Diver* Peak Performance*
Nitrox* Project Aware*
Night Diver* Aware Coral Reef Conservation*
Navigation*  
   
Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Emergency First Responder (Adult)
Rescue Diver
DiveMaster

Diving Experiences: Includes Ireland, Colombia, Southern California & the Channel Islands, Mexico, St. Lucia, Bonaire, Belize, Hawaii, Palau and Chuuk Lagoon.

Special Achievements:  Hazmat certification for compressed air tanks, filling station operations.

Diving Philosophy: Dive, Dive, Dive

Contact Frank Craig: Frank@pacificwilderness.com

 

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Kris Pattarasirin

PADI IDC Staff Instructor - Certified 2007

Specialty Diver Certifications
* denotes specialties taught by the instructor

Teaching PADI

Boat Diver* Gas Blender
Deep Diver* Peak Performance*
Dry Suit Diver* Project Aware*
Equipment* Aware Coral Reef Conservation*
Navigation* Search & Recovery*
Night Diver* PADI Tec Diver
Nitrox*  
Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Emergency First Responder (Adult & Child)
Rescue Diver
Divemaster
Assistant Instructor

Diving Experience: Thailand, Southern California, Channel Islands, Cozumel Island – Mexico, Bonaire Island

Special Achievements: HAZMAT Certification for compressed air tanks, filling station operations, Scubapro equipment repair technician

Diving Philosophy: SCUBA diving is not a sport. No gold, no silver, or no bronze medals; SCUBA diving is a way of life - a Lifestyle.

Contact Kris Pattarasirin: Kris@pacificwilderness.com

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Josh Sprinkle

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer - Certified 2007

Specialty Diver Certifications
* denotes specialties taught by the instructor

Teaching PADI

Boat Diver* Gas Blender*
DAN O2* Peak Performance*
Deep Diver* Project Aware*
Dry Suit Diver* Aware Coral Reef Conservation*
Equipment* Underwater Hunter*
Navigation* Nitrox*
Night Diver* Wreck Diver*
Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Emergency First Responder (Adult, Child & Infant plus AED)
Rescue Diver
Divemaster
Dan O2 Provider - All Levels

Diving Experience: Southern California, Channel Islands, and Hawaiian Islands.

Special Achievements: HAZMAT Certification for compressed air tanks, filling station operations, tank inspector. Rated equipment repair technician for Scubapro.

Diving Philosophy: Diving is a way of life, a passion, and the ultimate way for EVERYONE to reach into another world.

Contact Josh Sprinkle: Josh@pacificwilderness.com

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William "Bill" Paoli

PADI MSDT Instructor - Certified 1985

Specialty Diver Certifications
*denotes specialties taught by instructor

Teaching PADI

 

Boat Diver*

Enriched Air Diver*

 

Deep Diver*

Search & Recovery*

 

Night Diver*

Peak Performance*

 

Wreck Diver*

Naturalist Diver*

 

Dan 02*

Navigation*

 

Emergency Oxygen Provider*

Cavern Diver

Openwater
Advanced
Emergency First Responder (Adult & Child)
Rescue
Divemaster
 

 

Diving Experience: Includes Southern California (Channel Islands, Catalina, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, Corona Del Mar, Morro Bay, San Diego), Florida, Cozumel,  Riviera Maya – Cenotes, Shark Diving off Playa Del Carmen, Hawaiian Islands, Jamaica, Bahama Islands, Italy–Adriatic Sea.

 

Special Achievements: Hazmat certification for compressed air tanks, filling station operations. Emergency First Responder CPR, First Aid, and AED Instructor.

 

Dive Philosophy:  There is a whole other world that covers most of the planet.  Scuba enables us to explore and discovery the mystery and beauty of the underwater world around us.  Being in the water is the most peaceful feeling I have ever experienced and the serenity of being in the water with its vast aquatic life brings the exhilaration that most of us cannot find in our everyday live. So, why not expose yourself to the peaceful serenity Scuba has to offer?  


 

Contact Bill Paoli: Bill@PacificWilderness.com

 

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James Thomas

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer - Certified 1998

Specialty Diver Certifications
*denotes specialties taught by instructor

Teaching PADI

Equipment Repair Tech
Boat Diver Deep Diver
EFR* Nitrox*
Night Diver Peak Buoyancy*
   
Openwater
Advanced
Emergency First Responder (Adult & Child)
Rescue
Divemaster
Scubapro Tank Inspector
Hazmat Certified  
   

Diving Experience: Southern California, Channel Islands, Hawaiian Islands, Florida, North & South Carolina.

Special Achievements: HAZMAT Certification for compressed air tanks, filling station operations, tank inspector. Rated equipment repair technician for Scubapro.

Diving Philosophy: Diving is not a sport, but a lifestyle.  The sea knows when she is ready for me - and I listen.

Contact James Thomas:  James@pacificwilderness.com

 

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Patrick Farina

Patrick.GIF (23050 bytes)

PADI Instructor - Certified 1994

Specialty Diver Certifications
* denotes specialties taught by the instructor

Teaching PADI

DAN Oxygen* Navigation*
Deep Diver* Night Diver*
Dry Suit Diver* Nitrox*
Naturalist* Emergency First Response*
Equipment* Videography*
Search & Recovery* Wreck Diver*
Boat Diver* O2 First Aid*
Nitrox Blender Trimix Diver
Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Emergency First Responder (Adult)
Rescue Diver
Divemaster

Diving Experience: Southern California & the Channel Islands with additional diving experience in Central California, Nevada/Arizona, New Mexico, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Great Barrier Reef & Melbourne, Australia, an exotic rock quarry in Virginia, and the warm waters of Belize.

Special Achievements: Has evaluated gear for U.S. Divers (AquaLung), Oceanic, and Zeagle. Equipment Repair Technician for U.S. Divers and Oceanic.   HAZMAT Certification for compressed air tanks, filling station operations

Diving Philosophy: Hey Walter Mitty, life is passing you by, get off the couch. Go outside, make new friends, find a buddy - go to an exotic world in your own backyard - GO DIVE.

Contact Patrick Farina: Patrick@pacificwilderness.com

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Christian Kniess

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer - Certified 1995

Specialty Diver Certifications
*denotes specialties taught by instructor

Teaching PADI

Equipment Repair Tech

Boat Diver*

Deep Diver*

EFR*

Nitrox*

Night Diver

Tec Gas Blender

Peak Buoyancy*

Search & Recovery

 Underwater* navigator

 Deep*

Open Water

Advanced

Emergency First Responder (Adult & Child)

Rescue

Divemaster

Hazmat Certified

 

 

 

   
   
   

Diving Experience:   Brazil: Litoral Norte, Abrolhos, Fernando de Noronha; Cozumel;  Southern California; Maui; Kauai; Bahamas;  Honduras; French Polynesia

Special Achievements:  HAZMAT Certification for compressed air tanks & filling station operations

Diving Philosophy: Diving is a never ending fascination of a world that is still so unknown to us that invites us share the beauty it's marine life. We are a blessed generation where diving allows us to share this experience in the hope that future generations have the same good fortune.

Contact Christian Kniess: Christian@PacificWilderness.com

 

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Pacific Wilderness DiveMasters & Support Staff

 

Wayne Rolle

Pacific Wilderness Dive Club President

PADI Divemaster- Certified 1997

Specialty Diver Certifications

Deep Diver

Nitrox

Drift Diver

Rescue Diver

Emer.  First Response

SeaSigns Instructor

Master Diver

U/W Photography

Night Diver

 

Diving Experience:   Southern California, Channel Islands, Texas, Florida, Virginia, Mexico, Belize, Bonaire, Dominican Republic, Philippines, Egypt, and soon Costa Rica and Yap with many more places to follow. 

Special Achievements:  HAZMAT Certification for compressed air tanks & filling station operations.

Diving Philosophy:     I love to dive, I have never once worried about things terrestrial when I am diving.  I find the ocean environment to be full of wonder and inspiration, and I never tire of it.  I am comfortable and at peace when I’m in the water, but the ocean must also be respected as it is a perilous place for humans … and at the same time constantly at peril from humans.  Leave all your cares at the shoreline.  Live simply.

Contact Wayne Rolle: Wayne@pacificwilderness.com

 


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Russ Wells

PADI Divemaster- Certified 1973

Specialty Diver Certifications

Emergency First Response Wreck Diver
DAN O2 Discover Scuba Diving
Nitrox (EAN) EFR Instructor

Diving Experience:   Southern California, Channel Islands, La Paz, Bermuda, Kona, Riviera Maya (Ocean & Cenotes), Bonaire and even a few lakes.

Special Achievements:  HAZMAT Certification for compressed air tanks & filling station operations. DSD Instructor, EFR Instructor.

Diving Philosophy:     Our Oceans are the common link between all of us.  Understanding this fascinating and tranquil world through diving is a great experience to be shared by all.  It allows us to enter this silent world and for a moment leave behind our terrestrial roots.  Let’s go diving…


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Helen Johnson

PADI Divemaster- Certified 1997

Specialty Diver Certifications

Equipment Repair Tech

DAN Oxygen
Nitrox Diver
EFR
Hazmat Certified

Diving Experience:   Includes Southern California, Channel Islands, Cozumel, La Paz, and coming soon the Philippines and Galapagos. 

Special Achievements: Has made over 500 with 90% in Southern California.

Diving Philosophy:     In our fast pace lives of today going under the water provides you with a place where you set the pace.  I find diving to be the only activity that I can truly get away from it all.  Go diving and find yourself in a world that is quite, colorful and exciting. Diving truly puts you in another world.

Contact Helen Johnson: Helen@pacificwilderness.com


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Sonja Johnson

Sonja.GIF (20089 bytes)

PADI Divemaster- Certified 1997

Specialty Diver Certifications

Equipment Repair Tech

DAN Oxygen Medic First Aid
Deep Diver Night Diver
Drysuit Diver Videography
Wreck Diver Nitrox
O2 First Aid
Oceanic Tank Inspector

Diving Experience: Southern California, Channel Islands, Colorado River,  Fiji, Belize, and Cuba.

Special Achievements: Volunteer diver for the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific since April 98 and dive team leader since November 98. Designed the Pacific Wilderness web page.

Diving Philosophy: I was born and raised in Southern California, and although I love it dearly, the sheer number of people and day-to-day situations can get to be quite exasperating. Diving is my way of escaping the crowds and the only way I can  truly achieve a completely peaceful state of mind.

 


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Michelle Van Vliet

PADI Divemaster - Certified 1998

Specialty Diver Certifications

Equipment Repair Tech

Nitrox Wreck
Medic First Aid Search and Recovery
UW Photography
Flooded Cameras

Diving Experience: Southern California, the Channel Islands, Palau, Cuba and Fiji.

Special Achievements:  Michelle had been immersed in photo chemicals long before she jumped into the ocean with her camera. A third generation photographer, she has enjoyed a career as a dry commercial photographer for over 20 years. "Shooting Royalty, Rock Stars and Politicans is easy compared to the challenges the wet world of UW photography presents... but what a delightful environment to work in to achieve a new goal!"  HAZMAT Certification for compressed air tanks, filling station operations

Diving Philosophy:  In the water we humans stumble down a few links from our comfortable position on the evolutionary chain. It's quite humbling, in a good way, to be amongst creatures who are much more savvy with the sea environment than you. Diving helps you recover your soul, and puts things in better perspective ... Go ahead...strap on a tank, and jump in. Glide through the saline chemistry from where you came, and make friends with a Garibaldi. You know what? You can't smile any better than they can ... you're going to have to make a good impression without an expression. We all look the same down there!



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