Jeff Smith

President

PADI Master Scuba Diver - Certified 1978

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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Training Manager / Equipment Repair Head - San Pedro

PADI Course Director - Certified 1988

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

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

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

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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Jeff Highley

PADI Master Instructor - Certified 1992

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

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

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

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

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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James Thomas

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer - Certified 1998

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

PADI Instructor - Certified 1994

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

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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Wayne Rolle

Pacific Wilderness Dive Club President

PADI Divemaster- Certified 1997

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

Russ Wells

PADI Divemaster- Certified 1973

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…

Helen Johnson

PADI Divemaster- Certified 1997

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

Sonja Johnson

PADI Divemaster- Certified 1997

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.

Michelle Van Vliet

PADI Divemaster - Certified 1998

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!