Alec Peirce (seahunter)

Dive Store Owner, Teacher; Diver; Entrepreneur; Outdoorsman

Current Certification: Scuba Instructor for 8 different agencies (PADI, NAUI, ACUC, CMAS, IDEA, NASE, CURE, RLLSC); holder of NAUI 25 year pin; holder of PADI 20 year pin; holder of SSI Platinum Diver (most of these are issued based on longevity rather than expertise); holder of unique PADI U/W Hunter Instructor plus a dozen other specialties; a member of the exclusive PADI International Resort and Retail Association Advisory Council.

Special Scuba Interests: I have one of the largest collections of vintage scuba equipment in North America including every 2 hose regulator, every issue of Skin Diver Magazine and dozens of mask, fins, spearguns, gauges, cameras, books and other items dating from the '50's. I also have what is considered the largest collection of Sea Hunt and Lloyd Bridges memorabilia anywhere including every episode of that famous TV series with many on the original film and lots of personal items from Lloyd Bridges himself.

Age: 54

Favorite course to teach: Equipment Specialist; Divemaster; U/W Hunter; U/W Photography, Vintage Diver

Best Place to Dive: Cozumel for great diving and fun; Toby for excitement and adventure; Barbados for variety and easy diving

Best dive ever made: " I've been diving since 1958 so it's very hard for me to choose (even remember) my favorite dive. Additionally, many of the dive sites I visited 20 or 25 years ago have changed tremendously (the Waome, the Arabia, The Florida Keys, etc) so my choices may seem strange but here goes My most exciting dive was one of several hundred made on the Arabia (there's a story here!); most beautiful dive was Cozumel (another story); most stupidly dangerous dive was Cozumel (story time).

Hobbies or Sports: Big Game Hunting (8 of my trophies are listed in the SCI World Record Book); horseback riding; snowmobiling; motorcycles (I raced motorcycles for several years in the late '60's. I now restore classic bikes (Nortons, BSA's, etc).

Little known fact: I cry at movies.

Personal Motto: "Improve yourself by helping others"

Inspirational Words: "Putting others down may seem to improve your position but you actually have not moved. You can only really get ahead by getting better."

Future Goals: I'm very fortunate in that I've already lived most of my childhood dreams. There is nothing that I'm longing to do. However, given time, I'd like to leave an exciting, popular and profitable scuba center in Ontario for others to enjoy as employees and as customers. I'd like to go on a long African Safari (hunting) with my son.

Diana Stanborough

Current Certification: Master Instructor

Age: 46

Best Scuba Course Taken: Equipment - I like understanding how things work and I really enjoy seeing how the equipment evolved. It's also interesting to see how many 'new' ideas aren't so new after all. A course that I would recommend to all.

Favorite course to teach: Open water - to witness the absolute joy of conquering the unknown. Rescue diver because it gives divers a totally new outlook on diving and other divers.

Best Place to Dive: A very difficult question. I love diving in Ontario because of all the old wrecks, BC is amazing because of the variety of life, Cozumel because I can be lazy with the drift diving, Fiji because of all the color and life, South Africa because of the sharks! What can I say? I love diving!!

Best dive ever made: The wreck of the Yongola off the north, west coast of Australia because of the incredible profusion of life (from small critters - cleaner shrimp, nudibranch, clown fish, etc. to large critters - barracuda, sharks, batfish, turtles, huge rays and a grouper called VW, guess why!) PLUS the mystery of a huge wreck.

Personal Motto: Enjoy today. Tomorrow comes and goes much too fast.

Hobbies or Sports: Horseback Riding, Skiing, Water Sports, Gardening and Reading.

Little known fact: Studied architectural drafting in college and was a nurse for several years.

Inspirational Words: 'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.' Eleanor Roosevelt

Future Goals: To continue to share the joy that I have found in diving. I also hope for more travel opportunities.

Susan Stanborough (mom or Susie)

Lots of folks have been asking about the busy little lady who flits around the shop each morning. If you've been to Tobermory, you know that's Susan (mom) Stanborough. Susan is one of our senior staff and it's Susan who keeps Scuba 2000 sharp! She checks every little thing each morning to be sure we're ready to receive our customers and look our best. If you want to meet 'mom', you'll need to get there early. Once the scuba center is shipshape and she's sure everyone else is on the ball, Susan is gone.

Hobbies: Bingo; reading; gardening

Little known fact: Susie is a scuba diver and has dived in several tropical resorts AND in Tobermory.