Joomla Slide Menu by DART Creations

1-800-324-3483 or dive@scuba2000.com


About Scuba 2000

divecalendarsmall
findusonfacebook

what news module with blue
Meet our Staff

Meet the Scuba 2000 team ... a diverse bunch of Open Water Instructors, Master Scuba Divers, Divemasters, etc.

Scuba 2000, a PADI 5 STAR Instructor school located minutes north of Toronto is only an hour away from some of Ontario's best dive areas.

STORE STAFF

peirce2Alec 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.

 

stanboroughDiana 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_stanboroughSusan 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.

 

INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF

camerashyMurray Culligan (Nickname: Murman)
Age: 30 Something
Occupation: Financial Adviser
Current Certification Level: Divemaster
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: DIVEMASTER - A culmination of everything I learned up to this point all rolled into one! A satisfying challenge!
Favorite Course(s) To Teach & Why: ASSISTING W/ OW STUDENTS - Reminds me of my own OW courses!
Dive Experience:
Salt Water - 2 (so far!) memorable wreck dives off the coast of PEI.
Fresh Water - 60 & counting! Includes: Ice, Wreck, Deep, Nitrox
Best Dive(s): Anything in Brockville! Advanced OW dives at Flower Pot Island in Tobermory.
Worst Dive: A boat dive in the Niagara River. Ended up *way* downstream from the boat. The surface swim back in rough water was EXHAUSTING!
Other Interests: My children & family; camping; video games; movies; computers
Little Known Fact About Me: I used to work in radio down in the Maritimes.
Personal Goal(s): OWSI (instructor) by end of 2004. Be in Coz for the January 2005 trip!
Personal Motto: Don't worry about life. It's not permanent!
Inspirational words: I was playing a video game in the advanced stages. I was preparing to battle one of the bosses and was hanging back, looking for weaknesses. My 6-year old daughter came by and I explained to her what I was doing. Her response to me was simply: "Go get her then!" Too often in life I hold back looking for weaknesses instead of charging ahead, not worrying about the outcome. My 6-year old daughter is wise beyond her years!
Kudos: All the wonderful instructors, leaders and staff at Scuba 2000 as well as all the divers I've been privileged to buddy with!

herskowitzLeo Herskowitz
Age: 57
Occupation: School Administrator
Current Certification Level: Master Instructor/DAN O2 Instructor-EFR / HSA
Specialties: Boat, Deep, Drift, Multi-level, Night, S&R, Nav, Wreck
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: IDC - it was well taught, demanding and provocative.
Favorite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Any and all courses related to scuba because I am a trained teacher and love to teach.
Dive Experience:
Salt Water - yes
Fresh Water - yes
Best Dive(s): Every one I have done.
Worst Dive: I have not yet encountered one.
Other Interests: Reading, wine-making, travelling, horseback riding, etc…
Little Known Fact About Me: My life is an open book.
Personal Goal(s): To be content.
Personal Motto: If you will it, it will be.
Inspirational words: Always try your hardest- there is no such thing as I can't.
Kudos: Always have faith and trust in your buddy.

wloWarren Lo (Nickname: Warren_L (I wonder how I came up with that??))
Age: 30 something
Occupation: Investment Advisor
Current Certification Level: Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: The Divemaster Course was my favourite. This is the first of the leadership level courses and it really helped me to advance not only my own dive theory knowledge and skills, but showed me what a great pleasure it can be to help lead and introduce the sport of diving, which I love so much, to new divers.
Favorite Course To Teach & Why: Advanced Open Water. This course introduces divers, often recently certified, to a whole new realm of experiences in the diving world. And I get to show them the way first hand! Adventure dives I lead would include night diving, wreck exploration, deep diving, and many more.
Dive Experience:
Salt Water - Cozumel, Mexico - warm water drift diving rules!, Bimini, Bahamas - warm water and sharks!, Catalina Island, California - amazing kelp forests
Fresh Water -
- Ontario - Tobermory - wreck diving and open water classes
- Ontario - Kingston - wreck diving at it's best
- Ontario - Brockville - my favourite wreck - "The Keystorm"
- Ontario - Humber Bay - easy to get to "impromptu" dive site
- Ontario - Lake Simcoe - fantastic ice diving
- Ontario - Chippawa River - Ontario's cozumel
- Ontario - Lake Erie - Long point wrecks
- Ontario - Kirkfield, Lake Muskoka, Toronto Harbour
Best Dive: Tobermory - Night Dive on the Arabia - Absolutely spectacular.
Worst Dive: There are bad dives? I would have to say Innerkip in August 2003. 3 inch visibility.
Other Interests: - Mountain biking, duathlons, skiing & snowboarding, golf, underwater photography, and maintaining the Scuba 2000 chat line, "The Diving Board"
Little Known Fact About Me: I love to cook! Call me "Emeril"!
Personal Goal(s): To continue to learn, both in life and in diving. No matter how much you know, there's always more to learn. And above all else, dive, dive, dive!
Personal Motto: "Live life to it's fullest. Have no regrets!"
Inspirational words: "In the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
"Yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope."
Kudos: Alec, for giving me the chance to prove myself, Brian & Dave for showing me the way, Jay for the enlightenment and mentoring, dive buddy Chris, who rarely turns down a dive, and all my friends at the shop without whose encouragement and support I might not have even tried!

dnobleDave Noble
Age: 47
Current Certification Level: Course Director, EFR Instructor Trainer, DSAT Gas Blender Instructor Trainer. DAN Instructor Trainer, numerous Specialties as Instructor and Instructor Trainer (including Anchor Specialty - ask about that one!), IANTD Gas Blender, PSI Visual Inspector
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: The Course Director Training Course is my new favorite. What a humbling experience - especially to have from 1 to 10 examiners evaluating you all the time for 12 days to see what you've got.
Favorite Course To Teach & Why: Open Water - for being able to watch as students eyes get wide and they start to build their enthusiasm as they realize they really ARE divers!
Divemaster - I always enjoy encouraging people to develop their leadership abilities so it only follows that I have to help them. Having a good DM to work with is a worthy goal.
Dive Experience:
Salt Water - Caribbean - Cozumel, Roatan, Nassau, Belize Gulf of Mexico - Tampa FL (U/W Hunter, thanks Alec), Pacific Emerald Sea (Victoria BC - wolf eels), California (Catalina Island - kelp forest), Atlantic - Les Escoumins, PQ (wow - coral in Canada!!), PEI (in the oyster beds - cool),- Red Sea - Sharm-al-Sheik & Hurghada
Fresh Water - Ontario - Toby, Kingston, Lake Simcoe, Bala, Innerkip, Ottawa River, anywhere I can, Florida - Ginnie Springs
Best Dive: Nassau - Shark Dive in Nassau, Arabia - to see the ghostly outline as you move in from the descent line, Frontenac, Northwind
Worst Dive: There's no such thing as a bad dive!! Some are just more memorable than others!!
- Ice Dive - Feb 2001
- Looking for the Arabia - May 5, 2002 (there's nothing down there!!)
Other Interests: - Motorcycle (Virago 1100, Gold Wing 1200) (see you at the Ride for Sight! - sponsors welcome:)
- Amateur Radio (VE3NDA / VA3NX)
- Flying - powered, soaring, etc., Tornado Chasing, extreme stuff
Little Known Fact About Me: I'm a very shy guy
Personal Goal(s): Just have fun - and drag others along with me - kicking and screaming
Personal Motto: "Live life for what it can offer you today - when you look back, you don't want regrets about things you didn't do!"
Inspirational words: Take this sport, wrap it in enthusiasm and never let go of those special moments with nature. Go as far as you can. Education is Safety.
Kudos: " Alec and Diana - Thanks for your encouragement and mentoring all the way!!
" To all those who I have encouraged along the way - THANKS for trusting me and for believing in yourselves.
" To everyone who supported me as I stumbled - WOW - did you ever have patience!

camerashyJoel Pomerantz (Nickname: Scuba Dog)
Age: 48
Occupation: Mgr.
Current Certification Level: MI, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Project Aware, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Specialty, Enriched Air Diver, Underwater Navigator, Night Diver, Search & Recovery, Wreck, Multilevel Diver, Fish Identification, Boat, Drift, Dry Suit, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Photographer, Equipment Specialist. By the time this is up I should also have Ice and DPV
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Rescue, It made me feel more comfortable in the water knowing that I could fend for my self and be able to help other divers if needed.
Favorite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Open Water: I love to see new divers complete their open water course. Rescue: Lets me see advancing divers improve on knowledge and skills.
Dive Experience:
Salt Water -most of the Caribbean, S. Africa, North Carolina, Florida, Costa Rica, Coz.
Fresh Water - Ontario
Best Dive(s): Grand Cayman
Worst Dive: I would not call a dive bad, just not great
Other Interests: Motorcycles, Photography,
Little Known Fact About Me: I like the sun and always have a good time.
Personal Goal(s): Always setting new ones
Personal Motto: Enjoy it while you can.
Inspirational words: Have fun at whatever you do.

tsandersTim Sanders (Nickname: Splash)
Age: 39
Occupation: Parts Driver, Newmarket Honda
Current Certification Level: Open Water Instructor; Boat, Deep, Drysuit Instructor Specialities
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Advanced Course. Taking it right after my Open Water let me experience a lot in a short time and really got me hooked.
Favorite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Open Water Course. Like other Instructors I enjoy the wonder of the first timer, but, it is the special joy of someone having trouble with a skill when they look at you after finally completing it and they no longer feel like a failure because everyone else did it the first time.
Dive Experience:
Salt Water - Night, Deep, Wreck , Tobago, Cuba, North Carolina
Fresh Water - Night, Deep, Wreck, Ice, Low Visibilty, Tobermory, Lake Ontario, Lake Simcoe, Bonne Terre Missouri
Best Dive(s): The "Arabia" being so intack. Bonne Terre for the Main Elevator structure reaching majestically toward the sunlight at the surface.
Worst Dive: The "ALICE G" during my Open Water Course. Being the last divers out my buddy and I found highly silted, zero visibilty conditions that meant we only found the side of the wreck or the shore wall by bouncing into them.
Other Interests: Old Cars, History, First Aid
Little Known Fact About Me: The very shy kid I was could never be as out going as a Divemaster or ( Horrors ! ) an Instructor should be so I never thought of or planned on going this far when I first started. Thanks to certain current and previous "WETSHOP"
People for the help and inspiration.
Personal Goal(s): To have no goals. Goals to me are wish lists of "What I would like to do." Instead, live life to the best of your ability doing or at least trying whatever interests you during a given period of time.
Personal Motto: Most things happen for a reason so, good or bad, they were probably meant to be. ( Also, There is only one time it is essential to dive. That time is now. )
Inspirational words: Diving is ADVENTURE, EXPLORATION, RELAXATION and for some people PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT. Whatever it is to you, it is always ENJOYMENT !
Kudos: Alec and Diana for the business they have built and everything they have accomplished.
To everyone who has joined us in this "Extreme" sport. It is the people that make it the great thing that it is.

camerashyBrian H. Wake (Nickname: I Dive Ontario)
Age: Old
Occupation: Computer Product Mgr
Current Certification Level: PADI Course Director, DAN Instructor Trainer, EFR Instructor Trainer, DSAT Instructor Trainer
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Wreck Course & Fun
Favorite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Eanx, extends bottom time and increases the fun of other courses that can benefit from it.
Rescue course, Fun introducing divers into the leadership levels.
Divemaster Course, allows me to teach more than just the basics of Diving and helps develop leadership skills to each new DMC.
Dive Experience:
Salt Water - Cozumel, Bahamas, Grenada, Florida keys, Tarpin Springs, Catalina Island, Ca., Barbados
Fresh Water - Simcoe (lake), Tobermory, St. Lawrence River (Brockville, Kingston), Couple of quarries in Ontario, Genie Springs, Blue Groto, Crystal Springs
Best Dive(s): Stav Nakita wreck in Barbados, Bionca Sea in Grenada, Diving with the Manatee.
Worst Dive: Duane in Florida
Other Interests: Underwater Archeology, Photography
Little Known Fact About Me: Afraid of the Dark
Personal Goal(s): To teach at least one of every course a year.
Personal Motto: I dive because I love it, I love it, so I dive.
Inspirational words: Always remember to have fun.
Kudos: None that I know of or will admit too.To everyone who has joined us in this "Extreme" sport. It is the people that make it the great thing that it is.

awardAnthony D. Ward
Age: 52
Occupation: Retired
Current Certification Level: Assistant Instructor, EFR Instructor and Dan O2 Instructor
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: Rescue because there are no stresses whatsoever and lots of practical things to do.
Favorite Course(s) To Teach & Why: EFR because it can be used in day to day life.
Dive Experience:
Salt Water - Cozumel, Bahamas, Antigua, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Florida Keys
Fresh Water - Tobermory, Lake Ontario, Lake Muskoka, Penetang, Brockville, Kingston, Lake Simcoe
Best Dive(s): Punta Sur in Cozumel
Worst Dive: There are no bad dives
Other Interests: Reading
Little Known Fact About Me: Half English and Half Chinese
Personal Goal(s): Already attained it. Am now retired.

 

camerashyDavid White (Nick name: Scooperu)
Age: 54
Occupation: Independent Business Owner
Current Certification Level: MSDT
Best Scuba Course Ever Taken & Why: U/W Naturalist - Dave Howlett introduced me to the study of the fish, creatures, corals and sponges that comprise the reef. The fascination continues today and it is considered a good dive to observe a creature or a behaviour that has not previously been witnessed.
Favorite Course(s) To Teach & Why: Open Water Class/Pool - This is how the adventure begins. This is when the opportunity to develop good dive habits is strongest. This is where a difference can be made.
Dive Experience:
Salt Water - Baja, Bonaire, Costa Rica (3), Cozumel (4), Florida, North Carolina, Roatan.
Fresh Water - Bala, Barrie, Kingston, Tobermory
Best Dive(s): Was the best dive the first dive, the last dive or will it be the next dive? Who knows, it has been said that a bad day of diving is still better than a good day at work. Oh, this is my work…hmmm…sucks to be me.
Worst Dive: This is like the Abominable Snowman or Bigfoot. Rumours of their existence abound yet I have no personal experience with such things. A "worst" dive…who would have thought it possible. Then again, doing open water certifications at Big Bay Point in November is not high on my list of reasons to get out of bed.
Other Interests: You mean that there is more to life than diving? Oh yes, driving…small cars, really fast small cars. And technology; computers, video cameras, underwater housings, software and stuff.
Little Known Fact About Me: Was the second person to scale the CN Tower. When you are scaling a vertical ladder and you are not the lead dog, the view never changes.
Personal Goal(s): To make the rest of my days the best of my days.
Personal Motto: Success is the quality of your journey, not your destination.
Inspirational words: "What lies behind you and what lies before you pales in significance when compared to what lies within you." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Kudos: To Alec for providing the forum, to Diana for calming the waters, to the other leaders for their encouragement and commitment, and to the students for their enthusiasm.

 

TOP