Meet our Tri-State Scuba Dive Pros!
It takes someone with very special qualities to be a Tri-State Scuba dive pro. We look for individuals who are passionate about taking care of our customers and are focused on ensuring diver education and safety.
These Tri-State Scuba Pros will care for you on your next visit to our shop, pool, or quarry:
Mary Ann is the founder of Tri-State Scuba (1994), is a Master Scuba Instructor, and has been diving since 1984. Through the years, she has never lost her passion for diving, teaching and traveling. Tri-State Scuba has sponsored over 140 international trips in her tenure and the group has had fun all over the world. She feels blessed to have met (and is still meeting) the most wonderful customers and making new friends everywhere we go.
Joly is owner of Tri-State Scuba, is a IDC Staff Instructor / Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT), and became PADI certified in 2000. He knew immediately that he wanted to come an instructor, so three years later Joly became a PADI dive professional by earning his Master Scuba Diver Trainer and Instructor Development Course (IDC) Instructor certifications. After hundreds of certifications at all levels, Joly’s favorite course is Discover Scuba because he obtains tremendous joy from seeing the excitement of a new student. Joly has been very fortunate to dive around the world over the years and always looks forward to the next adventure.
Favorite dive destination: Cozumel, Mexico
Favorite thing to see underwater: Everything
How I support my diving habit: I own and manage Tri-State Scuba
Dale is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) and Marine Corps veteran who obtained his Open Water Certification in 1982. After a short hiatus from diving, Dale met the staff at Tri-State Scuba at the Cincinnati Boat Show in 2000, which has resulted in a wonderful ride! Dale went on to complete his Rescue Diver through his Maser Scuba Diver Trainer certifications and, in 2018, received the PADI Elite Instructor for conducting over 50 certifications in a single year… all because of Tri-State Scuba. Dale can be recognized by the crazy colors and dive skins he wears on all of our dive trips and training dives. He loves to have fun but the number one item on Dale’s list is safety and following the PADI way of training. Dale looks forward to seeing you at the store, on one of our trips, or at the quarry.
Stan is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) and Navy veteran who became a certified scuba diver in 1977 under the old NASDS (National Association of Skin Diving Schools) in Daytona Beach, Florida. In 1979, he was certified under the PADI system in Camarillo, California. Stan then became a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver in 2000. Starting in 2014, Stan began his professional training and became a PADI Rescue Diver and Divemaster. In May of 2019, he attended the Instructor Development Course (IDC) in Utila, Honduras, passed the PADI Instructor exams on 22 May 2019, and became a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. Stan enjoys teaching and loves seeing the pride of accomplishment of students from their first breath underwater until their open water certifications.
Favorite dive destination: San Salvador, Bahamas. It’s a small, quiet island with warm, clear water. The diving is phenomenal
Favorite thing to see underwater: Sharks of any kind
How I support my diving habit: Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Ken is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) who obtained his Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and Divemaster certifications at Tri-State Scuba. He completed his IDC (Instructor Development Course) to become an Open Water Scuba Instructor at Utila Dive Center in May of 2019. As a MSDT, the specialties Ken can teach include Night Diver, Wreck Diver, Deep Diver, Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver, and Emergency Oxygen Provider.
Favorite dive destination: Red Sea. Warm or cold, Ken wants to dive it all!
Favorite thing to see underwater: Wrecks
How I support my diving habit: IT Network Professional
Pam is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) who began diving in 2018. She had a “love-hate” relationship with diving initially, but completed her Open Water and then went on to complete her Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and Divemaster certifications with Tri-State Scuba in 2019. Pam is extremely passionate about training new divers and obtains a tremendous amount of joy from watching our students succeed, so she decided to obtain her Open Water Scuba Instructor certification in September of 2021 in Roatan, Honduras and then completed her MSDT in October 2022. She LOVES traveling with our shop and considers the staff at Tri-State Scuba to be her family! Pam is also a huge proponent of women in scuba!!!
Favorite dive destination: Of the destinations I’ve been to thus far, the Philippines for it’s lush coral and abundant sea life (whale sharks, manta rays, reef sharks, turtles, nudibranchs)
Favorite thing to see underwater: Whale sharks, hammerheads, rays (all varieties), scorpionfish, and toadstool coral
Favorite Diving Pioneer/Innovator: Sylvia Earle (a.k.a., “Her Deepness”)
How I support my diving habit: IT Risk Manager for a global Fintech company. I also help out with much of the administrative work at the dive shop
Curran is a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor who started his diving interest in 2011 after hearing about his uncle’s shark dive in the Keys. In 2018 he started his professional diving career by becoming a Divemaster at Tri-State Scuba. A few years later, after being leap frogged by one of his students, Curran was encouraged to get his Open Water Instructor’s certification in Utila in April 2022. Diving to Curran is not just a hobby but a passion that he enjoys sharing with all of his students.
Favorite dive destination: St. Lucia
Favorite thing to see underwater: Barracuda
How I support my diving habit: Chemist. I also provide support around the dive shop
Jeff is a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor who certified as an Open Water Diver in 1989 and completed his Rescue Diver certification in 2007. In 2018, Jeff became a certified Divemaster. Then in 2024 he completed his Instructor Development Course to become an Instructor. Because Jeff has a degree in biology, he is particularly interested in expanding his knowledge about coral restoration.
Favorite dive destination: Utila, Honduras and Key Largo
Favorite thing to see underwater: Goliath Grouper
How I support my diving habit: Biologist at Clean Harbors
Chris is a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor who began diving in 2005. He struggled with his Open Water certification due to a prior accident while kayaking. After fighting his way through his OW, he immediately completed his Advanced Open Water, moved on to Rescue Diver and then Divemaster, and has loved diving ever since. In 2024, Chris completed his Instructor Development Course to become an Instructor. Chris is a retired volunteer firefighter and EMT. He enjoys diving in all types of water from local fresh-water quarries to the salty ocean. Chris loves assisting others and is interested in coral restoration projects.
Favorite dive destination: USS Spiegel Grove in Key Largo. It’s a retired LSD ship which was intentionally sunk as an artificial reef
How I support my diving habit: IT Professional
Walter is a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor who started diving in 2023. He took the PADI Discover Scuba class and knew immediately that he wanted to become a dive professional. He enjoys diving with his wife, Jillian, and working with students as they discover the amazing world of scuba diving.
Hannah is a PADI Divemaster who has been diving since 2016. She obtained her Rescue Diver and Divemaster certifications with Tri-State Scuba in 2018. Next, she moved to the Caribbean for a year and a half to work as a Divemaster, educator, and coral conservationist in the Turks & Caicos Islands and Curacao. Hannah returned to Ohio for a short time during COVID, but has been traveling the globe the past few years and obtained her International Masters in Marine Biological Resources.
How I support my diving habit: Marine Biologist at UC-Irvine in California
Mike is a PADI Divemaster who has been diving since 2000. Mike received his Open Water and Advanced Open Water certifications with the YMCA and obtained his PADI Divemaster certification with Tri-State in 2021. Mike enjoys being at the dive shop, helping with classes, pool lessons, certifications, and trips provided by Tri-State Scuba. There is nothing better than breathing under water and wearing bright colors around the aquatic life.
David (Lark) is a PADI Divemaster who obtained his Open Water certification in late 2020 and absolutely fell in love with diving. Every year David has continued to expand his diving certifications and in 2024 he became a certified Divemaster. David enjoys traveling to different countries for diving and spending time with friends and family. David also enjoys teaching new divers and helping them on their scuba diving path.
Favorite dive destination: St. Lucia (for now)
Favorite thing to see underwater: Eagle rays and hawksbill turtles
How I support my diving habit: Commercial HVAC
Favorite movie quote: “You can’t expect to wield supreme executive power just ’cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!” ~Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Sal is a PADI Divemaster and Navy veteran who has been diving since 2018. Sal grew up watching his dad dive and couldn’t wait till he was old enough to dive with him. By the time Sal was old enough, his dad had been injured and was no longer diving. In 2018, Sal took a Discover Scuba class in Grand Cayman with his son Aaron and they both loved it. Sal then obtained his Open Water certification with Tri-State Scuba followed by his Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver certifications. Since then Sal and his son have had the pleasure of really getting to know the staff at Tri-State Scuba; Sal loves diving with them at their quarry so much that he recently completed his Divemaster certification so he could be part of this awesome environment and help others fall in love with diving. As a Navy veteran, Sal is particularly passionate about helping other veterans (especially those with PTSD) discover the solitude, peace, and meditative experiences of being below the ocean’s surface.
Favorite dive destination: Christ of the Abyss in Key Largo. I think of Luke 8:43-48 during this dive
Favorite thing to see underwater: My bubbles. Under the water is my spiritual connection to God’s creations that not many get to see
How I support my diving habit: Former Navy and retired firefighter. Currently earning my degree in Biblical Counseling
Dave (DLJ) is a PADI Divemaster who began diving in 2017. At that time, Dave had received advice from his physician to find a non-impact hobby due to many years of physical stress from rugby, martial arts, and snowboarding. Dave is a former firefighter and medic with a background in swift and cold water rescue. He has fallen in love with diving and the lifestyle so much that he changed careers. He now finds and fixes underwater leaks in various aquatic environments. After having the opportunity to dive in the Florida springs and cave country, he is currently working to pursue his cavern and cave certifications. He is passionate about training, enjoying the underwater world, and Project AWARE dives.
Favorite dive destination: Key Largo for the wrecks and diving through history
Favorite thing to see underwater: Turtles and sharks
David E is a PADI Divemaster who’s been diving since 1999. He’s been fortunate to have done several hundred dives all over the world and became a Divemaster in 2016 after discovering a passion for helping others see the underwater world for themselves. During his surface intervals, David can be found keeping a small piece of the ocean in his home with his saltwater reef aquarium.
Favorite dive destination: Roatan, Honduras and Socorro, Mexico
Favorite thing to see underwater: Octopuses, dolphins, manta rays, and healthy coral colonies
How I support my diving habit: IT Professional
Favorite cheesy dive joke – Q. How do you make an octopus laugh? A. Give it ten tickles
Favorite cheesy dive pickup line – You must be made of oxygen, because I can’t breathe without you
Kiersten is a PADI Divemaster who obtained her Open Water Certification in 2022 before her honeymoon in Hawaii. She quickly fell in love with diving, obtaining her Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver certifications later that year before completing her Divemaster certification in 2025. Kiersten loves to travel and explore new dive destinations. One of her favorite places is San Diego because the kelp forests are otherworldly and the sea lions are always so playful! When she isn’t diving, Kiersten works as a NICU Pharmacist and enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and four rescue cats!
Favorite dive destination: San Diego in the kelp forests
Favorite thing to see underwater: Sea lions! They are incredibly fun and playful
How I support my diving habit: NICU Pharmacist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Fun facts: I love cats, especially those with special needs. I have four rescues of my own. One of them doesn’t have eyes and another has only three legs
David S is a PADI Divemaster who didn’t start diving until later in life, but instantly realized he wanted his passion to become more than a hobby. For Dave, there is nothing better than escaping the surface world and the demands and distractions of daily life. Diving provides him with the opportunity to explore a vibrant, alien world and witness vigorous ecosystems up close and unfiltered. His goal is to help others experience the same. When he is not diving, Dave enjoys spending time with family, friends, and his dogs. He also loves planning his next dive trip!
Favorite dive destination: Little Cayman
Most colorful dive location (so far): Bligh waters of Fiji
Favorite thing to see underwater: All the weird looking creatures
Bucket list critters: Sperm whale, whale shark, thresher shark
Favorite dive dad joke: Why don’t lobsters share? Because they are shellfish!