Meet the Instructors, Assistant Instructors, and Dive Masters of Aqua-Nut Divers.
Instructors
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Eric Schimon (Master Instructor) #196124
Year certified: 1999 Year became a PADI pro: 2005 Number of dives (as of September 1, 2024): 2463 Specialties earned: See below Specialties/courses I can teach: Night Diver, Dry Suit Diver, Multi Level Diver, Deep Diver, Nitrox (Enriched Air), Boat Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Equipment Specialist, Emergency Oxygen Provider, Aware Fish Identification, Altitude Diver, Drift Diver, Underwater Naturalist Diver, Underwater Navigator, Search and Recovery, Underwater Videographer, Wreck Diver, Project Aware, Invasive Lionfish Tracker, Whale Shark Awareness, Sea Turtle Awareness, Aware Shark Conservation, Surface Marker Buoy, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Aware Coral Reef Conservation, Full Face Mask, Underwater Photographer, Self Reliant Diver, Sidemount, Adaptive Techniques for Disabilities and Gas Blender. Other Ratings: Handicap Scuba Association Instructor #3909, Divers Alert Network Instructor #2364216 and PADI Emergency First Response Instructor Favorite dive destination/s: Anywhere in Indonesia or the Philippines and especially muck diving Why I became a professional diver: The enjoyment of introducing new divers to the last frontier. Also, for the enjoyment of seeing students overcome their fears. Other Information: Certified Tec Deep Diver, Tec Sidemount Diver, Advanced Rebreather Diver and Full Tri-mix Diver Prior Dive Shop Experience: Captain Frog (2005-2008), Aquatic Adventures (2010-2011), Sport Chalet (2012-2016) and Bakersfield Scuba (2016-2022) |
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Martha Schimon (Specialty Instructor) #346621
Year certified: 1999 Year became a PADI pro: 2013 Number of dives (as of September 1, 2024): 1694 Specialties earned: See below Specialties/courses I can teach: Night Diver, Deep Diver, Boat Diver, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Wreck Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Project Aware, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Other Ratings: Handicap Scuba Association Instructor #3908 and PADI Emergency First Response Instructor Favorite dive destination/s: Raja Ampat Islands for the variety of fish and Revillagigedo Islands for the pelagic life. Why I became a professional diver: Teaching is a rewarding experience. I especially enjoy when I witness students build their confidence as divers and see them revel in a breathtaking encounter with ocean wildlife. Prior Dive Shop Experience: Sport Chalet (2014-2016) and Bakersfield Scuba (2016-2022) |
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Shane Anderson (Specialty Instructor) #425664
Year certified: 2014 Year became a PADI pro: 2018 Number of dives (as of September 1, 2024): 430 Specialties earned: See below Specialties/courses I can teach: Deep Diver, Emergency Oxygen Provider, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Night Diver, Search and Recovery, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Project Aware, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Other Ratings: Handicap Scuba Association Instructor #4516 and PADI Emergency First Response Instructor Favorite dive destination/s: Coco View, Roatan Honduras for overall experience. Bonaire for the incredible fish life; coral reefs and great shore dives. Why I became a professional diver: I wanted to be able to teach others to enjoy the beautiful under water landscapes that I have learned to enjoy. To continue to grow the diving community and to give back to our veterans by giving them an experience of camaraderie through the diving community. Prior Dive Shop Experience: Bakersfield Scuba (2019-2022) |
Assistant Instructors
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John Buoni (Assistant Instructor) #302906
Year certified: 2008 Year became a PADI pro: 2012 Number of dives (as of September 1, 2024): 584 Specialties/Classes earned: Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Equipment Specialist, Full Face Mask Diver, Drysuit Diver, Deep Diver, Emergency Oxygen Provider, Enriched Air Diver, Emergency First Response w/AED and Care for Children Specialties/courses I can teach: Emergency First Response (CPR/First Aid), Discover Scuba Diving Leader, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation, Project AWARE, Peak Performance Buoyancy Other Ratings: Handicap Scuba Association Assistant Instructor #3907 and PADI First Response Instructor Favorite Dive Destination/s: Hawaii, Bonaire and Belize Why I became a professional diver: I enjoy scuba and like to introduce new divers to a new world. It's exciting to see a new diver's reaction after their first ocean dive. Prior Dive Shop Experience: Sport Chalet (2011-2016) and Bakersfield Scuba (2016-2022) |
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Jay Lockridge (Assistant Instructor) #381280
Year certified: 2013 Year became a PADI pro: 2016 Number of dives (as of September 1, 2024): 251 Specialties/Classes earned: PADI Advanced Diver, PADI Rescue Diver, Emergency First Responder (CPR\AED\First Aid - Adult), Enriched Air (Nitrox), Deep Diver, Night Diver Specialties/courses I can teach: Discover Scuba Diving, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Project AWARE, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Other Ratings: HSA Rating = Instructor #4519; DAN Member since 2014 Favorite dive destination/s: : Bonaire for the beautiful, colorful schools of fish and coral sea life. Why I became a professional diver: To help people see an entirely new underwater world, and encourage them to seek new adventures. Prior Dive Shop Experience: Bakersfield Scuba (2019-2022) |
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Michael Lockridge (Assistant Instructor) #381387
Year certified: 2013 Year became a PADI pro: 2016 Number of dives (as of September 1, 2024): 240 Specialties earned: Advanced Diver, Rescue Diver, Dive Master Specialties you can teach: Discover Scuba Diving, Project AWARE, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation, Peak Performance Buoyancy Other Ratings? Divers Alert Network Member, Handicap Scuba Association Assistant Instructor #4518 Favorite dive destination: Bonaire Why I became a professional diver: I became a professional diver so that I could better my skills as a scuba diver, and to assist with teaching divers as they become better divers themselves. Prior Dive Shop Experience:: Bakersfield Scuba (2019-2022) |
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Mark Brust (Assistant. Instructor) #511101
Year certified: 2011 Year became a PADI Pro: 2021 Number of dives (as of September 1, 2024): 210 Specialties Earned: Rescue Diver, Emergency First Responder W/ AED & Care for Kids, CPR, O2 Provider, Enriched Air Other Ratings: Handicap Scuba Association Instructor #4517, Kern County Search and Rescue Dive Team Member Favorite Dive Destination: Roatan Honduras and Cabo San Lucas Why I became professional diver: I love diving and want to show potential divers how much fun it is. I became an Assistant Instructor so I can help teach and train new divers experience the joy of seeing a new world. Prior Dive Shops: Underwater Playground Belcamp, MD and Bakersfield Scuba (2021-2022) |
Dive Masters
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Ted King (Dive Master) #530374
Year certified: 2019 Year became a PADI pro: 2022 Number of dives (as of September 1, 2024): 171 Specialties earned: Advanced Diver, Rescue Diver, Nitrox, Deep Diver, Night Diver, DSMB, Dry Suit, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Master Diver Specialties you can teach: Discover Scuba Diving, Project AWARE, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation, Peak Performance Buoyancy Other Ratings: Divers Alert Network Member, DAN O2 Provider and DAN CPR Favorite dive destination: Bonaire Why you became a professional diver: I enjoyed challenging myself to do things that make me uncomfortable, and then to continue doing those things until I am comfortable with them. Diving is one of those things, and becoming a PADI pro was the most recent milestone I have reached. Along with the challenge, I really enjoy helping with classes and working to help others overcome some of the same challenges I face. Prior Dive Shop Experience: None |
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David Hamma (Dive Master) #530369
Year certified: 2012 Year became a PADI pro: 2022 Number of dives (as of September 1, 2024): 209 Specialties earned: Advance Open Water, Dry Suit Diver, Emergency Oxygen Provide, Enriched Air, Master Scuba, Open Water, Rescue Diver, Boat Diver, Deep Diver, Nitrox (Enriched Air), Boat Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialties/courses I can teach: Discover Scuba Diving, Project AWARE, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation, Peak Performance Buoyancy Other Ratings: Divers Alert Network Member since 2022 Favorite dive destination/s: Anywhere with water Why I became a professional diver: I enjoy sharing knowledge, watching new divers progress through training and building friendships. Other Information: I served in the United States Marine Corps from 7/2002 to 7/2006. I reached the rank of Cpl/E4 and deployed to Iraq two times. Prior Dive Shop Experience: None |
