Team GirlDiver
Teamwork...
The GirlDiver team is the real magic behind what we do everyday at the waters edge. The uncompromising patience and teamwork, focused on making each students experience excellent, is what really makes the GirlDiver program work.
Most of our team members got their start with GirlDIver, though some came later in their dive career. We feel absolutely blessed to have assembled such a strong group of individuals to play in the water with every day.
You’ll find no egos attached to the team. We are glad to share our struggles with learning the sport, so you can feel comfortable growing in yours. There is no pecking order on the team, as you may very well find Cindy doing the divemasters role, so the divemaster can take some time to talk with a student.
The Seattle Team
Elesha - Hailing from Australia, by way of Ibiza, London and Canada, this world traveler has become the right hand of GirlDiver. She’s spent two years divemastering in Ibiza and now brings her expertise in the water to the Puget Sound. Initially, she wasn’t so sure about diving in cold water…but once she saw the amazing life, she’s hooked. CAUTION: Can get a bit testy when assigned to strictly shore support for too many classes in a row.
Rhonda – is one of our Divemasters in Training and has been with us for a year and a half. She came to GirlDiver knowing her fear of the water would take some extra patience, and it SURE did. Her first dive took three attempts to complete. However, when she placed her gear order at the end of Open Water class, she announced her intention to move down the path towards instructor. She has never looked back. She is currently out of country, on assignment in Afghanistan with the US Treasury Department. You can follow her adventures on our blog, as well as on our Facebook Page. Aside from diving, Rhonda spends time with her husband and Llama’s on a farm in rural Pierce County. Rhonda’s favorite quote: Real Women Wear Neoprene.
Sacha – wedding photographer meets sea. Sacha found her new passion in photography while diving. She took her Open Water certification from a local shop in a mega-class (over 8 students) and decided she wanted more personalized instruction for her next class. She’s been with GirlDiver ever since. In addition to her wedding photography, she has launched an underwater portrait endeavor, one of only a few photographers in the world at this level. Winning major awards in her field, we feel priviledged to have her aboard to help answer questions in underwater photography.
Bill & Yuki – working abroad on the Carnival Cruise line, Bill and Yuki are now diving the world. However, when in town, this lively couple are an enthusiastic part of our team. Hoping to one day open a spa/dive retreat in Hawaii, they encompass the ideals of the GirlDiver lifestyle.
Stacie – wanted to get involved with scuba, thinking someday it could blend with her years of involvement with GirlScouts. She was one that took a little more time in the water, but with patience and repetition, Stacie now is an addicted diver. Little did she know, her group administrative skills would be called on by the Dive Club. She’s our Dive Club president and eagerly pursuing her dive education as we work together to reach teen girls. Most recently, she has started her Divemaster program so she can assist with helping people get into scuba.
Laura S. – is our web guru who redesigned the GirlDiver site as a gift…thank you Laura! After being told by a scuba program that “scuba isn’t for everyone, maybe you should just try snorkeling”, she happened upon GirlDiver. From the first class session, she could see the difference in our program and was a fully addicted diver after the first course. She’s completed Rescue Diver and is a confident and very competent diver in the water. When not in the water, you can find her aimlessly wandering in Ballard, volunteering at 826 Seattle as their tech support or on her blog, ljstockton.com.
Kiley – wanted nothing to do with diving. As the daughter of Cindy, she probably hauled tanks too often, but in 2009, with nothing better to do, she agreed to take the class. She was hooked. She can often be found at Open Water class sessions or running errands for the team. She has no plans (yet…) to follow in her moms footsteps.