Tom Northey - Co-Owner

Tom Northey first became interested in scuba diving as a 10 year old when a friend’s father allowed him to breathe from a compressor using a full face mask at the bottom of the friend’s pool. The experience stayed with him as he grew into adulthood.

As a young adult, while teaching karate at his own school, Tom met a new student who also happened to be a PADI scuba instructor. Tom made a deal with the student to exchange karate classes for scuba classes. The deal helped him to realize two goals in his life that had stayed with him since that first underwater experience at age 10; to become a scuba diver and to use his diving skills as a source of income.

After becoming a certified scuba diver in 1982, Tom became a swimming pool servicing contractor capable of making repairs under water. Several years later, when a dive shop opened in his home town of Fernandina Beach, Florida he decided to work his way up through the ranks. Tom became a master scuba diver in 1990. While working on becoming a master scuba diver he crossed over from the recreational side of scuba diving to the professional side, eventually becoming a Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, Open Water Scuba Instructor, Master Scuba Diving Trainer, and in 1994, a Master Scuba Instructor.

Tom was the chief scuba instructor for Aqua Explorers Dive Center in Fernandina Beach for over eight years as well as past President of and instructor for the Nassau County Volunteer Dive Rescue Team. He also worked as The Scuba Operations Director for Sun Swept Oceans Resorts on the island of St Lucia.

Tom has a passion for scuba diving and enjoys training students to become safe divers so they can discover the wonderful world under water.

 

Kathy Russell

Kathy Russell became a certified diver in 1976 in upstate New York as a 15 year-old high school student. After several years of diving only in cold mountain lakes, she visited Grand Cayman and Bonaire with her high school dive club. She soon decided she needed to move to a warmer climate closer to the ocean. Choosing to attend college in Florida, she found abundant opportunities for new dive experiences and training at the University of Florida, eventually earning her PADI Divemaster certification. She has been a PADI scuba instructor since 1992.

A former high school science teacher for 17 years, Kathy especially enjoyed teaching Marine and Environmental Science courses, subjects that were enhanced by her enthusiasm for scuba diving and conserving the world’s oceans. Likewise, her educational training and years of experience working with teens have made her a successful scuba instructor for people of all ages and abilities.

Tami Wheat

Tami’s passion for scuba diving started with her friendship with Kathy.  She became certified in 1999 with her husband and the adventure began.  She climbed through the ranks and in now a PADI Divemaster.  She assists Kathy and other instructors with classes and leads Discover Scuba and Scuba Review classes. 

When she is not diving she is a teacher of students with severe behavior disabilities in the areas of Reading and Science.  Her love of diving is evidenced by helping some of her students become involved in diving.  Because of her background, she really loves to work with Open Water students who may be timid or nervous and celebrates their success with them. 

During summer breaks she “lives the dream” and dives every chance she gets.  Tami is currently helping out at the Scuba Station.