Board of Directors
Ron Akeson - President
Ron Akeson is the owner of Adventures Down Under, located in Bellingham, WA. He first started diving in 1977 and has worked professionally in the dive industry for over 20 years. Ron specializes in teaching technical diving, underwater photography and holds Instructor certifications in PADI, IANTD, SDI, TDI and DAN. With a degree in Marine Biology, Ron utilizes this knowledge to teach marine education and sits on the Board of Directors for the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee. Ron is also one of two US Representatives for the Dive Industry Association of British Columbia. When he is not out exploring deep shipwrecks, photographing a historic site or teaching Rebreather Courses, he is a freelance writer for Northwest Dive News, X-ray International Dive Magazine and Canadian Diver Magazine.
James Trask - Vice President
I've had a wonderful time serving with WSA. Les Davis Park Stairs which was the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Association's swan song is now history. I am now moving forward on mooring buoys in the Puget Sound and Hood Canal areas. This is to protect our existing dive locations from anchor damage. I am also helping on a number of other fronts as well. I am doing some work on the creosote piling removal program to help replace the pilings with other features to attract sea life. This is currently going on in Tacoma at Titlow Park. And always and foremost in my mind is sinking some sizable vessels in the area.
I also sit in on the Metro Parks of Tacoma, Marine Advisory Council. This came about because of the Les Davis Project. In this position I have the ear of the people responsible for the waterfront in Tacoma, from the Browns Point Lighthouse to Titlow Beach. They want constant updates on the future possibility of sinking a ferry in their area to replace lost revenue from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Plus they are very interested in the piling removal program too, since they see it as lost revenue.
I am a Master Diver, a Private Pilot , Skydiver, retired Army First Sergeant with 25 years service, Husband of 37+ years, and Grandfather forever.
Janna Nichols - Secretary
Janna Nichols is a scuba instructor focusing on Marine Life Education. As a volunteer for the REEF organization she has conducted over 300 marine life surveys in various parts of the world, manages the local REEF organization's website and email list to over 500 local divers. She has spoken to many NW dive clubs about marine life and teaches at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
She
has also taught Fish and Invertebrate ID classes for the SeaDoc Society,
Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and Puget Sound Action Team at the
Port Townsend Marine Science Center, the Seattle Aquarium, and various
other locations throughout the northwest. She is currently involved
with the invasive tunicate problems in Washington state, and helping
with the low dissolved oxygen problem in Hood Canal.
One of her favorite activities is photographing Pacific NW Fish and Invertebrate life and she has shot and cataloged well over 3000 photos, which she shares with local marine life educators as well as being a collaborator with the worldwide FishBase online. She also serves as Washington State University's Dive Safety Officer for their scientific diving program in Vancouver.
She holds a BS in Engineering Technology from Brigham Young University and is a native Washingtonian who enjoys diving, camping, bicycling, motorcycling, snowshoeing, geocaching, her family and grandchildren, and has her own website design business.
Pam Norton - Treasurer
I grew up in Hawaii, my grade school years on the North Shore of Oahu, and I always had a deep love for the ocean, beach, and its many creatures. My brothers and sisters and I would get up really early on the weekends and chase sand crabs, dig up sand turtles and hunt for glass balls that would sometimes wash up on the beach. We learned to snorkel quite young and my Dad would take us to and one of our favorite snorkeling places, Haunama Bay. The SCUBA divers we would see at Haunama always attracted a lot of attention and I remember thinking that I would love to do that one day.
But I had to move to Seattle first and I was certified in May 2005. Time in the pool and time in the ocean, although challenging at times, was more fun than I had imagined! Since then, I've continued my diving education and I am an active PADI Dive Master. I love to take photographs and count fish for REEF surveys.
I am a very active board member of the Emerald Sea Dive Club in Edmonds.
I hope that becoming more involved with Washington Scuba Alliance I can learn what the organization does, be better informed about projects it takes on and current legislation its working on. I can use my position as a dive master and dive club member to pass along WSA's mission.
I work for an Electrical Engineering firm as an accountant so although I my current and past responsibilities have not included the filing of incomes taxes, I do feel that I have a pretty good general knowledge of accounting principles.
Erik Hannon - Web
Erik began diving October of 2006, the same year he moved to the Pacific Northwest. Since that time Erik has acheived SSI Dive Control Specialist certification, and he is the current webmaster of the Washington Scuba Alliance website. He is currently employed with the Cobalt Group in Seattle.
Mike Racine
Mike
retired from Onyx Software in 2001 as Executive Vice President in charge
of Services. He was a founding equity owner at Onyx and served there
from its organization in 1994. As a member of the executive team during
that time, Mike helped lead and grow the company from 4 to 725 employees
and $0 to $120 million in revenue. At its peak, Mike oversaw a services
organization of $50 million in revenue and 225 employees. The service
groups at Onyx included system integration, technical support, education,
information systems, and facilities.
Prior to Onyx, Mike played various project management roles at Microsoft Corporation in their IT organization. Projects focused on development of internal business systems in the areas of email, helpdesk call tracking, and sales consolidation, reconciliation, & reporting.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Rangeland Management from Utah State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Oregon. In addition to his role at Pacific Northwest Aquatic Association, Mike serves on the board of directors at the Cascade Land Conservancy in Seattle.
Rick Myers
I have been in the dive business since 1974, first as a commercial diver (10 years) and
also managing a dive harvest fleet. I have had my 100 ton Captains Lisc.
for 19 years and started Bandito Charters Inc. in January of 1997. Since
then I have operated the charter business full time. I have worked retail
in the dive industry and have taught diving from 1993-2001 @ Pacific
Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound and Curtis High School
and Underwater Sports. Between 1988 and 1996 I owned and operated a
drywall and painting company with between 15 and 50 employees.
Jerome O'Neil
Jerome began diving in 1996, and has never looked back. In 2003 Jerome formed the North West Artificial Reef Association in an effort to promote reefing and reef technologies. A veteran of the US Navy, Jerome takes a special interest in the Navy's PMS-333 "Inactive Ships" program, and putting surplus warships on the bottom. He is a graduate of Navy Combat Systems Technical Schools and the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center. Jerome is a volunteer coordinator with Tacoma's Wintergrass Bluegrass Festival and has worked as a volunteer educator for "Think Up," a group promoting astro-sciences and astronomy to students and children.
When not attempting to sink US warships, you might find Jerome playing bass in his band, crashing his mountain bike, cursing his golf swing, or playing with his three children, Sabrina, Peyton, and Thomas.
Gary Apel
Gary grew up near Detroit and moved to the PNW thirty years ago to attend grad school in Pullman. Since 1985 he has lived in Yakima and has worked for Michelsen Packaging where, among lots of other things, they turn waste paper into new molded fiber apple trays.
Gary became a certified diver four years ago, mostly at the insistence of his two children, Ashley and Ben. Since then he has become a PADI Divemaster and has logged way more dives than both of them combined.
Starting next January, Gary will become the President of an active dive club in Yakima, WA. He is also a sailor, and maintains his membership at Windworks Sailing Center, though Gary admits that diving has absorbed most of his free weekends.
Barb Roy
Barb learned to dive in 1979 in Alaska, then became a dive instructor in 1981. Her dive certifications are in PADI (Master Instructor-retired), DAN Oxygen, NAUI - Archeology, and IANTD- Nitrox. Trimix, wreck diving, underwater photography and critter watching are her driving force!
Currently employed as a freelance journalist and photographer, Barb writes for various dive, kayak and travel publications; including Northwest Dive News and X-ray on-line dive magazine. In her spare time she teaches marine education in schools and she sits on the Board of the Dive Industry Association of British Columbia (DIABC). When she gets the opportunity, she plays tour guide for visiting groups and organize dive travel expeditions.
Barb hopes to contribute her marketing skills to the WSA to work alongside the DIABC to attract visiting divers to the northwest as well as help develop what we already have for local divers to enjoy.
Terry Miller
A Pacific Northwest native, Terry has been on or around the water as far back as he can remember. Learning how to dive in a local lake taught him a lot and really piqued his interest in the underwater world. With 37 years of diving under his weight belt, he has had many exciting opportunities to dive in a variety of environments.
Being a dive instructor for 26 years has introduced Terry to some of the most interesting and exciting people in the world while teaching a variety of courses; from basic open water classes to instructor level courses. Terry enjoys teaching all aspects of recreational and technical diving. Currently he is a Platinum level PADI Course Director, DSAT Tec Deep Instructor Trainer, DSAT Trimix Instructor Trainer, and EFR Instructor Trainer.
Terry's vast career has taken him all over, from the United States Marine Corps, to graduating from Washington State University, attending the FBI National Academy, holding an executive management certification from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, attending the Northwest Law Enforcement Command College, and completing 32 years of public service.
Amy Rhodes
Amy became a certified diver in September 2000 and a PADI instructor in September 2002. She has been diving all around the Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii and up and down the West Coast.
She started A-2-Z Scuba in April 2006 and it has allowed her to continue teaching diving. The dive center continues to grow and is now a PADI 5 Star Dive Center. Amy's goal has always been to welcome divers and her store to be a great place for them to hang out, take classes and get the gear they need. Amy recently became a PADI Master Instructor and she is continuing to discover her love for diving in the Pacific Northwest. Her favorite aspect of diving is introducing new people to the beautiful water that surrounds us; be new diver or a diver from outside our area. Her goal is to work to preserve and develop the local dive sites that are in our backyard.
Amy lives in Puyallup with her husband Tom, and thier son Robbie.
Rick Stratton
Rick is the publisher of Northwest, Northeast and Midwest Dive News magazines. An avid diver, he's logged over 2000 dives all over the world. He owns a small farm on Whidbey Island and is very active in promoting the sport of diving in Washington. He also heads up the annual Northwest Dive and Travel Expo, as well as serves on the board of directors for DEMA.
He was born and raised in California's Bay Area. His father was a diver and Rick grew up watching Cousteau and Sea Hunt reruns. He began free diving for abalone on the Sonoma and Mendocino Coast at age 13. After graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in agricultural business management, he joined the U.S. Navy and entered the flight program. Rick dreamed of becoming a naval officer and a pilot. After working for three years, he earned his "wings of gold" in 1992.
He founded Northwest Dive News Magazine while still on active duty with the Navy. He was transferred to the Pacific Northwest to fly EA-6B's from Whidbey Island, Washington. He immediately began diving in the area and fell in love with it. Rick wanted to learn more about diving in the area but there was no regional scuba magazine available. The diving in the Pacific Northwest is wonderful, but the chilly temperatures discourage the curious and reward the determined. He created NWDN to promote scuba diving of the Pacific Northwest in the minds of the industry and consumers.
Amanda Castleman
Journalist Amanda Castleman has covered scuba for MSN, travelgirl, Sport Diver and The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, among others. Her Honduras certification story won a 2007 Lowell Thomas award (travel writing's ersatz Pulitzer).
A former wilderness guide, she has also contributed to dozens of books, including titles for National Geographic, Frommer's, Michelin, Time Out and Rough Guides.
An English narrowboat anchored much of Amanda's eight years abroad. After two years in Rome, she ranged farther afield to Greece, Cyprus and Turkey. She's now based in Seattle amid an ever-expanding heap of coldwater dive gear.
Karlista Rickerson
Avid
scuba diver specializing in sites near Vashon Island and the mid Puget
Sound region for the past 20 years. No special skills related to marine
science other than a photo record of the changes that have taken place
in various sites.
Very interested in establishing MPA, safe places for scuba divers and marine life, maintaining safe beach access for the public, and helping with marine life educational events.
John Bachofner
John has been a diver since 1982, when he was Naui certified by Walt Amidon. He holds Nitrox, altitude, Aquarium and Master Diver certifications. In 2007, John obtained his Naui Divemaster, Assistant Instructor and Skin Diving Instructor certifications. In 2008, he became a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. John is currently affiliated with the Thunder Reef dive shop, and is a dive volunteer for the Oregon Coast Aquarium. He is also president of the Neptune’s Minions dive club, which meets in Clark County, Washington, and a member of the Oregon Scuba club. John is a frequent diver both locally and abroad.
John combines his passion for the law with his passion for diving by representing local dive shop owners and other diving-related professionals. In this regard, he has provided advice and guidance to the diving profession in business transactions, regulatroy work, business advice and litigation.
Bill Roberds
I am a 57 year old aquatic recreationalist and semi retired utility contractor with 13 employees and am the principle of a local fiber optic network serving the Clallam county area. Originally from San Diego county and transplanted in the northwest via the US Coast Guard in 1971. I am an avid sailor and have raced and enjoyed coastal and near shore cruising most of my life. My diving habit started 3 years ago at the urging of good friends concerned about my boat bottom cleaning methods. I dive with the great folks at Scuba Supplies in Port Angeles and have the SSI master diver, nitrox, and surface supply certifications and am currently working on my dive con rating. I currently have 140 dives including trips to Hawaii, Cozumel and the wonderful wrecks of British Columbia.
Last year my talented city planner wife and I decided to head a project that would bring an underwater park to Port Angeles and are currently in the permit process which has been interestingly difficult, but very enjoyable, working with and meeting lots of like minded divers.
Tim Renz
I am a High School Biology teacher with a BA degree in Science from Seattle Pacific University. My emphasis of study was in Biology and I have had a long time interest in Marine Biology.
I was first Scuba certified in 1992. I have advanced to the Level of Dive Control Specialist Instructor through Scuba School International (SSI) which allows me to teach all courses up to and including the DiveCon Program which is the entry level dive leadership program with SSI. I am currently working towards becoming an Instructor Trainer. I was recently awarded the Century Instructor recognition for the number of divers I have certified combined with my experience level. I am an active diver, having logged 195 dives last year alone. I actively participate in my local dive club and I am a regular contributor to several local and national Scuba Discussion Boards. All but a handful of my total dives are in the cold waters of Puget Sound and Hood Canal. I am a member of the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) Pacific Northwest Advanced Assessment Team Level 5 Critter watcher, which is the highest volunteer level attainable. I have been involved in WSA/REEF projects including the Invasive Tunicate Program and the Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program.
Ron Akeson - President
Ron Akeson is the owner of Adventures Down Under, located in Bellingham, WA. He first started diving in 1977 and has worked professionally in the dive industry for over 20 years. Ron specializes in teaching technical diving, underwater photography and holds Instructor certifications in PADI, IANTD, SDI, TDI and DAN. With a degree in Marine Biology, Ron utilizes this knowledge to teach marine education and sits on the Board of Directors for the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee. Ron is also one of two US Representatives for the Dive Industry Association of British Columbia. When he is not out exploring deep shipwrecks, photographing a historic site or teaching Rebreather Courses, he is a freelance writer for Northwest Dive News, X-ray International Dive Magazine and Canadian Diver Magazine.
James Trask - Vice President
I've had a wonderful time serving with WSA. Les Davis Park Stairs which was the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Association's swan song is now history. I am now moving forward on mooring buoys in the Puget Sound and Hood Canal areas. This is to protect our existing dive locations from anchor damage. I am also helping on a number of other fronts as well. I am doing some work on the creosote piling removal program to help replace the pilings with other features to attract sea life. This is currently going on in Tacoma at Titlow Park. And always and foremost in my mind is sinking some sizable vessels in the area.I also sit in on the Metro Parks of Tacoma, Marine Advisory Council. This came about because of the Les Davis Project. In this position I have the ear of the people responsible for the waterfront in Tacoma, from the Browns Point Lighthouse to Titlow Beach. They want constant updates on the future possibility of sinking a ferry in their area to replace lost revenue from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Plus they are very interested in the piling removal program too, since they see it as lost revenue.
I am a Master Diver, a Private Pilot , Skydiver, retired Army First Sergeant with 25 years service, Husband of 37+ years, and Grandfather forever.
Janna Nichols - Secretary
Janna Nichols is a scuba instructor focusing on Marine Life Education. As a volunteer for the REEF organization she has conducted over 300 marine life surveys in various parts of the world, manages the local REEF organization's website and email list to over 500 local divers. She has spoken to many NW dive clubs about marine life and teaches at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
She
has also taught Fish and Invertebrate ID classes for the SeaDoc Society,
Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and Puget Sound Action Team at the
Port Townsend Marine Science Center, the Seattle Aquarium, and various
other locations throughout the northwest. She is currently involved
with the invasive tunicate problems in Washington state, and helping
with the low dissolved oxygen problem in Hood Canal.One of her favorite activities is photographing Pacific NW Fish and Invertebrate life and she has shot and cataloged well over 3000 photos, which she shares with local marine life educators as well as being a collaborator with the worldwide FishBase online. She also serves as Washington State University's Dive Safety Officer for their scientific diving program in Vancouver.
She holds a BS in Engineering Technology from Brigham Young University and is a native Washingtonian who enjoys diving, camping, bicycling, motorcycling, snowshoeing, geocaching, her family and grandchildren, and has her own website design business.
Pam Norton - Treasurer
I grew up in Hawaii, my grade school years on the North Shore of Oahu, and I always had a deep love for the ocean, beach, and its many creatures. My brothers and sisters and I would get up really early on the weekends and chase sand crabs, dig up sand turtles and hunt for glass balls that would sometimes wash up on the beach. We learned to snorkel quite young and my Dad would take us to and one of our favorite snorkeling places, Haunama Bay. The SCUBA divers we would see at Haunama always attracted a lot of attention and I remember thinking that I would love to do that one day.But I had to move to Seattle first and I was certified in May 2005. Time in the pool and time in the ocean, although challenging at times, was more fun than I had imagined! Since then, I've continued my diving education and I am an active PADI Dive Master. I love to take photographs and count fish for REEF surveys.
I am a very active board member of the Emerald Sea Dive Club in Edmonds.
I hope that becoming more involved with Washington Scuba Alliance I can learn what the organization does, be better informed about projects it takes on and current legislation its working on. I can use my position as a dive master and dive club member to pass along WSA's mission.
I work for an Electrical Engineering firm as an accountant so although I my current and past responsibilities have not included the filing of incomes taxes, I do feel that I have a pretty good general knowledge of accounting principles.
Erik Hannon - Web
Erik began diving October of 2006, the same year he moved to the Pacific Northwest. Since that time Erik has acheived SSI Dive Control Specialist certification, and he is the current webmaster of the Washington Scuba Alliance website. He is currently employed with the Cobalt Group in Seattle.
Mike Racine
Mike
retired from Onyx Software in 2001 as Executive Vice President in charge
of Services. He was a founding equity owner at Onyx and served there
from its organization in 1994. As a member of the executive team during
that time, Mike helped lead and grow the company from 4 to 725 employees
and $0 to $120 million in revenue. At its peak, Mike oversaw a services
organization of $50 million in revenue and 225 employees. The service
groups at Onyx included system integration, technical support, education,
information systems, and facilities.Prior to Onyx, Mike played various project management roles at Microsoft Corporation in their IT organization. Projects focused on development of internal business systems in the areas of email, helpdesk call tracking, and sales consolidation, reconciliation, & reporting.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Rangeland Management from Utah State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Oregon. In addition to his role at Pacific Northwest Aquatic Association, Mike serves on the board of directors at the Cascade Land Conservancy in Seattle.
Rick Myers
I have been in the dive business since 1974, first as a commercial diver (10 years) and
also managing a dive harvest fleet. I have had my 100 ton Captains Lisc.
for 19 years and started Bandito Charters Inc. in January of 1997. Since
then I have operated the charter business full time. I have worked retail
in the dive industry and have taught diving from 1993-2001 @ Pacific
Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound and Curtis High School
and Underwater Sports. Between 1988 and 1996 I owned and operated a
drywall and painting company with between 15 and 50 employees.Jerome O'Neil
Jerome began diving in 1996, and has never looked back. In 2003 Jerome formed the North West Artificial Reef Association in an effort to promote reefing and reef technologies. A veteran of the US Navy, Jerome takes a special interest in the Navy's PMS-333 "Inactive Ships" program, and putting surplus warships on the bottom. He is a graduate of Navy Combat Systems Technical Schools and the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center. Jerome is a volunteer coordinator with Tacoma's Wintergrass Bluegrass Festival and has worked as a volunteer educator for "Think Up," a group promoting astro-sciences and astronomy to students and children. When not attempting to sink US warships, you might find Jerome playing bass in his band, crashing his mountain bike, cursing his golf swing, or playing with his three children, Sabrina, Peyton, and Thomas.
Gary Apel
Gary grew up near Detroit and moved to the PNW thirty years ago to attend grad school in Pullman. Since 1985 he has lived in Yakima and has worked for Michelsen Packaging where, among lots of other things, they turn waste paper into new molded fiber apple trays.Gary became a certified diver four years ago, mostly at the insistence of his two children, Ashley and Ben. Since then he has become a PADI Divemaster and has logged way more dives than both of them combined.
Starting next January, Gary will become the President of an active dive club in Yakima, WA. He is also a sailor, and maintains his membership at Windworks Sailing Center, though Gary admits that diving has absorbed most of his free weekends.
Barb Roy
Barb learned to dive in 1979 in Alaska, then became a dive instructor in 1981. Her dive certifications are in PADI (Master Instructor-retired), DAN Oxygen, NAUI - Archeology, and IANTD- Nitrox. Trimix, wreck diving, underwater photography and critter watching are her driving force!Currently employed as a freelance journalist and photographer, Barb writes for various dive, kayak and travel publications; including Northwest Dive News and X-ray on-line dive magazine. In her spare time she teaches marine education in schools and she sits on the Board of the Dive Industry Association of British Columbia (DIABC). When she gets the opportunity, she plays tour guide for visiting groups and organize dive travel expeditions.
Barb hopes to contribute her marketing skills to the WSA to work alongside the DIABC to attract visiting divers to the northwest as well as help develop what we already have for local divers to enjoy.
Terry Miller
A Pacific Northwest native, Terry has been on or around the water as far back as he can remember. Learning how to dive in a local lake taught him a lot and really piqued his interest in the underwater world. With 37 years of diving under his weight belt, he has had many exciting opportunities to dive in a variety of environments.Being a dive instructor for 26 years has introduced Terry to some of the most interesting and exciting people in the world while teaching a variety of courses; from basic open water classes to instructor level courses. Terry enjoys teaching all aspects of recreational and technical diving. Currently he is a Platinum level PADI Course Director, DSAT Tec Deep Instructor Trainer, DSAT Trimix Instructor Trainer, and EFR Instructor Trainer.
Terry's vast career has taken him all over, from the United States Marine Corps, to graduating from Washington State University, attending the FBI National Academy, holding an executive management certification from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, attending the Northwest Law Enforcement Command College, and completing 32 years of public service.
Amy Rhodes
Amy became a certified diver in September 2000 and a PADI instructor in September 2002. She has been diving all around the Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii and up and down the West Coast.She started A-2-Z Scuba in April 2006 and it has allowed her to continue teaching diving. The dive center continues to grow and is now a PADI 5 Star Dive Center. Amy's goal has always been to welcome divers and her store to be a great place for them to hang out, take classes and get the gear they need. Amy recently became a PADI Master Instructor and she is continuing to discover her love for diving in the Pacific Northwest. Her favorite aspect of diving is introducing new people to the beautiful water that surrounds us; be new diver or a diver from outside our area. Her goal is to work to preserve and develop the local dive sites that are in our backyard.
Amy lives in Puyallup with her husband Tom, and thier son Robbie.
Rick Stratton
Rick is the publisher of Northwest, Northeast and Midwest Dive News magazines. An avid diver, he's logged over 2000 dives all over the world. He owns a small farm on Whidbey Island and is very active in promoting the sport of diving in Washington. He also heads up the annual Northwest Dive and Travel Expo, as well as serves on the board of directors for DEMA.
He was born and raised in California's Bay Area. His father was a diver and Rick grew up watching Cousteau and Sea Hunt reruns. He began free diving for abalone on the Sonoma and Mendocino Coast at age 13. After graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in agricultural business management, he joined the U.S. Navy and entered the flight program. Rick dreamed of becoming a naval officer and a pilot. After working for three years, he earned his "wings of gold" in 1992.
He founded Northwest Dive News Magazine while still on active duty with the Navy. He was transferred to the Pacific Northwest to fly EA-6B's from Whidbey Island, Washington. He immediately began diving in the area and fell in love with it. Rick wanted to learn more about diving in the area but there was no regional scuba magazine available. The diving in the Pacific Northwest is wonderful, but the chilly temperatures discourage the curious and reward the determined. He created NWDN to promote scuba diving of the Pacific Northwest in the minds of the industry and consumers.
Amanda Castleman
Journalist Amanda Castleman has covered scuba for MSN, travelgirl, Sport Diver and The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, among others. Her Honduras certification story won a 2007 Lowell Thomas award (travel writing's ersatz Pulitzer).A former wilderness guide, she has also contributed to dozens of books, including titles for National Geographic, Frommer's, Michelin, Time Out and Rough Guides.
An English narrowboat anchored much of Amanda's eight years abroad. After two years in Rome, she ranged farther afield to Greece, Cyprus and Turkey. She's now based in Seattle amid an ever-expanding heap of coldwater dive gear.
Karlista Rickerson
Avid
scuba diver specializing in sites near Vashon Island and the mid Puget
Sound region for the past 20 years. No special skills related to marine
science other than a photo record of the changes that have taken place
in various sites.Very interested in establishing MPA, safe places for scuba divers and marine life, maintaining safe beach access for the public, and helping with marine life educational events.
John Bachofner
John has been a diver since 1982, when he was Naui certified by Walt Amidon. He holds Nitrox, altitude, Aquarium and Master Diver certifications. In 2007, John obtained his Naui Divemaster, Assistant Instructor and Skin Diving Instructor certifications. In 2008, he became a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. John is currently affiliated with the Thunder Reef dive shop, and is a dive volunteer for the Oregon Coast Aquarium. He is also president of the Neptune’s Minions dive club, which meets in Clark County, Washington, and a member of the Oregon Scuba club. John is a frequent diver both locally and abroad.John combines his passion for the law with his passion for diving by representing local dive shop owners and other diving-related professionals. In this regard, he has provided advice and guidance to the diving profession in business transactions, regulatroy work, business advice and litigation.
Bill RoberdsI am a 57 year old aquatic recreationalist and semi retired utility contractor with 13 employees and am the principle of a local fiber optic network serving the Clallam county area. Originally from San Diego county and transplanted in the northwest via the US Coast Guard in 1971. I am an avid sailor and have raced and enjoyed coastal and near shore cruising most of my life. My diving habit started 3 years ago at the urging of good friends concerned about my boat bottom cleaning methods. I dive with the great folks at Scuba Supplies in Port Angeles and have the SSI master diver, nitrox, and surface supply certifications and am currently working on my dive con rating. I currently have 140 dives including trips to Hawaii, Cozumel and the wonderful wrecks of British Columbia.
Last year my talented city planner wife and I decided to head a project that would bring an underwater park to Port Angeles and are currently in the permit process which has been interestingly difficult, but very enjoyable, working with and meeting lots of like minded divers.
Tim Renz
I am a High School Biology teacher with a BA degree in Science from Seattle Pacific University. My emphasis of study was in Biology and I have had a long time interest in Marine Biology.
I was first Scuba certified in 1992. I have advanced to the Level of Dive Control Specialist Instructor through Scuba School International (SSI) which allows me to teach all courses up to and including the DiveCon Program which is the entry level dive leadership program with SSI. I am currently working towards becoming an Instructor Trainer. I was recently awarded the Century Instructor recognition for the number of divers I have certified combined with my experience level. I am an active diver, having logged 195 dives last year alone. I actively participate in my local dive club and I am a regular contributor to several local and national Scuba Discussion Boards. All but a handful of my total dives are in the cold waters of Puget Sound and Hood Canal. I am a member of the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) Pacific Northwest Advanced Assessment Team Level 5 Critter watcher, which is the highest volunteer level attainable. I have been involved in WSA/REEF projects including the Invasive Tunicate Program and the Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program.