ANNA SCHMITZ is our PADI Course Director conducting the Instructor Development Courses at Emerald Coast Scuba. Anna began her career in the Dive Industry in 1984 when she began teaching diving in Destin. After training and certifying more than 1,800 divers, she decided to share her knowledge and experience with other Divemasters and Instructors. She attended the PADI Course Directors Training Course in Santa Ana California in 1989 and has been actively teaching a variety of PADI Instructor level courses since. Anna is well known in the Dive Industry as a sincere dedicated and knowledgable diving professional. She consistently strives to provide quality education, personal attention, and an enjoyable learning environment for all her programs. She takes a special interest in her students, realizing that they are the future professionals in the Dive Industry.
	LORI SCHMITZ is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer as well as a USCG Certified 100 Ton Captain. Lori was certified in scuba in 1985. In 1992 she joind her sister Anna (above) and Emerald Coast Scuba. In 1993 she qualified as a Divemaster - responsible for managing dive trips with inexperienced divers and working with Instructors unfamiliar with gulf dive sites. She was certified as an Instructor in March of 1995 and went on to earn her Master Scuba Diver Trainer rating in October of 1996. For the past 10 summer seasons Emerald Coast Scuba has certified the majority of divers in the Fort Walton Beach/Destin area. Lori is now a IDC Staff Instructor which allows Anna to enroll an additional 8 Candidates in the Instructor Development Course. Lori truly loves her job - Mean it!!
	CAPT. TOM SCHMITZ is our head of boat operations, Mr. Fixit on about everything east of the Mississippi, a co-owner with sisters Anna & Lori, as well as a PADI Divemaster. Tom became Destin's youngest USCG Captain at the age of 17 and since that time, has worked full time on boats. In 1989 Tom earned his 1600 ton Masters license with additional endorsements of fire fighting, radar and celestial navigation. That year, Tom also began a 3 year contract with Chevron - running supply ships in the Gulf of Genie, Africa. After returning home, Tom purchased a 31' 6 passenger vessel and began his dive charter business "The Under Pressure". Tom has a loyal following of customers who rely on his skill and expertise to allow them to bring home a fresh fish and lobster dinner. Oh, and by the way, Tom also was one of the builders of his own boat years earlier! Tom retired from the oil fields in May of 2001 and now runs full time with his sisters Anna and Lori.
	DAVE DANIELSON is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, IDC Staff Instructor, and Certified Equipment Technician qualified with: Genesis ~ Sherwood ~ Atomic ~ TUSA ~ Oceanic ~ and Professional Scuba Inspectors, among others. Dave's interest in diving began at a very young age. His father, Lee Danielson was a pioneer in the diving industry exploring Lake Superior and Minnesota Boundary Waters throughout the Mid - Late 1950's and early 1960's, giving Dave an extra interest in collecting and diving vintage SCUBA gear.   Dave continued his education in scuba and now teaches many of the Specialty, Rescue and Nitrox classes for Emerald Coast Scuba. Recently Dave was also certified as a PADI / DSAT Blender Instructor and TEC-REC Deep Diver. And the rest, as they say, "is history". When not diving Dave can be found on horseback or doing lead guitar and vocals for his band "Trilogy".
	CAPTAIN JOHN is our lead boat captain for the Aquanaut. He has experience in running boat operations in the Gulf and Caribbean waters. John is a retired Army RANGER where he specialized in (of all things for the army) diving. On his down time he loves to spend time with his wife Terry on their sailboat.
	JAMIE LAIRD is head of our rental department as well as a PADI Instructor. Jamie started her dive career working for Florida's oldest marine show aquarium - The Gulfarium, where she was an amimal trainer and diver. From there the interest turned into a career change with the US Navy where she trained to be a Dive Team Member. She returned to Destin and continued her education to become a Divemaster and then Instructor for Emerald Coast Scuba. Jamie is truly a person that loves her work which shows in her attitude at the shop.
	CAPTAIN FRANK is our lead boat captain for the Down Under. He has great experience in running boats in and around Destin waters and the northern Gulf. He comes from a long line of Destin Divers and boat captains. His Grandfather, Col. Butler was a diving pioneer in the Destin area and was the builder and first owner of the Mighty Dive Vessel Aquanaut.
	MICHAL TUREK is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, a PADI TecRec Deep Diver, Gas Blender, IANTD Trimix Diver and Technical Cave diver as well as an NACD Cave Diver. Michal came to the USA after 2 years of divin in the Mediterranian (Italy, Croatia, France and Spain) where he earned his Divemaster rating. He then earned his Instructor rating in 2001 and has been teaching in Destin since then. Michal came to Emerald Coast Scuba in 2002 as an instructor, gas blender and repair technician. Michal enjoys diving the Gulf of Mexico as well as Caves and Caverns throughout the southeast.
	COACH MARY is the aquatics director for the Sea Mint Pond. Coach Mary began her career as a swimmer in her childhood and swam competitively throughout college. She has a masters degree in education. She has been teaching swimming in the Destin / FWB area since the 90's. She is well known for her fun filled swimming lessons! Come join her for fun in the sun in our pool.