Simon Botham
PADI MSDT
Simon started diving during a less than exciting holiday in Lanzarote in 2000. At that point he qualified as a PADI Scuba Diver, caught the bug and on his return to the UK sought out a local dive club.
As soon as he joined Sub-Mission Dive club he continued his further education & soon progressed to PADI Rescue diver and then Divemaster. His PADI Divemaster internship with Sub-Mission gave him the push needed to take on the PADI IDC and IE and in March 2006 he became a PADI OWSI and EFR Instructor.
Simon has progressed to PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and is now able to teach a multitude of PADI Specialty Courses.
Richard Halfpenny
PADI OWSI
Rich began diving in 2004 after signing up, along with his wife Claire, for a PADI Open Water course with Sub-Mission. Having successfully completed the course he went to Egypt where he completed the PADI Advanced Open Water course. Already hooked he really thought it could not get better…
....but it did. A seemingly innocuous dive off the back of Jackson reef led to one of his most memorable diving experiences, an encounter with Hammerhead sharks. Only 10 dives into a career and a lifelong memory set in stone.
Coming back from Egypt saw more diving and continued education, various specialties, and PADI Rescue Diver certifications led him to Divemaster. Once He started working hands on with students he realised where the future lay. Skip forward to March 2006 and he completed the PADI Instructor exams, and you have his current qualification of PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.
Neil Bagley
PADI Assistant Instructor
Neil never intended to love diving; in fact jumping into Capernwray mid-February was enough to make him think twice about finishing the course! But he did and he came back time and time again. Diving soon took its hold over Neil and over time he progressed to PADI Assistant Instructor.
Neil is infamous amongst the students for his laid back attitude and easy going nature. He is an asset to the team and has a magic touch with students, putting them at ease immediately.
Darren Birt
PADI Assistant Instructor
Darren learnt to dive in Gran Canaria and then took the plunge into Stoney Cove to convert to a UK diver. Spurred on by diving with his friend Ben, he continued up the PADI ladder to reach PADI Divemaster level. Darren found assisting and helping students overcome problems extremely rewarding so worked hard to become a PADI Assistant Instructor. With the support of Sub-Mission, he is now working towards his PADI OWSI qualification and will make a fantastic Instructor and a valuable asset to the team.
He is just as happy taking in the scenery of a beautiful coral reef as getting fully immersed in a bit of wreck or deep diving and is planning to undergo further technical training this year.
Ben Snape
PADI Divemaster
Ben started diving on a holiday in Gran Canaria with his friend Darren and took the PADI Open Water Course whilst out there. He returned to Gran Canaria 6 months later to complete the PADI Advanced Open Water course.
A few months later Ben joined Sub-Mission Dive School and quickly progressed through various Specialty courses increasing his experience and knowledge, which led to the successful completion of his PADI Rescue Diver and PADI Divemaster Courses.
Particular interests include wreck diving and underwater photography, but like all of the Divemasters at Sub-Mission, Ben enjoys nothing more than assisting with student divers undertaking pool and open water training. |
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Paul Starkey
PADI Divemaster
Paul loves diving! He first started diving on holiday in Cyprus in 2004 but ran out of time and certified as a PADI Scuba Diver. Paul had seen the video of the infamous wreck of the Zenobia and desperately wanted to dive it, so upon returning to the UK completed his PADI Open Water Course.
Other courses followed and he did his PADI Advanced Open Water and Deep Specialty courses in April 2005. Paul returned to Cyprus in May 2005 and finally did the first of many excellent dives on 'The Zen'. It was just as amazing as he thought it would be and from that point he was hooked on diving, completing several PADI Specialties and the PADI Rescue Diver course.
Paul is currently undertaking the PADI Divemaster Course and will be a valuable member of the team if they can manage to drag him away from diving in Cyprus.
Simon Bowen
PADI Divemaster Trainee
Simon started diving at Sub-Mission with Darren and Katy in September 2005 and completed his PADI Open Water and Advanced courses in quick succession to enable a diving holiday that was planned to Sharm El Sheikh for November of that year.
The fifth dive after certification had him visiting "The Thistlegorm" in the Red Sea, and now he is totally addicted to diving. Simon has worked through the PADI Rescue Diver course, to find himself in the middle of his PADI Divemaster training.
Simon loves diving, and assisting students in all aspects of diving, and wants to be an Instructor by the end of this year. He plans to move to Egypt for a career change in the near future and instruct for a living.
Jo Johnson
PADI Divemaster Trainee
Joanne Johnson was due to go on holiday in September 2005 to Egypt, with the intention of seeing the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and really explore. However, the diving looked out of this world so she took a try dive with Sub-mission in June – the rest as they say is history!
Jo signed up for the PADI Open Water course straight away, completing it in the same month. She then took her PADI Advanced in Sharm el Sheik, Egypt – needless to say, the Pyramids are still on the back burner!!
Finally, in March 2006 Jo finished her PADI Rescue Diver Course despite freezing temperatures and ice on the reservoir!! The fun of it kept the cold out and the group felt so exhilarated by the whole experience, that there were more laughs than complaints.
Jo is currently undertaking her PADI Divemaster and is looking forward to continuing her education with Sub-Mission.
Paul Roberts
PADI Divemaster Trainee
Paul completed his PADI Open Water in June 2005 and went on to complete his PADI Advanced in September in Sharm.
Many UK “cold” dives have taken place since, including the PADI Rescue Diver, where he was the one who volunteered to find the missing diver at 11m in 4 degrees. Maybe you could call this adventurous, barking mad or the development of a passion for diving.
Currently undergoing his PADI Divemaster course he hopes that once completed he will have a better knowledge and understanding of recreational diving and have the ability to help other prospective students realise their potential. |
