Meet Your Dive Instructors

Scott Thorburn

YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2019

QUALIFICATIONS: Dive Master

NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 300+

DIVING SINCE: 2004

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: Mudjimba Island, Mooloolaba (Old woman island)

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD: Bali

I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: It’s the one place I can go to relax and calm my mind.

Scott

David Ryan

YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2023

QUALIFICATIONS: Dive Master

NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 120

DIVING SINCE: 2022

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: Opsrey Reef – Fairy Grotto or North Horn, honestly any dive at Osprey reef is spectacular. Massive walls, lots of swim throughs and nooks and crannies galore to explore. Just loved it!

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD: I havent dived over seas yet, but remote Papua New Guinea really piques my interest. Id like to explore where most people don’t get to.

I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: Observing nature underwater, close up, is not something I can do very often. Watching the dynamics, inter-relationships and personality expressions of the different types organisms, personally I find just fascinating. Being apart of someone’s elses enjoyable experience of this and potentially helping them to have a better one, helps me want to get out and be a dive guide.

David

Simba McKinnon

YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2020

QUALIFICATIONS: Customer Service Expert

NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: I jumped into the swimming pool at 3 months and had a little freak out. Still deciding if scuba is for me

I WORK AT SCUBA WORLD BECAUSE: I love greeting people at the door and receiving a pat. Not to mention the crumbs that magically fall from the kitchen when the staff are preparing food for the dive charter!

Simba

Savanah Mahony

YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2022

QUALIFICATIONS: Deep Diver

NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 25

DIVING SINCE: 2022

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: Haven’t explored any dive sites other than the HMAS Brisbane and Mooloolaba Reefs (both are beautiful)

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD: Yet to dive overseas! Fiji is first on my list

I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: Scuba diving allows you to explore the fascinating world beneath the waves. The tranquility of the underwater environment is incredibly calming and stress-relieving. And I love how it brings people together, creating a sense of community among enthusiasts who share a passion for the ocean and diving.

WHY I ENJOY WORKING AT SCUBA WORLD (what makes Scuba World special): Working at Scuba World has provided me with opportunities for continuous learning, skill development and professional growth within the industry. Scuba World ensures everyone is happy and having fun but also keeping diving safe. Scuba World is friendly towards the local diving community, providing a space for divers to gather, exchange stories and build relationships, this is what makes Scuba World so special.

Savanah

Leila Barnsley

YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2020

QUALIFICATIONS: Advanced Open Water Instructor & Ecology Instructor

SSI EXPERIENCE POINTS: 976 (GOLD Instructor)

NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 3500+

DIVING SINCE: 2014

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: Great Detached Reef (GBR)

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD: Gordon’s Rock (Galápagos Islands)

I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: You never know what you are going to find underwater. It is a completely different world under the surface. There is always something new on every dive and there are so many amazing opportunities to learn more knowledge and skills.

Leila

Mike McKinnon

OWNER/GENERAL MANAGER

Mike is one of only seven active SSI Instructor Certifiers in Australia. This is the highest professional level you can achieve through the SSI system. Having dived in over 14 different countries and certified well over 800 people from Open Water level through to Instructors, Mike has a wealth of knowledge that puts him at the top of his profession.

YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2003

QUALIFICATIONS: SSI Instructor Certifier, Coxswain (Skipper), XR Instructor

SSI EXPERIENCE POINTS: 5720 (PLATINUM Pro 5000 Instructor)

NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 2000+

DIVING SINCE: 1997

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: Da Phat, Great Detached (GBR)

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD: San Francisco Maru – Truk Lagoon

I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: Every time you venture underwater, you never know what you might see! 70% of the world is water – why not explore it. My favourite quote is: ‘From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to earth. But man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free’. Jacques Yves Cousteau.

Mike

Shara Smith

YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2019

QUALIFICATIONS: Master Diver

NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 330

DIVING SINCE: 2016

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: Captains Blood Wall of Terror (Far North QLD)

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD: Uepi Point, Solomon Islands

I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: I love the complete bliss and weightless experience of the deep blue. It’s like nothing else.

Shara

Chris Maxwell

YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2019

QUALIFICATIONS: Advanced Open Water Instructor

SSI EXPERIENCE POINTS: 1800 (PLATINUM Instructor)

NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 1500+

DIVING SINCE: 2010

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: ex-HMAS Brisbane

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD: Great Astrolabe Reef, Fiji

I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: I dive because marine life has always fascinated me. I love encounters with sharks and manta rays. I also enjoy instructing new divers and introducing them to scuba life.

Chris M

Tim Denyer

YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2021

QUALIFICATIONS: Open Water Instructor

NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 430+

DIVING SINCE: 2020

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: Cathedrals – Far North Queensland

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD: Cathedrals – Far North Queensland

I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: I love the wildlife! You can always find something new.

Tim

Steve Bowtell

YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2011

QUALIFICATIONS: Open Water Instructor

SSI EXPERIENCE POINTS: 70

NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 1000+

DIVING SINCE: 2010

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: Osprey Reef, Queensland

FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD: Truk Lagoon, Micronesia

I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: It’s rewarding and challenging. I also feel a great sense accomplishment!

Meet your Scuba
Diving Instructors

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