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: 3000+
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.
WHY I ENJOY WORKING AT SCUBA WORLD (what makes Scuba World special): I started washing wetsuits at the age of 14 when my dad was running the show. After many years of blood sweat and tears (and a lot of non-paid ‘family business’ hours) I can honestly say I do this job for the love of it. Teaching someone to dive and seeing them progress through to Dive Master or Instructor and become absolutely addicted to the underwater world is a huge privilege. Seeing people smile after a dive and all the wonderful people I have met over the years is fantastic.
Mike
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
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!
Steve
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
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
David Ryan
YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2023
QUALIFICATIONS: Dive Master
NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 250
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
Cam
YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2022
QUALIFICATIONS: SSI AOW Instructor
SSI EXPERIENCE POINTS: 478 (22 off GOLD)
NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 3000+
DIVING SINCE: 2017
FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: Lonsdale Wall, Port Phillip Bay
FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD: Cenote Dos Ojos, Quintana Roo
I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: The ocean, like all great works of art, will outlive us. And the diver whose job is to gaze into the ocean, must face eternity, or the lack of it, each dive.
WHY I ENJOY WORKING AT SCUBA WORLD (what makes Scuba World special): The excellence in leadership and depth in experience, as well as the many members drinking the kool-aid.
Cam
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
Chris Toshach
YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2023
QUALIFICATIONS: Coxswain , Master 24m NC, Open Water Diver
NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 50
DIVING SINCE: 1985
FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: LIHOU ATOLL marine park (350nm east of Cairns)
FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD: LIHOU ATOLL marine park (350nm east of Cairns)
I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: Its always an eyes wide open adventure expect the unexpected
WHY I ENJOY WORKING AT SCUBA WORLD (what makes Scuba World special): Local family operated business with happy crew giving their customers the Xfactor diving experience.
Chris
Jake
YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2023
QUALIFICATIONS: SSI AOW Instructor, Coxswain
NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 3000+
DIVING SINCE: 2017
FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: ex-HMAS Brisbane
FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD:
I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: I gain that incredible feeling of immersion, the feeling of total weightless and only hearing the sound of bubbles with Humpbacks in the distance (during winter of course). Seeing the incredible marine life that call the reef home and the beautiful colours like no other.
WHY I ENJOY WORKING AT SCUBA WORLD (what makes Scuba World special):
Jake
Matt
YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2022
QUALIFICATIONS: SSI Dive Master
NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 160
DIVING SINCE: 2017
FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: Flat Rock – North Straddie
FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD: I am looking forward to my first overseas diving holiday
I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: I scuba dive to experience the ocean in a different way to what most people experience it because I’ve always been interested by the Marine Ecosystems present on reefs and wrecks.
WHY I ENJOY WORKING AT SCUBA WORLD (what makes Scuba World special): I enjoy working at Scuba World because of the team and how friendly and professional everyone is towards each other and customers while still having fun and keeping everyone safe!
Matt
Jasmin Gawlista
YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2024
QUALIFICATIONS: Advanced Open Water
NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 100
DIVING SINCE: 2011
FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: Agincourt reef
FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD: Elphinstone in Egypt Red Sea
I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: The feeling of weightlessness and the peace under the water is incredible. With every dive you discover something new, that you haven’t seen before.
When you go diving, you always get to know new people and sometimes contacts and friendships are formed all over the world.
When you go diving, you always get to know new people and sometimes contacts and friendships are formed all over the world.
WHY I ENJOY WORKING AT SCUBA WORLD (what makes Scuba World special): Scuba World is an authentic, honest diving centre. Everyone welcomes you with open arms. Good training and safety is the highest priority. The team consists of many different personalities, which makes it special.
Jasmin
Gwen
YEAR I JOINED SCUBA WORLD: 2024
QUALIFICATIONS: Advanced Open Water
NUMBER OF COMPLETED DIVES: 350
DIVING SINCE: 2003
FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN AUSTRALIA: Tijou Reef, Far North Queensland
FAVOURITE DIVE SITE IN THE WORLD: Koh Hat, Thailand and Shaab Rumi, Port Sudan
I SCUBA DIVE BECAUSE: I feel weightless and free underwater and the friends you meet make it an awesome sport
WHY I ENJOY WORKING AT SCUBA WORLD (what makes Scuba World special): Enjoyment is always about the people – the ones I work with and the ones who come through the shop or call up during the day. I love the shared interest, the funny things that happen and feeling part of a community.
Gwen
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!
