Meet the Dive Staff

Ali Miller

What is your favorite underwater memory? My favorite underwater memory was the first time I found myself surrounded by sharks. It was 2009 and we were the only liveaboard at Roca Partida in the Revillagigedo Islands off of Mexico's Baja California coast. We were on our safety stop and all of a sudden a group of 500 silky sharks came out of the blue and surrounded us in peaceful serenity! I started screaming in joy, so much so my dive buddy had to make sure all was well. The ocean does and always will continue to surprise me at every turn.

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? The best part of teaching scuba and/or freediving is seeing the happy faces of my students after accomplishment of their first open water dive. Passing on the joy, the love, and the appreciation for the oceans is my passion and is why I have dedicated my life and career to these amazing sports and to the ocean!

Wendelinus Benjamin

What is your favorite underwater memory? My favorite underwater memory was swimming underwater with whale sharks in Kalimantan, Indonesia. They came up out of the blue and stayed playing with us a for some time. The mystery of these giant creatures captures my heart, and is on every scuba diver's bucket list!

What is your favorite dive destination and why? Kaimana, Raja Ampat, Indonesia - Located in the center of the coral triangle, Raja Ampat has more biodiversity than any other place in the world. Every dive brings something unexpected. Even for a seasoned diver, I usually see at least one thing I have never seen before underwater when I am diving Kaimana.

Bonnie Sherman

When and where did you first learn to scuba dive? My first scuba dive was in 1980 in Roatan, when there was one satellite phone and five little trucks on the whole island. During my first certification dive - kneeling on the sand- we were bombarded by hundreds of butterfly fish. During my first night dive, there were so many worms out on the ocean floor, I tried to figure out why the island had so many miles of cable when no one lived there!

What is your favorite underwater memory? I have so many - from the giant potato cod in Australia, to be surrounded by sharks in the Socorro Islands and Cocos Island. Mola mola and giant whale sharks in Galapagos, manta rays in Bora Bora and a coconut octopus hitching a ride with me in Indonesia. By far my best memory ever is diving with my children, Ali and Brittany, for the first time.

Brittany Miller

When and where did you first learn to scuba dive? Scuba is a pre-requisite to be in my family, so as the baby of the family I learned to dive when I was 12. We went to Bonaire for my open water training and my first dive without an instructor was with my mom, dad and sister when they took me out for a night dive in front of our hotel. There were tarpon hunting, using our flashlights for help and they kept bumping in to me, so I spent the entire dive holding my sister's arm for dear life!

What is your favorite underwater memory? I learned to love night diving - My favorite memory underwater was diving at night in the Cocos islands and watching small white tip reef sharks hunt for fish while the large Galapagos sharks were hunting them! What a thrill!

John Sherman

When and where did you first learn to scuba dive? As one of my electives my junior year in college, I took scuba diving. A year later I went on my first ocean dive in Cozumel and have been hooked ever since!

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? Passing on the excitement of scuba to someone else is my favorite part of teaching. It brings joy to me and to my students.

Mariah Mahlendorf

When and where did you first learn to scuba dive? I first learned to dive in Utila Honduras on a Winter break vacation in college. I didn't plan on getting certified, but I fell in love with it right away. I ended up postponing my next semester of college so that I could stay in Utila and work on my Divemaster certification for the next three months.

What is your favorite underwater memory? One of my favorite memories underwater was when I discovered that baby squid are attracted to dive lights at night. I was in Grand Cayman and noticed two little orange translucent blobs about the size of my fingernail swimming towards my dive light. They were so cute and they couldn't get enough of my light! I stayed in the same spot watching them playing in my light for about 15 minutes, giggling into my regulator the whole time.

Christine Bloch

When and where did you first learn to scuba dive? I became a certified diver in 1998 and did my very first dives in Cozumel. Soon after, I had the opportunity to live in Playa del Carmen, MX for the better part of a year and dove Playa, Akumal and Cozumel every chance I got.

What is your favorite underwater memory? One of my favorite underwater memories is of an experience I had in St. Croix in 2004. Towards the end of one of our last dives of the trip, our group was approached by a small pod of dolphins. They stayed with us for several minutes, playing and circling the divers and seeing what we were about. It was magical and I have never experienced anything quite like it; fortunately there was a videographer diving with us that day and I have the whole thing on video!

Craig Hilton

When and where did you first learn to scuba dive? My diving career started in 2000, when I was trained by the City of Denver to be a Public Safety Diver. It was only after diving in all the places you would never want to go, that I decided to discover the joys of diving for fun and I have never looked back!

What is your favorite underwater memory? Diving in the Revillagigedo Islands (Socorro Islands) for the first time was life changing. I was surrounded by so many different species of sharks and Giant Mantas on every dive, that I fell in love with the ocean and diving!

Steve Art

When and where did you first learn to scuba dive? Every day after school, I would go home, grab a bowl of ice-cream and watch Mike Nelson save the world in the TV series Sea Hunt. I knew then that someday I wanted to go where no man has gone before (Oh wait, wrong series!). In 1981 I learned to dive off the shores of Southern California in the waters on Catalina Island.

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? I really enjoy interacting with each student and getting to know them while guiding them through this marvelous experience. It’s really an insight to see the apprehension of the first night turn into the joy of diving by the end of the last pool session. While I get the opportunity to offer a bit of my knowledge, I too learn something new with each class and each student. Plus, I get to ‘hang out’ with other divers, about the coolest people on the planet.

Michael Baclawski

What is your favorite dive destination and why? South Pacific - for the explosion of colorful life underwater and exotic islands and people above.

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? I love to see the wondrous faces when a student overcomes a challenge or sees extraordinary beauty underwater for the first time on scuba!

Ray Brienza

When and where did you first learn to scuba dive? I tried diving for the first time in Acapulco, Mexico in 1977 and decided to get certified when I was in college in Kansas in 1983. The next year I became an assistant instructor at CSU and have continued to teach ever since!

What is your favorite underwater memory? Diving the Blue Hole in Belize. I saw stalacties and stalagmites in the middle of the ocean as I was surrounded by 7 Hammerhead sharks!

Wayne Dahlberg

When and where did you first learn to scuba dive? I began my scuba training in 2002 in New Jersey, diving off the Jersey shore, at Dutch Springs quarry in Eastern Pennsylvania, in the Delaware River and at Lake George in Upstate New York. All great training experiences, although I definitely prefer warm, clear water!

What is your favorite underwater memory? My favorite underwater memory is really all the diving I've done with my sons. We all went through certification and advanced training together and it was wonderful watching them progress and gain confidence in their skills. Perhaps the best of the memories is renting a Jeep in Bonaire, picking among the numerous shore dives, and planning/diving together.

Mark Dunning

What is your favorite underwater memory? My favorite dive was in 2016 on the western side of the Big Island in Hawaii near Kona. I did a night dive with about two dozen Manta Ray's ranging from 12' to 16'. They are beautiful and magnificent creatures and it was my joy to share their underwater environment with them.

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? My favorite part is giving something back to the sport that I have participated in for 35 years. I also like to see students learn a new sport and become interested in expanding their knowledge of all that scuba has to offer.

David Gilbreth

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? My favorite part of teaching SCUBA is proving it is possible for everyone, especially when you have a personal doubt. Watching the realization in the diver's eyes is the best reward.

What is your favorite dive destination and why? The Solomon Islands haves every aspect of the adventure: Travel, History, unique marine life, local culture, and wonderful people.

Donita Hilfinger

When and where did you first learn to scuba dive? I first learned that diving was an option in 2005. I received my open water diver certification in 2005 from Denver Divers. As I gained experience, I realized that I wanted to help others enjoy the experience as well and received my AI certification in 2017.

What is your favorite part about teaching scuba diving? Sharing the joy of diving with others. Helping them to see the fantastic animals and plants that cannot be experienced on land!

Mark Holton

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? Helping people overcome anxieties. "On the other side of fear is freedom!"

What is your favorite dive destination and why? I first learned to dive in Koh Tao, Thailand and it will always be my favorite. Easy diving, amazing wildlife, a beautiful setting and wonderful memories.

Matthew Horton

When and where did you first learn to scuba dive? My first dive was when I was 7 yrs old with my uncle who happened to be a Navy Seal. I was hooked, and attained my Junior Open Water Diver as soon as I turned 12 yrs old.

What is your favorite dive destination and why? I enjoy researching all aspects of maritime history and viewing the well preserved artifacts on deep Lake Superior shipwrecks. Yes, I dive with a drysuit and full face mask!

Ted Kays

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? I enjoy having the opportunity to work with a diverse group of students who are excited to learn about and experience a new part of their world. I re-live my own personal experience with each class.

What is your favorite dive destination and why? Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi, Indonesia is biologically and culturally fascinating!

Adam Knudson

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? Sharing my passion of the ocean to others is a personal tenet of mine. Coral reefs are a beautiful gift to the planet and it is an honor to show them to students and families. In the wake of global climate change, I find it particularly empowering working with individuals while helping restore coral reefs.

What is your favorite underwater memory? While in Kona and at night, I saw an underwater display of manta rays. During the safety stop of that dive, you could hear humpback whales singing out into the dark ocean. The sounds and experience of it all was different than I expected and rather eerie, but it is still my favorite memory under the waves so far.

Devon Knudson

Sandy Martin

When and where did you first learn to scuba dive? I took the class/pool portion of open water diver training at our very own Denver Divers in 2000, then completed my certification dives in the Florida Keys a month later.

What is your favorite underwater memory? So many favorites-- life under the sea is just amazing! It could have been the fleeting visit by a pair of sailfish, coming face to face with a young mola mola, finding a tiny seahorse, watching cuttlefish flash their colors, swimming through an endless school of salema, or seeing coral spawn.

Drew Mayers

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? I have always had a passion teaching. I enjoy teaching beginners to experienced divers new skills so they are safe and comfortable in the water. I actually started diving with Denver Divers in 1993 and decided to become an instructor to pass my passion along to all future divers!

What is your favorite underwater memory? I love all types of diving experiencing the under water world. The most memorable experience was my first open water dive in Hawaii where I dropped in on a school of Tiger Sharks during a drift dive.

Britni Minichino-Sikora

What is your favorite underwater memory? I really enjoy swim-throughs. It doesn't matter where I am diving, if there is one, I am usually going through it. Taking my time, I love observing the different formations and colors of the rock and coral. And you cannot forget the marine life that calls it home.

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? It is truly rewarding watching students overcome their initial fear they may come in with and become confident divers. Watching students become comfortable in their skills, water, and environment is pretty awesome to see.

Harris Neil

What is your favorite underwater memory? Being with friends when special things happen, like encountering dolphins, octopus, or the other sea life you only get to see on rare occasions.

What is your favorite dive destination and why? As soon I think one place is a "favorite", I have a great day at another. I don't have a favorite, but I'm continuing the search.

Judi Persoff

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? Seeing students become comfortable with the gear and enjoying the new sport.

What is your favorite dive destination and why? Palau. The variety of dive sites and the incredible fish, turtles, sharks and corals there.

Vincent Phelan

What is your favorite underwater memory? Every dive with my family is the best and builds lifetime memories!

What is your favorite dive destination and why? Galapagos Islands! The diverse and unique sea life that can be encountered!

John Route

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? Having a difficult student that you get certified and then see them on a Denver Divers group trip.

What is your favorite dive destination and why? Indonesia and Palau - diving with my favorite dive buddies!

Lin Szydlo

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? That moment when an apprehensive student gets it and their face breaks out in an immense smile.

What is your favorite dive destination and why? Cabo Pulmo, Mexico! The health of the marine park just gets better and better. Jacks, mobula rays, bull sharks and smiling puffers are just some of the critters. The small eco lodge is comfortable, relaxing and a great escape. The people are kind and fun.

Ingrid Underwood

When and where did you first learn to scuba dive? I learned to scuba dive with Denver Divers in 2014 and kept coming back for more classes and adventures.

What is your favorite underwater memory? My first open water dive in Italy where I was introduced to my new obsession! Every dive is amazing though. I love identifying marine life and am always on the hunt for octopus, dolphins, whales, squid, seahorses, spotted drum fish, frogfish, batfish and sharks!

Trevor Updegraff

When and where did you first learn to dive? I fell in love with snorkeling as a kid and started scuba diving with my family at twelve years old. But I first learned freediving techniques living in Hawaii after college and was drawn to the purity of the sport.

What is your favorite dive destination and why? Though hard to compare with the teeming reefs of Indonesia or magic of the Galapagos, my favorite still has to be Cozumel for its crystal clear waters, spectacular reef structures, and so many great memories.

James Vanselow

What is your favorite underwater memory? Having a Green Sea Turtle swim right up to me on the Benwood wreck in Key Largo, FL

What is your favorite thing about teaching diving? Getting to do something I love!

Corky Vickers

What is your favorite underwater memory? My favorite memory is watching an adaptive student experience a new level of freedom the first time they swim on their own, discovering they are on equal ground with all of us.

What is your favorite dive destination and why? Indonesia is my favorite destination. The biodiversity and sea life are amazing.

Patti Vickers

What is y our favorite underwater memory? In the Maldives with the manta rays hovering above us playing in our bubbles. They are beautiful and elegant to watch. On the same dive our group hid behind coral from a titan tigger fish protecting her babies.

What is your favorite dive destination and why? Indonesia, the soft corals, varieties of clown fish, nudibranchs, the manta rays and the only dive trip I've seen pigmy seahorses.

Blair Whitaker

What is your favorite underwater memory? My first freedive to 100 feet and freediving the swim-throughs at Devil's Grotto in Grand Cayman!

What is your favorite dive destination and why? My favorite place to freedive is in the cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. With over 100' of visibility and bright sunbeams, its visually stunning!