I was born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley.  My diving career began in 1984, when I earned the PADI(Professional Association of Dive instructors) Open Water Diver certification. I continued my career by pursuing additional training and earning the PADI Dive Instructor rating in 1987, Master Scuba Diver Trainer in 1990, numerous specialty ratings  and most recently IDC staff Instructor in 2011. Not only am I able to teach beginning students, I am able to teach and train Professionals. In the time I have been teaching I have been able to work with variety of different students, I have had the opportunity to train young kids, college students, older adults, military and handicap students. I have had the opportunity to visit numerous destinations around the world and within the US where I was able to share my passion of diving with others as well as explore some really exciting sites. In 2012 I bought Kathys Scuba and renamed it Scuba Buddys.  The dive store is a PADI 5 Star dive store which has been in the Shenandoah Valley for 40 years serving the community.