Dive Central - Training Staff

Training Staff

Our training staff is there to serve you and help guide you to scuba dive.

Store Staff:
Training Director Steve Lafortune Steve started diving in 2005 and was hooked from the start. He continued his training all the way to the intructor level so that he could share his passion for diving and the underwater world with students. Steve has dove the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba, and all over Ontario. His favourite dives are shipwrecks and technical dives. Steve is proud to have such great training staff here at Dive Central. Come on out and dive with us! Certifications (click to see all): PADI IDC Staff Instructor EFR Instructor Certifications (click to hide all): PADI/IANTD Open Water Diver IANTD Advanced Open Water Diver IANTD Nitrox Diver EFR Primary and Secondary Care EFR Automated External Defibrillator EFR Care for Children PADI/IANTD Rescue Diver IANTD Divemaster IANTD Nitrox Blender IANTD Trimix Blender IANTD Deep Air Diver PSI Visual Inspector EFR Primary and Secondary Care Instructor EFR Automated External Defibrillator Instructor EFR Care for Children Instructor PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor PADI Specialty Instructor PADI AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Instructor PADI AWARE Fish Identification Instructor PADI Boat Diver Instructor PADI Deep Diver Instructor PADI Digital Underwater Photography Instructor PADI Diver Propulsion Vehicle Instructor PADI Drift Diver Instructor PADI Dry Suit Diver Instructor PADI Enriched Air Diver Instructor PADI Equipment Specialist Instructor PADI Ice Diver Instructor PADI Multilevel Diver Instructor PADI Night Diver Instructor PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor PADI Project AWARE Instructor PADI Search and Recovery Instructor PADI Underwater Navigator Instructor PADI Underwater Photographer Instructor PADI Underwater Videographer Instructor PADI Wreck Diver Instructor PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer PADI IDC Staff Instructor DSAT Tec Rec Gas Blender Instructor IANTD Snorkeling Instructor IANTD Open Water FreeDiving Instructor IANTD Open Water Diver Instructor IANTD Rescue Diver Instructor IANTD EANx Instructor IANTD Advanced EANx Instructor
Instructor Andrew Forget Andy has been diving since 2006 and did not originally intend to teach but rather to take the route of technical diving. However as a rescue diver he began to work with students and found the joy of helping students become new divers. Since then he has moved from divemaster to instructor, master scuba diver trainer and is currently an IDC staff instructor. He has a love of teaching and a love of sharing his passion for diving. Two special passions for Andy are night diving and wreck diving. With dives all around Ontario, in the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, Andy has seen and experienced a lot of things underwater! Andy's expertise extends to EFR and DAN emergency management as a provider and instructor. Come out soon and dive with Andy. Certifications (click to see all): PADI Master Scuba Diver PADI IDC Staff Instructor EFR Instructor DAN DEMP Instructor Certifications (click to hide all): PADI/IANTD Open Water Diver PADI/IANTD Advanced Open Water Diver PADI/IANTD Rescue Diver EFR Primary and Secondary Care EFR Automated External Defibrillator EFR Care for Children DAN Oxygen First Aid DAN Advanced Oxygen First Aid DAN Hazardous Marine Life Injuries DAN Automated External Defibrillator DAN REMO2(tm) DAN On-site Neurological Assessment DAN Diver Emergency Management Provider PADI AWARE Fish Identification PADI Boat Diver PADI Deep Diver PADI Diver Propulsion Vehicle Diver PADI Drift Diver PADI Dry Suit Diver PADI Enriched Air Diver PADI Ice Diver PADI Multilevel Diver PADI Night Diver PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Diver PADI Search and Recovery Diver PADI Underwater Naturalist PADI Underwater Navigator PADI Wreck Diver PADI Master Scuba Diver PADI Divemaster IANTD Nitrox Diver IANTD Deep Air Diver PADI Assistant Instructor EFR Primary and Secondary Care Instructor EFR Automated External Defibrillator Instructor EFR Care for Children Instructor DAN Oxygen First Aid Instructor DAN Advanced Oxygen First Aid Instructor DAN Hazardous Marine Life Injuries Instructor DAN Automated External Defibrillator Instructor DAN REMO2(tm) Instructor DAN On-site Neurological Assessment Instructor DAN Diver Emergency Management Provider (DEMP) Instructor PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor PADI Specialty Instructor PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor PADI Project AWARE Specialist Instructor PADI AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Instructor PADI AWARE Fish Identification Instructor PADI Boat Diver Instructor PADI Deep Specialist Instructor PADI Drift Diver Instructor PADI Dry Suit Diver Instructor PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor PADI Enriched Air Diver Instructor PADI Multilevel Diver Instructor PADI Night Diver Instructor PADI Underwater Naturalist Instructor PADI Underwater Navigator Instructor PADI Wreck Diver Instructor PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer PADI IDC Staff Instructor Graham Down Diving for Graham started as a spur of the moment thing in late 2003 when friends told him they had signed up for an open water course and he should as well. He had a Caribbean cruise planned and thought diving there would be fun and so he signed up with his friends for an autumn course here in Ontario. While on vacation Graham dove in Belize and Cozumel. He was immediately hooked. The next summer he signed up for the Advanced Diver and the Rescue Diver course. After having such a great time in those courses, his instructor mentioned he should consider taking the Divemaster program. This gave Graham a chance to work with students. That was so rewarding that he then completed his PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and his PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. Graham really enjoys working with students and watching their excitement as they experience diving for the first time. Graham has dove all over Ontario as well as destinations such as Costa Rica, Belize, Cayman Islands, Aruba, Honduras and Mexico. Certifications (click to see all): PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer EFR Instructor Certifications (click to hide all): PADI Open Water Diver PADI Adavanced Open Water Diver PADI Rescue Diver IANTD Nitrox Diver EFR Primary and Secondary Care Instructor PADI Divemaster PADI Assistant Instructor PADI Instructor PADI Specialty Instructor PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor PADI Project AWARE Specialist Instructor PADI AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Instructor PADI Boat Diver Instructor PADI Deep Diver Instructor PADI Drift Diver Instructor PADI Dry Suit Diver Instructor PADI Enriched Air Diver Instuctor PADI Multilevel Diver Instructor PADI Night Diver Instructor PADI Search and Recovery Diver Instructor PADI Underwater Navigator Instructor PADI Wreck Diver Instructor PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer Robert White Bob began his diving adventures in 1998 while working in the Middle East. Originally, he only intended to become an Open Water Diver however Bob's passion for diving soon become an "infection". Every available weekend was spent taking the three hour automobile trek across the Arabian Desert to the East Coast of Saudi Arabia for a "dive treatment". By the end of 1998 he achieved a Divemaster rating. Bobs experiences range from The Arabian Sea, Jedewhal Bay, Andaman Sea, South China Seas and many inland lakes across the Midwest United States and finally the cool dark waters of Ontario. After a short educational break, Bob once again embarked upon his professional diving goals and obtained an Assistant Instructor rating and finally an Open Water Scuba Instructor rating. Bob likes to have fun and believes that all diving experieinces should be filled with laughter in order to make them memorable. See you in the water. Certifications (click to see all): PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor EFR Instructor Certifications (click to hide all): PADI Open Water Diver PADI Advanced Open Water Diver PADI Deep Diver PADI MultiLevel Diver PADI Night Diver PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy PADI Search and Recovery Diver PADI U/W Navigation Diver EFR Primary and Secondary Care PADI Divemaster EFR Primary and Secondary Care Instructor PADI Assistant Instructor PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor Tim Marshall Tim began diving with a Discover Scuba in Cuba in 2001. Each year down south this continued but when his daughter joined in, he realized this didn't substitute for proper training. He and his daughter took an Open Water class at Dive Central in 2007 and Advanced Open Water later that summer. The next year in Cuba was a great experience; with proper training the apprehension about diving was gone and they were able to enjoy the underwater realm with confidence. Since then Tim has become a fixture at Dive Central, completing his Rescue, Divemaster, Assistant Instructor and Open Water Scuba Instructor courses. Tim has over 200 dives extensively in the Caribbean and Ontario. Tim takes great pride watching students master skills that will keep them comfortable and confident. He is an active member of the Dive Central Scuba Club. Tim believes the unique thing about diving is that a experienced diver and a newly certified diver can both enjoy a dive together. Join Tim in the water or the classroom soon. Certifications (click to see all): PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer EFR Instructor Certifications (click to hide all): PADI Open Water Diver PADI Advanced Open Water Diver PADI Rescue Diver EFR Primary and Secondary Care EFR Automated External Defibrillator EFR Care for Children DAN DEMP Provider PADI Dry Suit Diver PADI Enriched Air Diver PADI Ice Diver EFR Primary and Secondary Care Instructor EFR Automated External Defibrillator Instructor EFR Care for Children Instructor PADI Divemaster PADI Assistant Instructor PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor PADI Project Aware Instructor PADI Specialty Instructor PADI Boat Diver Instructor PADI Drift Diver Instructor PADI Dry Suit Diver Instructor PADI Enriched Air Diver Instructor PADI Night Diver Instructor PADI Underwater Navigator Instructor PADI Wreck Diver Instructor PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Divemaster Beverly Forget Working hard so you don't have to. Certifications (click to see all): PADI Master Scuba Diver PADI Divemaster Certifications (click to hide all): PADI Open Water Diver PADI Advanced Open Water Diver EFR Primary and Secondary Care DAN O2 Provider PADI Rescue Diver PADI AWARE Fish Identification PADI Deep Diver PADI Dry Suit Diver PADI Enriched Air Diver PADI Night Diver PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Diver PADI Wreck Diver PADI Master Scuba Diver PADI Divemaster Kelly Balfe Divemaster. Certifications (click to see all): PADI Divemaster Red Cross CPR/First Aid Instructor Certifications (click to hide all): PADI/IANTD Open Water Diver PADI/IANTD Advanced Open Water Diver PADI/IANTD Rescue diver PADI/IANTD Nitrox diver PADI Boat Diver PADI Deep Diver PADI Night Diver PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Diver PADI Wreck Diver PADI Master Scuba Diver IANTD Nitrox Blender IANTD Deep Air Diver PADI Divemaster Red Cross CPR/First Aid Instructor Lesley Heightington Lesley started diving with Dive Central in 2007 and quickly became addicted to the recreational side of the sport. This new found passion has taken Lesley on the road to the professional world of diving, where she is currently working on the Divemaster program. Lesley has enjoyed diving in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Florida, and Ontario. Look for Lesley at our next training or club dives. Certifications (click to see all): PADI Master Scuba Diver PADI Divemaster Certifications (click to hide all): PADI/IANTD Open Water Diver PADI Advanced Open Water Diver PADI Rescue Diver EFR Primary and Secondary Care PADI Boat Diver PADI Deep Diver PADI Dry Suit Diver PADI Enriched Air Diver PADI Ice Diver PADI Night Diver PADI Peak Pearformance Buoyancy Diver PADI Wreck Diver PADI Master Scuba Diver PADI Divemaster
Divemaster in Training Derek Taylor Derek became PADI open water certified in the summer of 1991 and was accepted to Seneca's Commercial Diving Program in 1995. After choosing a different educational path and hiatus from the sport of diving, Derek returned in the summer of 2008. He chose Dive Central to resume his dive training because of the family atmosphere and diverse level of experience it possesses. Derek is fascinated with the historical and technical aspects of wreck diving and loves to night dive. As a Dive Master he is looking forward to a new level of instructional training and working with students. Come on out and "let's get wet"! Certifications (click to see all): PADI Master Scuba Diver Certifications (click to hide all): PADI Open Water Diver PADI Advanced Open Water Diver PADI Rescue Diver EFR Primary and Secondary Care EFR Automated External Defibrillator PADI Deep Diver PADI Dry Suit Diver PADI Enriched Air Diver PADI Night Diver PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Diver PADI Master Scuba Diver Nicole Whitehurst coming soon... Certifications (click to see all): PADI Master Scuba Diver Certifications (click to hide all): PADI Open Water Diver PADI Advanced Open Water Diver PADI Rescue Diver EFR Primary and Secondary Care EFR Automated External Defibrillator PADI Deep Diver PADI Dry Suit Diver PADI Enriched Air Diver PADI Night Diver PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Diver PADI Wreck Diver PADI Master Scuba Diver
Course Director David Noble Committed to excellence and the development of tomorrow's instructors. Certifications (click to see all): PADI Course Director DAN DES Instructor Trainer DSAT Instructor Trainer EFR Instructor Trainer Certifications (click to hide all): PADI Course Director DAN DES Instructor Trainer DSAT Instructor Trainer EFR Instructor Trainer