MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS AND DIVE TEAM

 I built Southern Maryland Divers to be more than a dive shop — it’s a community built on trust, adventure, and the kind of precision that keeps people safe beneath the surface. Every dive, every class, every piece of gear we recommend has a reason behind it. That’s how I operate — deliberate, disciplined, and driven by purpose.

I’ve spent years building the business from the ground up — from beginners taking their first breath underwater to professionals refining their craft. Safety and skill are non-negotiable, but so is passion. I want every diver who walks through our doors to leave more capable, more confident, and more connected to the water.

When I’m not in the shop, you’ll find me in the water, behind a camera, or creating something new to push the brand further. I don’t believe in staying static — I believe in depth, both in diving and in life.

Southern Maryland Divers isn’t just a business.

It’s the reflection of everything I believe in: precision, integrity, and adventure — one dive at a time.

Checkout Paul's Online Dive Log HERE

Paul's Accomplishments and PADI instructor ratings

PADI MASTER SCUBA DIVER TRAINER #274902

2013 PADI Elite Instructor Award 50+ certifications issued

2014 PADI Elite Instructor Award 50+ certifications issued

2015 PADI Elite Instructor Award 50+ certifications issued

2016 PADI Elite Instructor Award 50+ certifications issued

Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Open Water Instructor

Advanced Open Water Instructor

Rescue Diver Instructor

Divemaster Instructor

Boat Diver Instructor

Cavern Diver Instructor

Deep Diver Instructor

Deep Ocean Megalodon Tooth Hunter Instructor (Course author)

Digital Underwater Photography Instructor

DPV (Dive Propulsion Vehicle) Instructor

Drift Diver Instructor

Dry Suit Diver Instructor

Delayed Surface Marker Buoy Instructor

Enriched Air Nitrox Instructor

Emergency O2 Provider Instructor

Equipment Specialist Instructor

Full Face Mask Instructor

Gas Blender Instructor

Gas Blender Trimix Instructor

Ice Diver Instructor


Lobster Hunter Instructor (Course Author)

Night Diver Instructor

Open Water Sidemount Instructor (Course Author)

Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor

Project AWARE Instructor

Public Safety Diver Instructor

Scuba Review / Tune up Instructor

Search and Recovery Diver Instructor

Self Reliant Diver Instructor

Sidemount Instructor

Tec Deep (Tec40, Tec45, Tec50) Instructor

Tec Sidemount Instructor

DiveRite Nomad Open Water and Technical Sidemount Instructor

Underwater Navigation Instructor

Underwater Photography Instructor

Underwater Videographer Instructor

Wreck Diver Instructor

EFR CPR / AED / First Aid Instructor

American Heart Association CPR-AED-First Aid Instructor (Heart saver and BLS Health Care Provider

S

 Gary was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Southern Maryland, where his diving journey began. He has always loved being around the water and wanted to experience scuba diving firsthand. In 2002, Gary became a PADI Open Water Diver and was immediately hooked.

He continued his training and earned his PADI Divemaster certification in 2008. Gary found great satisfaction in assisting instructors and working with students, which led him to become a PADI Instructor in 2011. He joined the Southern Maryland Divers instructional team in May 2015 and has been a valued part of the shop ever since.

When he’s not teaching, Gary enjoys megalodon tooth hunting, wreck diving, spearfishing, and identifying aquatic life. His favorite part of being an instructor is helping new divers gain confidence in the water and watching their excitement as they discover the underwater world for the first time.

Gary's Instructor Ratings

PADI MASTER SCUBA DIVER TRAINER #237095

Open Water Instructor

Advanced Open Water Instructor

Rescue Diver Instructor

Divemaster Instructor

Boat Diver Instructor

Deep Diver Instructor

Deep Ocean Megalodon Tooth Hunter Instructor 

Digital Underwater Photography Instructor

DPV (Dive Propulsion Vehicle) Instructor

Drift Diver Instructor

Dry Suit Diver Instructor

Delayed Surface Marker Buoy Instructor

Enriched Air Nitrox Instructor

Emergency O2 Provider Instructor

Night Diver Instructor

Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor

Project AWARE Instructor

Scuba Review / Tune up Instructor

Search and Recovery Diver Instructor

Underwater Navigation Instructor

Underwater Photography Instructor

Underwater Videographer Instructor

Wreck Diver Instructor

EFR CPR-AED-First Aid Instructor


PADI Divemaster #199381

John works part-time at the shop, assisting customers on the sales floor and supporting classes as an experienced Divemaster. His enthusiasm for diving is contagious, and he loves sharing the many “war stories” he’s collected over his years underwater. John has extensive hands-on experience with a wide range of dive gear, much of it gained through firsthand use. Whether you’re getting fitted for your first mask or looking to upgrade to a full scuba setup, John can help you find exactly what you need.

Born in New York City and raised primarily in the D.C. area, John is now retired and spends much of his time pursuing his passion for diving. He earned his PADI Open Water certification 14 years ago and became a PADI Divemaster in 2006. Over the years, he has logged hundreds of dives in locations ranging from warm, clear-water walls in Tahiti to cold, current-swept wrecks off North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

John has also completed coursework and fieldwork in Underwater Archaeology, including mapping a 1700s shipwreck in zero visibility in the St. Mary’s River. From the Caribbean to local quarries, he takes every opportunity to explore and enjoy the sport.

If you’re already a diver, John would love to swap stories and talk gear. If you’re new to diving, he’s always happy to answer questions and help you get started in the sport he loves. You’ll often find John around the shop, at the pool, or out on a dive trip — especially if it’s somewhere like Bonaire or Honduras.

 Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Jacob began diving in 2000 at just 11 years old, driven by a strong curiosity to see what lay beneath the surface. Now in his 30s, he has spent well over half his life exploring the underwater world.

In 2007, a coin flip decided his Navy career — heads for Navy Diver, tails for Aviation Rescue Swimmer. Tails won, and his journey began. After completing Aviation Rescue Swimmer School in Pensacola, Jacob earned his SSI Divemaster certification through Scuba Shack, where he also served as a deckhand and logistics coordinator aboard the Wet Dream.

In 2009, Jacob reported to his first operational command, HSC-25, stationed on the island of Guam. There, he pursued advanced technical diving and instructor training, completing the Instructor Development Course and going on to teach and evaluate divers of all levels. His dedication to professional growth led him to assist with subsequent Instructor Development Courses and achieve the IDC Staff Instructor rating.

Today, Jacob serves as an H-60S platform test aircrewman with Rotary Wing Test and Development at NAS Patuxent River. He is also pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science at American Military University and conducts field research with the Institute of Maritime History.

When he’s not flying, Jacob can be found training for his next technical dive — meticulously preparing his equipment, refining his skills, and planning every dive with a focus on precision, safety, and excellence.

PADI IDC Staff Instructor #260982

Open Water Scuba Instructor
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
EFR Instructor
IDC Staff Instructor
Deep Instructor
Digital Underwater Photography Instructor

Drysuit Diver Instructor
Underwater Navigation Instructor
Multilevel Diver Instructor
Care for Children Instructor
Equipment Specialist Instructor
Enriched Air Nitrox Instructor
Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor
Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor
Project AWARE Instructor

Public Safety Diver Instructor

Other Certifications Held

IANTD CCR O2Ptima Diver

TDI Advanced Nitrox
TDI Decompression Procedures​​​​​

Rich was born and raised in Baltimore County, Maryland, and after serving in the United States Navy, he was fortunate to make Calvert County his home. He works full-time at Exelon’s Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant as a Senior Reactor Operator and spends much of his free time diving and sharing his passion for the sport.

Rich earned his PADI Open Water Diver certification in 2007, completing his very first dive at EPCOT’s The Living Seas attraction. His enthusiasm for diving only grew from there. He achieved his PADI Divemaster certification in 2018 and became an Assistant Instructor in 2019.

Rich works part-time in the shop and regularly assists with dive trips as an experienced Divemaster. Over the years, he has gained extensive hands-on knowledge of dive gear and can help with everything from selecting the perfect mask to building a full scuba setup tailored to your needs.

An avid diver, Rich has explored waters around the world — from wreck and megalodon tooth diving off North Carolina to the Great Blue Hole in Belize. His favorite dive so far, though, has been at Darwin’s Arch in the Galápagos Islands.

Rich enjoys talking about all things diving — from favorite dive sites to gear setups — and is always happy to help others plan their next underwater adventure.

Born and raised in Southern Maryland, Christina began her career as a Firefighter/Paramedic in 2014. After completing the fire academy, she decided to pursue her long-time interest in diving and earned her PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water certifications in 2015 while diving in the Caribbean.

On a training run one New Year’s Day in 2017, Christina noticed the dive flag outside Southern Maryland Divers — and stopped in. That visit sparked her passion to advance further in the sport and deepen her diving education.

Since then, Christina has completed certifications in Enriched Air Nitrox, Drysuit, Rescue Diver, Divemaster, and Assistant Instructor. She is also a TDI Technical Diver with Advanced Nitrox certification. Through Southern Maryland Divers, she was introduced to the Institute of Maritime History, where she is an active member, diving in local waters almost every weekend.

Christina dives every chance she gets and has experienced a wide range of environments — from the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean and Hawaii to Florida’s caves and cenotes, local blackwater sites, and even lakes in Eastern Europe. She loves being in the water and sharing her passion for diving with anyone who will listen.

Always eager to continue learning, Christina is currently pursuing Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) training and advancing her technical diving skills.

 Andrew was born in Heidelberg, Germany, and grew up in North Carolina. After graduating from the Virginia Military Institute in 2006, he moved to Southern Maryland in early 2007 to begin his career as an electrical engineer with SMECO.

Fascinated by the ocean from a young age, Andrew had dreamed of scuba diving since he was 15. In 2015, he finally earned his PADI Open Water Diver certification and was instantly hooked. His passion for diving led him to continue his training and achieve his PADI Divemaster certification in 2018.

Since then, Andrew has been an active member of the Southern Maryland Divers team, assisting with classes and mentoring students. His love for both learning and teaching inspired him to become a PADI Instructor in 2020.

When he’s not teaching, Andrew enjoys traveling and diving in new environments. His dive experiences include Italy, Grand Cayman, Bonaire, California, and Florida, among others. He is also certified as a PADI Tec 40 Diver and continues to pursue advanced training whenever possible.

Andrew's Instructor Level Certifications:

Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT)

Open Water Instructor

Advanced Open Water Instructor

Rescue Diver Instructor

Dive Master Instructor

Deep Diver Instructor

Night Diver Instructor

Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor

Project AWARE Instructor

Enriched Air Nitrox Instructor

Delayed Surface Marker Buoy Instructor

Emergency O2 Provider Instructor

EFR CPR-AED-First Aid Instructor

Other Certifications Held:

PADI Tec 40 Diver

Self-Reliant Diver

Master Scuba Diver

 Jim grew up in Anne Arundel County, where he spent much of his time on and around the Chesapeake Bay. His love for the water, sense of adventure, and passion for travel led him to become scuba certified in 2013 — and he was hooked after his very first quarry dive.

Since then, Jim has explored dive sites around the world, including Bonaire, Roatán, Hawaii, the Bahamas, Palau, Chuuk Lagoon, the Great Barrier Reef, and many Caribbean islands. His adventurous spirit has taken him from spearfishing invasive lionfish and lobstering in Florida to diving with bull sharks in Mexico and searching for megalodon teeth off the coast of North Carolina.

Jim entered the professional ranks of diving in 2017 when he earned his PADI Divemaster certification, actively assisting with pool and quarry classes across Maryland, D.C., and Virginia. In May 2021, he became a PADI Instructor, combining his passion for adventure with his love of teaching.

Jim enjoys helping new divers gain confidence in the water and inspiring others to explore the underwater world with the same excitement that first drew him to diving.

PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor #402311

Open Water Instructor

Advanced Open Water Instructor

Rescue Diver Instructor

Divemaster Instructor

Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor

Enriched Air (Nitrox) Instructor

Emergency First Response Instructor

Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor

Project Aware Instructor

 Originally from Staten Island, New York City, Marcus spent much of his youth in and around the waters where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean. At 16, he relocated to the Raleigh/Wake Forest area of North Carolina and entered the workforce early, taking on a variety of jobs from fast food to home building. Seeking a greater purpose, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1995.

During his 23 years of active service around the world, Marcus developed a deep appreciation for the importance of people — recognizing that aircraft, ships, and submarines only function because of the dedicated men and women who operate them. As a Military Training Specialist, he spent years shaping the field of aircraft electricians, teaching thousands of sailors to troubleshoot and repair military aircraft with precision and pride.

In 2014, Marcus reported to NAS Patuxent River as a Chief Petty Officer, where he led, mentored, and guided sailors to reach their full potential. Two years later, he met his future wife, Christina Castro. Nearly a year to the day after they met, they married — but not before she insisted that he become her dive buddy.

Marcus’s first attempt at earning his Open Water certification didn’t go as planned; on the first day, anxiety got the best of him, and he briefly stepped away from training. Determined not to quit, he returned the next morning, completed his course, and never looked back. From that moment, he was hooked on diving and dedicated himself to learning everything he could about the sport.

Marcus completed all of his training with Southern Maryland Divers, progressing through the ranks to become a Divemaster. After two years assisting with classes and mentoring new divers, he used Veterans Affairs education benefits to attend an intensive nine-week program at Rainbow Reef Career Development Center, where he earned his PADI IDC Staff Instructor rating.

He retired from active naval service in 2018, having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Maryland. Although he was accepted to law school after passing the LSAT, Marcus ultimately chose to follow his true passion — teaching and diving.

When he’s not in the water, Marcus can often be found working on one of his seven vehicles, tackling home improvement projects, experimenting with new electrical and electronic technologies, or enjoying time on his motorcycle.

Paul likes to say he was “born at a very young age,” but his real story is one of lifelong adventure and service. After a 20-year military career followed by 24 years as a Department of Defense civilian, he discovered a new passion underwater.  

Paul’s journey with Southern Maryland Divers began in 2018 when he took his first Discover Scuba class—and he was hooked immediately. He went on to complete his Confined Water and Advanced Open Water courses with Instructor Gary Waid, earned his Rescue Diver certification in 2019, and achieved his Dive Master rating in 2021. By 2023, Paul had joined the shop staff, helping new divers start their own underwater journeys.  

An avid swimmer, Paul’s favorite part of being a Dive Master is introducing people to scuba through Discover Scuba classes and supporting them during their Confined and Open Water training—whether in the pool or at Lake Phoenix. He brings patience, enthusiasm, and a genuine love for the sport to every dive.