Argonaut Diving Staff

We are very proud or our staff.  They come from diverse backgrounds and teach scuba out of passion for the sport,  the sea, and all around it.  We are dedicated into making you the best diver you can be.  Whether it is becoming a competent recreational diver or training to be a Scuba Instructor, we have the program for you!   As a Dive School our focus is dive education and safety.  Not gear sales.  Learn from the best  Meet the Staff....

 

 

Ferenc "Fred" Doner.  SDI Course Director, P.A.D.I.  Master Instructor,  Coast Guard Licensed Captain.  Founder of Argonaut Diving,  IDC Staff instructor, Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Solo Diver Instructor, Open Water Scuba  Instructor, Divemaster, Emergency First  Responder Instructor Trainer, Dive Safety Officer, Cavern Instructor, Wreck Diver Instructor, Enriched Air (Nitrox) Instructor, Deep Instructor, Navigation Instructor, Drift Instructor, Boat Specialty Instructor, Night Diver Instructor, Search & Recovery Instructor, plus eight more.  Past Voulunteer Dome, Research/Collection Diver for Seattle Aquarium.  Aga Mask Diver. Advance Nitrox Diver and Decompression Diver.  First certified in 1975, became a Divemaster in 1999, Open Water Instructor in 2000, with over 2600 certifications issued to date, including over 60 Divemasters and  80+ Assistant Instructors & Instructors.  Average 100+ certs every year since 2000.  PADI Elite 100 Instructor 2013, 2014 and 2017, Elite 200 Instructor 2018, Elite 150 INstructor 2019.  Mostly training Instrutors and Divemasters' these days.  He enjoys spending time on his boat "Meant 2 Be" berthed in Tacoma.  Also a Licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Washington for over 40 years.  www.donergroup.com  Facebook link.
 
  

  Sage Haynes -  SDI Course Director,  Elite Open Water Instructor, Argonaut Senior Lead Instructor.    Underwater Navigation Instrutcor, Drysuit Instructor, Deep Instructor, Nitrox Instructor, Divemaster, Master Scuba Diver, Altitude Diver, Ice Diver, Solo Diver, CPR, AED, 1st Aid, O2 Provider, Senior Beachmaster and Dive Safety Officer, Argonaut Administer, Classroom Coordinator.  Passioante about the environment both below and above the sea.  Sage is an avid underwater photographer.  You can click here to see some of her work.

 

 

  

  Travis Sterner -  Argonaut Lead Instructor, PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer & SDI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI), Nitrox Instructor (40%) Dive Master, EFR instructor, Master Scuba Diver, Nitrox Instructor.  Travis is our master "I can pull out a scuba trivia regarding anything" specialist.  Long time Argonaut Instructor with experince in Deep, Nav, Rescue and so much more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Kaitlin Swartz - Argonaut INstructor, PADI & SDI Open Water Scuba Instructor,  Assistant Instructor, Divemaster, Master Scuba Diver, Deep Diver, Nitrox Diver, Drift Diver, Boat Diver, Night Diver, Registered Nurse and Decompression Technician Nurse.  In addition to traveling around the world to exotic dive destinations, Kaitlin has taught in Indonesia and the United States.  A true adventurer at heart.  An Argonaut!

 

Erika Obaitek -  Argonaut Instructor, SDI Open Water Instructor, SDI/PADIAssistant Instructor, Senior Staff, PADI Divemaster, Emergency First Responder, Beach Master, Boat Diver, Nitrox diver, Deep Diver, Drift Diver, Night diver, Drysuit Diver and more.  Erika coordinates the travel for our international dive trips to make sure we all get there.. together.. and at the same time! 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Rob Kessler - Argonaut Lead Instructor, SDI Open Water Instructor, PADI/SDI Assistant Instructor, Senior Staff, Divemaster, Deep Diver, Nitrox Diver, Emergency First Responder Instructor, Rescue Diver, and more! 

 

 

 

 

 

 Lucinda Rowan -  Argonaut Lead Instructor, SDI Open Water Instructor, SDI Drysuit Instructor, PADI/SDI Assistant Instructor, PADI Divemaster, Nitrox Diver, Deep Diver, EFR Responder, Master Scuba Diver, Boat Diver, Solo Diver, Wreck Specialty Diver and more.                                  

                                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

 

  

 Kari Brickey - Argonaut Lead Instrucor, SDI Open Water Instructor, PADI/SDI Assistant Instructor, Divemaster, Master Scuba Diver, Nitrox Diver, Underwater Navigation Diver, Buoyancy Specialist Diver, Night Diver and more. . It is always great to meet new people and teach them the skills they need to be safe and confident divers.  I have been a diver since 1991. I enjoy the amazing life we can see right here in Puget Sound. Diving is my happy place, where I can hear myself breathe and just enjoy all the fish and their friends. 

   

 

 

 

 

Duncan Cox - Argonaut Lead Instructor, SDI Open Water Instructor, PADI/SDI Assistant Instructor, Divemaster, Nitrox Diver, Deep Diver, Night Diver, Rescue Diver, Kayak Instructor, and more. Duncan is passionate about the water and loves spending his time in or on it. He enjoys teaching, coaching, and sharing his enthusiam for the water with his students.   A true outdoorsman and Argonaut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  Nidhi Menon - Argonaut Instructor, SDI Instructor, PADI/SDI Divemmaster, Rescue Diver, Deep Diver, Navigation Diver, Nitrox, CPR, 1st Aid, AED. Amazin Underwater Photographer and general seeker of all adventure. Nidhi's passion for all living things above and below the surface shows no bounds.  A fierce sea lioness, it is pretty much impossible to keep her out of the water, regardless of temperature. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

Rachel Senechal - Argonaut Lead Instructor, SDI Instructor, Divemaster, Rescue Diver, Computer Nitrox Diver, 1st Aid/CPR/AED certified.  Avid rider of horses, and chaser of Sea Horses,  Rachel brings a whole different perspective to Argonaut Classes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nick Heaton - Argonaut Lead Instructor, SDI Instructor, PADI Divemaster, Rescue Diver, Computer Nitrox Diver, 1st Aid/CPR/AED certified.  Began diving in 2010, focuses on teaching and dive travel. Before joining the Argonaut team, he taught on the island of Maui. He has dove in Thailand, Bonaire, the Bahamas and Hawaii as well as cold water dives in South Africa and Canada.  He loves taking pictures of Nudibranchs and Octopus (which are his true passion).

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert "Bob" Crosby - PADI Divemaster, CPR, First Aid, AED. Boat Driver, Began diving in 1988. Have dives logged in Philippines 🇵🇭, Bahrain 🇧🇭, U.A.E., Australia 🇦🇺, Guam 🇬🇺, British Columbia, Canada, Southern California, Hawaii and the Puget Sound. Finally upgraded his certificate status to Dive Master (PADI) in the Fall of 2019. Specialty dive certificates: Dry Suit Diver; Rescue Diver; Underwater Navigator; Nitrox Diver and Pearl Diver.

 

 

 

 

Jake Senechal - SDI Divemaster, Rescue Diver, Computer Nitrox Diver, 1st Aid/CPR/AED certified.  Big Jake, our residential gentle giant brings his superb calmness into the water and brings the concept of "chill" to a whole new level.  And when you are diving in 45 degree water, that is sayin' somethin'!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Jeff Anderson - PADI Divemaster, Master Scuba Diver, Rescue Diver, Emergency First Responder, O2 Provider, Enriched Air Nitrox Diver, Underwater Navigator, Deep Diver, Night Diver, Drysuit Diver, Wreck Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy Diver, and Tides & Currents Diver.  Known as the "Salish Seahawk", began diving in 2010.  Has dove Puget Sound and the Salish Sea, Florida, Hawaii, Cozumel (Mexico), the Bahamas, Honduras, and the Philippines.  Ask me about my passion - diving coral canyons, caverns, wrecks and diving with sharks and manta rays!

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Dylan Keplinger - Argonaut Instructor, SDI INstructor, Divemaster, Rescue Diver, CPR/1st Aid, Night Diver, Limited Visibility Diver, Drysuit Diver, Underwater Navigation Diver.   When not creating culinary delights in the kitchen, Dylan is avidly exploring the bottom of the Salish Sea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Dylan Birtolo - Argonaut Instructor, SDI Divemaster, Rescue Diver, Computer Nitrox Diver, 1st Aid/CPR/AED certified.  Among many of Dylans' passions, include being an honest to goodness Knight!  Can you name any other dive shop or school that has a Knight on their staff? Sir Dylan!

  

 

 

 Michael Fuget -  Argonaut Instructor, SDI Divemaster, Rescue Diver, Computer Nitrox Diver, 1st Aid/CPR/AED certified. I have been Diving since 2022, mostly in the Puget Sound, but also have had trips to California, Fiji and Curacao. Outside of teaching I enjoy pour painting and ocean photography.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mark Lane  - Argonaut Instructor,  SDI Instructor, PADI Divemaster, Rescue Diver, Drysuit, Computer Nitrox Diver, 1st Aid/CPR/AED certified.  I began diving in 2019 and have never stopped.  I’ve dove in exotic locations like: Belize, Mexico, Hawaii, Bahamas, and Honduras.  When not teaching I   enjoy searching for octopus and nudibranchs. I also like to do water sports, hike, and bicycling.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 Dan Seaman - Divemaster

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dalton Sparks - Divemaster Divemaster Candidate

 

 

 

 

 

  Past/Inactive/Retired Staff

 

 

 

 

 

Bonnie Carl - PADI Assistant Instructor, Senior Staff, Divemaster, Master Scuba Diver, Deep Diver, Drift Diver, Nitrox Diver, contributing Argonaut Underwater Photographer.   Bonnie is a true PNW girl. Born and raised in Snohomish County she grew up near the Pilchuck River where she spent most of her summers swimming. She learned to dive in 2013 and fell in love with being underwater. Once she started diving she couldn’t stop learning until she became a PADI Assistant Instructor. She loves both the cold water of the Salish Sea as well as the warm blue water of the Caribbean and South East Asia. Night and wall dives are her favorites, but she enjoys any day spent underwater. When not with students you will typically find Bonnie with her camera taking critter pics; nudibranchs are her favorite subject because they move slowly.

 

   Michael Rowan -  PADI/SDI Divemaster, Underwater navigation Specialist, EFR Responder, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Master Scuba Diver, Night Diver and more. - Retired

 

 

 

 

 

Shaun Sweeney - SDI Divemaster, Rescue Diver, Computer Nitrox Diver, 1st Aid/CPR/AED certified, Biologist. Shaun started diving with the desire to swim with sharks and experience the underwater world that not everyone gets to see. 

 

 

 

 

Zhiji Huang ("Z") - PADI/SDI , Assistant Instructor, Divemaster, Master Scuba Diver, Underwater Photographer,Emergency First Responder, Deep Diver, Nitrox Diver, Wreck Diver, Underwater Navigator Specialty Diver, Boat Diver, Drift Diver, Drysuit Diver, and more - Retired

  

 Jon Bowen - PADI/SDI Assistant Instructor Divemaster, Master Scuba Diver, Nitrox Diver, Deep Diver, Night diver, Drift Diver and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dennis Ball - SDI Open Water Instructor, SDI Divemaster, Rescue Diver, CPR/1st Aid, Emergency O2 provider, Diver Emergency Management Provider, Advanced Buoyancy diver, Computer Nitrox diver, Dry Suit diver, Underwater Navigation diver, Wreck diver, Deep diver, Night diver

  

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

 

 

 

 

 Josey Woods - PADI & SDI  Open Water Scuba Instructor, Assitant Instructor, Divemaster, EFR Instructor, Master Scuba Diver, Rescue Diver.

 

 

 

Scott Welton -    PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, SDI Open Water Scuba Instructor, Advanced Open Water Scuba Instructor, Rescue Diver Instructor, Divemaster Instructor, Sidemount Tank Specialty Instructor, Deep Diver Instructor, Dry Suit Instructor, Nitrox Diver Instructor, Wreck Diver Instructor, Underwater Navigator Instructor, Night Diver Instructor, Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor, Equipment Specialist Instructor, Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor, Emergency First Responder Instructor (CPR/AED / First Aid Primary & Secondary Care / Adult, Child & Infant). Underwater Diver Trainer for Cascadia Search Dogs Underwater Human Remains Detection program. International Association for Handicapped Divers (IAHD) Adaptive Scuba Professional. 2018 PADI Elite Instructor Award   

 

  Bill Forsell, PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Open Water Scuba Instructor, Assistant Instructor,
Divemaster, Emergency First Responder Instructor, Deep Diver Instructor, Master Scuba Diver, Drysuit Instructor, Nitrox Instructor and more!  Small Boat hull inspections, Prop replacement, Zinc replacement, underwater recovery. - retired

 

 

 

   Lonny Bartholomew. P.A.D.I. Open Water Scuba Instructor, Assistant Instructor,
Emergency, First Responder Instructor, Divemaster, Master Scuba Diver, Following Specialties.  Deep Instructor, Enriched Air Instructor (Nitrox), Boat Specialty Instructor,  Drysuit Instructor, and more! PADI Elite 50 Instructor 2013. - Retired

 

  

 Leslie Bartholomew -PADI Divemaster,, Senior/Head Beach Master/Dive Safety Officer, Boat Diver, Emergency First Responder and Buoyancy Specialty Diver.

 

 

 

 Troy Rampy - PADI Assistant Insructor, Senior Staff, Divemaster.Deep Diver, Nitrox Diver, Night Diver, Drift diver,  Contributing Argonaut Underwater Photographer, and more!

 

 

 

 

Paul Gorham - PADI Assitant Instructor, Senior Staff, Divemaster, Master Scuba Diver, Emergency First Responder Instructor, Deep Diver, Nitrox Diver, Night Specialty Diver, Drysuit Diver, and much more.  Retired

 

 

 

Janice Gorham - P.A.D.I. Assistant Instructor, Senior Staff, Divemaster, Rescue Diver, Deep Diver, Night Specialty Diver, Drysuit Diver, Boat Diver and more. Retired

 

 

 

 Marcus Comer - PADI Assistant Instructor, Divemaster, Emergency First Responder, Master Scuba Diver, Nitrox Diver, Deep Diver, Boat Specialty Diver, Night Diver, Creator of Edmonds Mudsharks Logo, responsible for redesign of Argonaut Diving and Argonaut Nation Logos. Retired

 

 

 

Scott Helfrich - PADI Assistant Instructor, Divemaster, Master Scuba Diver, Decompression Diver, Advance Nitrox Diver, Deep Diver, Underwater Navigator, Nitrox Diver, Drift Diver, Dry Suit Specialist Diver, Boat Diver, Sr Paramedic/Fire Fighter. - Retired.  RIP.

 

 

 

 Jim Middleton - PADI Divemaster, Emergency First Reponder, Underwater Videographer,Official Underwater Vidioagrapher for Argonaut Diving, Seattle Aquarium Volunteer Diver, Aga Mask Diver, Edmonds Underwater Park Volunteer, Nitrox Diver, Boat Diver, and more.  R.I.P.

 

 

 Dave Turner - PADI OWSI - Scuba Instructor, Divemaster, Master Scuba Diver, Deep Diver, Nitrox Diver, Night Diver and more!  - San Diego.  - Retired

 

 

 

 

Jeff Lambier - PADI Assitant Instructor, Senior Staff,Divemaster, Decompression Diver, Advance Nitrox Diver, Deep Diver, Nitrox Diver, Boat Diver, Drift Diver, Dry Suit Specialist diver, Wreck Diver, Emergency First Responder, Public Safety Officer. - Retired

 

 

 

 

Sara Thiebaul -  PADI Assitant Instructor, Senior Staff, Divemaster, Decompression Diver, Advance Nitrox Diver, Master Suba Diver, Deep Diver, Underwater Navigation, Emergency First Responder/First Aid/AED, Boat Diver, Drift Diver, Night Diver, Nitrox diver,  Wreck Specialty Diver, and more. - retired

 

 

Szymon Dembowy - PADI Assistant Instructor, Senior Staff, Divemaster, Decompression Diver, Trimix Diver (Mixed Gas), Advance Nitrox, Deep Diver, Underwater Navigator, Night Diver, Underwater Photographer, Wreck Specialty Diver, Advanced Closed Circuit Re Breather Diver, and much more. - Retired