Jason Davis

Owner/OWSI - 234881
EFR Instructor
jason@silverdivers.com

I started my diving career on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia. My wife and I were on our honeymoon and I suggested we get certified together. So we found a great dive shop in Sechelt and signed up for lessons. We had a fantastic time learning to dive and I ended up taking my Advanced Open Water as soon as I finished Open Water. When we got back from our honeymoon I found Sterling Silver Scuba and continued my diving career and I am now an Assistant Instructor. I am hoping to finish the Instructor Development Course and be a full instructor this summer. I love the water and being under it, seeing all the fascinating life there, was like a second home. In fact, my wife teases me that she thinks I have gills! I love diving everywhere and anywhere and hope to dive as much and as often as possible in the coming years. Hope to see you there!

Kevin Davenport

Master Instructor - 86988
EFR Instructor - 86988
DAN Instructor - 13306
TDI Instructor - 2005
kevin@silverdivers.com

Kevin has been diving since 1990 and became a PADI Instructor in 1995. Kevin is an avid technical diver; Nitrox, and full cave, and Trimix certified. He is a TDI instructor and can teach Nitrox, Advance Nitrox, Decompression Procedures and Extended Range.

Kevin joined the Army in 1984 and retired for the Kentucky National Guard in 2005. He was the lead diver for a search and recovery team for the Kentucky State police and other local agencies. He was also the dive team trainer for a number of local agencies.

Kevin loves cave diving and wreck diving. Other certifications held International Association of Nitrox & Technical Divers Instructor Oct 1995 (Nitrox, Advance Nitrox & Deep Air) and Dive Rescue International Rescue Diver 1 (Public Safety Diver).

Frank Wilson

MSDT - 88258

Frank began his second diving career in 1986, receiving his PADI O/W
certification in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the Red Sea, and his DiveMaster
Cert in Singapore.  Frank moved to Virginia from Singapore in 1994,
received his instructor certification that year, and has been actively
teaching ever since. Frank has logged hundreds of dives all over the world,
from the Red Sea, to the Great Barrier Reef, to Hawaii, Mexico, the Outer
Banks, and the Caribbean. Personally he enjoys teaching and sharing his
passion for the underwater world. Each summer, Frank runs the areas only
PADI Seal Team Summer Camp for kids 8 to 12 years old. His favorite dive
locations are Bonaire, Cozumel, Cairns (Australia), Twenty-nine Palms (Red
Sea), and Honduras. Frank teaches the following specialties: Enriched Air,
Deep, Wreck, Search & Recovery, Night, Underwater Navigator, Underwater
Naturalist, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Boat, Drift, and Photography, and is
a First Responder Instructor. He is a Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT #
88258) and enjoys teaching all levels of diving, particularly entry level
divers, Rescue Divers, and DiveMasters.

Carl Epstein

IDC Staff Instructor - 198569

For me a big part of diving is the dive shop. I am proud to say I have worked my way from Dive Master through Master Scuba Diver Trainer with Sterling Silver Scuba. I feel I am part of a family there. From the smallest odd size o-ring to planning a dive trip they are willing to help with all diving needs. I have been an avid diver since the 90s. I like teaching all ages and experience levels of divers, and am willing to take the time to make you feel comfortable with your newly acquired dive skills. I joined the Marines in 1979 and as an auto mechanic by trade I like quality tools, the same goes for my dive gear. Stop by the shop for gear, advice or just to talk about diving. Its our favorite subject.

Rob Hemingway

Assistant Instructor - 235412
rob@silverdivers.com

Rob Hemingway is originally from North Carolina but currently resides in Northern VA. He is still single and no kids. Rob first learned to SCUBA dive while serving in the US Army and earned his PADI open water SCUBA certification at that time (he refuses to date himself by saying exactly when). Rob has recorded several hundred dives in his logbook from all over the world but still enjoys local diving in and around VA, NC, SC & PA. Though he freely admits to not being too keen on cold water! A graduate of North Carolina Central University & the University of North Carolina, Rob’s day job is as a Geospatial Consultant/Engineer for the Analytical Consulting Group. As a PADI Assistant Instructor he is most proud of being part of the Sterling Silver SCUBA staff that certified special needs kids.

Mark Harbour

Divemaster - 194296

I wanted to Scuba dive since the early 80's, what with all the ocean side property in Wyoming and all, so I waited until 2003. I received my Open Water with Dan at the lovely Millbrook Quarry in May, a balmy 60 degrees on the surface. Then off to Okinawa Japan, no relation to the Jay-Man, with tolerable water temps of 95 degrees on the surface for Advanced Open Water and a few specialties. Officially bitten by the scuba bug, I completed my Rescue Diver (Did I mention I like Rescue Diver students?) and Dive Master in 2004. In my spare time I enjoy other outdoor activities and industrial arts.

Tom Land

Divemaster - 199737

Born and raised a Navy brat, Tom spent most of his formative years within an easy bike ride of the Pacific Ocean, whether overseas or on the West Coast. As a teenager (in the mid-70's) and during his father's second tour of duty in Okinawa, Japan, he learned to snorkel in the crystal blue waters off that island. Abundant with hard and and soft corals, and brightly colored tropical fish, it was there that Tom fell in love with the undersea world that beckons and receives divers. While it wouldn't be until his mid-40's before he consummated his love for diving by getting both he and his entire family certified, he enthusiastically advises persons young and old, to get into the sport and get certified if they share this same love of beauty and adventure that opens with diving.

Sharlotte Sonnthal

Divemaster - 619553

I was bitten with the scuba bug at the age of 6 when I first strapped on a tank and blew bubbles, during a Resort Course, at the Beacon Island Hotel, in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. Unfortunately I was not allowed to dive in the ocean, I had to be content with the pool. Despite a keen interest I had to wait for many years, until I as 16, to get my OW I. I continued with an OW II, Rescue diver and finally my Dive Master certification as soon as meeting PADIs age eligibility. I am lucky enough to dive the world, some some highlights are South Africa, Micronesia, Costa Rica, and Belize. My whole family loves to get in the water and is even willing to brave the quarries if it means we get to blow bubbles. I am an Air Traffic Controller based in Leesburg. I love spending weekends at the pool or quarry with Sterling Silver Scuba because I get to meet such interesting dynamic people, who want to participate in my passion.

Jessica Pretty

PADI Assistant Instructor - 239301

Jessica Pretty has lived in the DC-metro area for the past 18 years. She has been diving for 6 years and progressed to achieving the status of Divemaster while living on a boat in the British Virgin Islands. She has been diving many places including the Florida Keys, the Great Barrier Reef and Utila, but still dives at the local quarries (though she misses visibility greater than 20 feet). Jessica attends University of New England in southern Maine and plans to major in Marine Biology. She loves being a part of the Sterling Silver SCUBA staff and being a part of the amazing opportunity of becoming scuba diving certified at so many different levels!!

John C. Timmerman

Divemaster - 232185

John is a hotel executive, former 2nd Force Recon Marine, and married with four children. In addition to being a PADI Divemaster, he is a TDI Trimix, TDI Semi-Closed Rebreather, and NSS-CDS Basic Cave diver. He likes diving because of the adventure of exploring new locations and camaraderie of fellow divers. John enjoys deep wrecks like the Oriskany or exploring rich life near the volcanic crater of Molokini Hawaii.

Pedro Becerra

Divemaster - 236558

I started diving in the Caribbean out in the beautiful crystal clear beaches of Venezuela. I achieved my dive master certification in Sterling Silver Scuba to have my professional scuba certification. I really enjoy scuba diving on my free time. I really enjoy it because it brings lots of beautiful experiences. I hope to help anyone who wants to learn and enjoy of this amazing experience with the Assistance of best group of professional Scuba Divers in Sterling Silver Scuba.

Empece a bucear en las hermosas playas de Venezuela mi pais de origen. Yo hice mi clase de dive master en Sterling Silver Scuba para obtener mi certificacion profesional de buceo. Me encanta bucear en mi tiempo libre. Me gusta mucho bucear porque trae muchas experiencias hermosas. Y mi deseo es ayudar a cualquier persona que quiera aprender y disfrutar de esta buena experiencia con el mejor grupo de profesionales de Sterling Silver Scuba.

Vivek "VEE" Lopez

Retail Staff
vee@silverdivers.com

Hi my name is V. I got my dive certifications and have been diving with Sterling Silver Scuba for a year. I started working for Dan in June of this year. I have been diving in Utila, Honduras and Maui Hawaii (as well as local quarries). I can not wait to meet you, so stop on in! I Love Turtles!!!!

Larry Casby

Assistant Instructor - 238486

I have been fixated with scuba since well before I was able to make my first dive. When I finally made my Discover Scuba dive off the coast of Jamaica. I was instantly hooked, but it would be a couple more years before I would be able to jump into this awesome sport. Diving since 2007. I have tried to obtain as much training as possible, while diving at every opportunity. I received my Master Scuba Diver certification early 2008. I hope to complete the first of many professional certifications by Spring of 2008. I love this sport.