Si Minton, Owner, Dive Control Specialist, Adaptive Assistant

I learned to dive in the Marine Corps in 1960. After leaving the Corps and working in the corporate world diving fell by the wayside. So I went out and got my 100 tons captain’s license, left the corporate world to live my dream of running charter boats. In 1993 I moved to New Mexico and in 1998 had the opportunity to buy a dive shop in the middle of the desert, so I did. If you want to see Dive Con Si in action you will either have to take a trip / watch a DVD or be lucky enough to catch him on his once a year blue hole dive.

Stacey Minton, Owner, Dive Control Specialist Instructor, Nitrox Instructor, Instructor Certifier, Adaptive Scuba Instructor Trainer, First Aid CPR Instructor, O2 Provider Instructor, Tech XR Instructor

I have been diving since 1991, and earned my Open Water Instructor in 1993 (like some of you I just could not get enough). I had the opportunity to buy a dive store in the middle of the desert in 1998. If someone would have told me that years ago I would have told them that they were nuts. My current Instructor Rating is Instructor Certifier – which means that we can take a diver from Open Water to Dive Control Specialist Instructor right here at New Mexico Scuba Center. In 2000 we were asked to write The Adaptive Diver Instructor Specialty / Diver Course and have been teaching it ever since. That explains the reason we usually have someone in a wheelchair in the store or on one of our trips. People ask me what is my favorite place to dive, I really do not have a favorite – every place I have been to has something very special to offer (usually a new critter or experience).

Harvey Monroe, Open Water Instructor, Advanced Open Water Instructor, Stress & Rescue Instructor, Scuba Ranger Instructor, Adaptive Scuba Instructor, Nitrox Instructor, (Tech XR Instructor coming soon)

I have been Diving since 1970. Took sometime off from diving in the 80’s (was doing the family thing) and started up again in the mid-90’s. I have been with NMSC since 2002 and now my entire family dives. My ratings - Scuba Rangers, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Stress & Rescue Instructor, Adaptive Instructor and Technical Diver.
I live in Santa Fe, and since there isn’t a dive shop here you will most likely not see me at the store, but in Santa Fe doing classes.

Mike Barlow, Open Water Instructor, Advanced Open Water Instructor, Adaptive Scuba Instructor, Nitrox Instructor, Dive Control Specialist Instructor

I have been Diving since 1997, and have logged over 1100 dives. I have been an instructor at New Mexico Scuba Center since 2001. I am currently a Dive Control Specialist Instructor, Adaptive Instructor and a Century Instructor. My favorite dive site…anywhere but Blue Hole. Lighthouse Reef area of Belize and south of Grand Cayman has so far been my favorite.

****We here at New Mexico Scuba Center would like to thank Mike for his work of art with our travel documents.

Kevin Eddy, Open Water Instructor, Advanced Open Water Instructor, Stress & Rescue Instructor, Adaptive Scuba Instructor, (Tech XR Instructor coming soon)

I took an Open Water course in the Philippines during a four year stint in the US Navy in 1977. Didn’t dive much after that due to family commitments until 2001 when I decided to do the SSI Open Water training at the New Mexico Scuba Center, and I’ve been at it ever since. I went through the |Advanced Open Water, Stress and Rescue training, Adaptive Diver Assistant and continued with Dive Control Specialist and served for two years assisting classes as a Dive Con. I completed the Open Water Instructor training in 2007 and presently teaching OW classes. I have also completed the Nitrox Instructor, Advanced Open Water, and Stress and Rescue Instructor training. I am in the process of completing my prerequisites for the SSI Tech XR (Technical Extended Range) Instructor rating, and cannot wait to start teaching it.

Henry Harjo (fondly referred to as “Chief”), Open Water Instructor, Advanced Open Water Instructor, Stress & Rescue Instructor, Adaptive Scuba Instructor, Nitrox Instructor, Dive Control Specialist Instructor

I have been diving for 10 years. My current instructor rating is Dive Control Specialist Instructor - I have trained, served, and/or practiced teaching Open Water Diving, Advance Open Water Diving, Stress Rescue, Search and Recovery. My specialties are NITROX, Dive Con, and Adaptive Diving.

My diving experiences has been in and around the Caribbean, Central America, Latin America, Austria, Australia, Malaysia, Hawaii, Florida Keys, San Diego, Catalina, San Clemente, and Channel Islands of Santa Barbara.

Associations: Scuba Schools International, New Mexico Scuba Center – Albuquerque, NM, and Dead Dog Divers of Mubul.
Favorite dive sites: Devil’s throat in Cozumel, Mexico or was it - Mary’s Place in Roatan, Honduras. Sometimes it hard to remember.

Jennie Pierce, Open Water Instructor, Search & Recovery Instructor

I have been a diver since 2000, as well as Sergeant with the New Mexico State Police and the Commander of the State Police Search and Recovery Dive Team. As one of New Mexico SCUBA Centers Open Water Instructors I brings to students a variety of experience’s in fresh water diving. (I logged over 100 dives before ever doing a dive outside of New Mexico). So, whenever anyone tells you there is no place to dive in this area, just tell them to come talk to me. My entire family is involved in the sport of diving, and I want to bring the same passion to my students.

I like to teach my students in a safe yet fun manner, with the emphasis on fun I will challenge you to join me at New Mexico SCUBA Center.

Jim Hedges, Dive Control Specialist, Adaptive Scuba Assistant

I certified as an Open Water Diver in 2005. I completed my Advanced Open Water, Stress & Rescue & Master Diver by 2006. In 2007 I decided to continue my diving and became a Dive Control Specialist (Dive Con) as well as an Adaptive Assistant. I have 2 sons who also love to dive, after dad introduced them to the sport. My oldest just enlisted in the Navy.

I have logged 225 Dives since my Open Water Certification. Some of my favorite places to play are Catalina, Cozumel and Florida Keys (remember, do not forget Blue Hole)

I am currently working on my Instructor rating and am looking forward to introducing others to the magical, mystical underwater world

Alicia Cordova de Unruh, Dive Control Specialist, Adaptive Scuba Assistant

My interest in scuba diving was sparked by my disabled husbands relentless nagging to dive. My husband is Shawn one of the stores Adaptive Divers and frequent visitor (he is the one in the wheelchair that always hangs around the store). I was certified in December of 2005 in the Florida Keys, and have been a Dive Con since Jan of 08. One of my favorite destinations has been shark diving off the island of Nassau, Bahamas. I received my 100th dive with Dive Pirates off the island of Cayman Brac in 2008. I continue to help disabled divers every chance I get. I look forward to helping you with your certification and continuing to dive with current and new Adaptive Divers.

And yes my eyes are really that big, I am not stressed!!!!!

Nina Popplesdorf, Dive Control Specialist

Diving since 1991
Dive Control Specialist since 2006
Favorite Dive Site: El Paseo de Cedral Wall, Cozumel Mexico
Favorite Dive Location for Top Side Activities: Grand Cayman

Alex Fruland, Dive Control Specialist

DOB: 10.18 - will accept gifts!
Blood type: O+
Born: Denver, Colorado
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite beverage: Kirin beer- for those that leave their tanks unattended mu ha ha (insert sinister laugh)
Shoe size: 10.5
Started scuba diving in 2004.
Favorite dive location: Nananu-I-ra, Fiji

I started diving in 2004 and quickly became addicted to the sport. After a surface interval of 3 years (had kids) and relocating to New Mexico I started looking around for a shop to call home. NMSC has been my home since 2007 where I have took my Advance Open Water training, along with Stress and Rescue leading me to the Dive Con program. I decided to get into the Dive Con program because I enjoy seeing people get excited about the underwater adventure that awaits them. Its fun watching people get excited about our underwater world. Blow bubbles, no troubles

Duane Clark, Open Water Instructor, Stress & Rescue Instructor

I have been a diver since 1995. I’m a Dive Instructor with the Albuquerque Police Departments’ Dive Team., and am certified in underwater investigations/recovery, as well as being a Master Diver, and Dive Con. I have also attended several Public Safety Diver courses for Homeland Security. My favorite place to dive is any mud hole I can find, I enjoy long walks on Tingley Beach, and poking dead things with a stick. Come dive with me at New Mexico Scuba Center, and experience the RUSH that diving can offer.

Shawn Greene, Dive Control Specialist, Scuba Ranger Instructor and Century Diver.

I was interested in learning to dive for quite awhile before I actually certified. Like most people, I figured there was no place around here to go, so I didn’t pursue the interest.

My dad certified through New Mexico Scuba Center in late 2002, and wanted my sister and I to get our certifications so we could take a family trip to Florida. The idea was to swim with the manatees.
My sister and I both certified in 2003. We have yet to make it to Florida but still enjoy diving in other areas. In 2006, I started working at New Mexico Scuba Center. With our continued interest in diving, my dad and I became Dive Cons in 2008. One of my memorable moments in my diving career was my first ocean dive in California off Catalina and San Clemente islands.

I did my Advanced Open Water certification in February. Our group did one dive in Perch Lake, then, went to Bluehole to warm up!! Going through Stress Rescue was really fun with Stacey…as so many of you know, she likes to beat up on us in the water!!

My goals/interests include:
• Nitrox certification
• Tech certification
• Instructor certification
• More diving

James D. (Don) Greene, Dive Control Specialist

I enlisted in the Marine Corp in 1965 where I was trained as an assault swimmer/diver - they now call it “Combat Diver” (my first exposure to scuba diving). I was sent to Vietnam in early 1966 with the 2nd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment where I served for 16 months as an infantryman and Scout/Sniper. While serving in that conflict, I received 3 Purple Heart medals for wounds received in action. After leaving the Marines I was an A.P.D. officer, a Sheriff’s Deputy, and finally as the Systems Network Engineer for the Bernalillo County Information Technology Department for 25 years until 2002 when I retired. That’s when I discovered that the whole work thing seriously interfered with my play time, and I rediscovered scuba diving.

I was re-certified in 2002 as an Open Water Diver and have progressively advanced through the step of Safety Diver until I became a Dive Con for N.M.S.C. last year. I have been on many dive trips since retiring and haven’t been on one that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy. The underwater world is a place beyond imagination, especially when diving with good friends. I find diving to be very relaxing, completely enjoyable and always different.

Tim Dwyer, Dive Control Specialist, Adaptive Scuba Assistant

I am an Albuquerque New Mexico native and graduated from Cibola High School in 1989. I have been with the Albuquerque Police Department since 1991 and am currently assigned to the Traffic Division, Motorcycle Unit. I certified as a scuba diver in 2004 with my wife, here at the New Mexico Scuba Center. Since that time, I have continued my diving education with certifications in Advanced Open Water Diver, Specialty Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Stress & Rescue, Master Diver, and am currently working toward Open Water Diver Instructor as a certified Dive Control Specialist (Dive Con).

*****It should be noted that Tim is our all-time favorite Dive Con and since he is not around often due to is very busy schedule, we miss him a really, really lot!

John M. Mallory, Open Water Instructor, Adaptive Scuba Instructor

Growing up in up in Southeastern New Mexico, I was inspired by scuba diving in watching Sea Hunt and Jacque Cousteau as a young boy. I have been diving since 1999 and teaching scuba since 2004. I thoroughly enjoy scuba diving as a part time job/hobby and passing on the challenge of scuba diving to other students. I am an adaptive scuba instructor as well and love to work with divers with disabilities.

My favorite movie is “Into the Blue”; music is 80’s classic rock; my favorite critter is the barracuda, and my favorite food is eating fresh tuna fish sandwiches, guacamole, and salsa between dives in Cozumel.

Some of my most unforgettable diving experiences were to the flight deck of the “Oriskany”, Florida and the shark dive in Nassau, Bahamas while on an Adaptive Scuba Adventure trip. My favorite dive destination is Cozumel, Mexico, favorite dive spot. Punta Sur near “Devils Throat” and Santa Rosa Wall.