9950 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary, Alberta
Your PADI Instructors
Darrin Barker-Course Director
Scott Bruce-Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Scott Bruce-Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Darrin started his Open Water course back in 1982 when his mom realized he had a passion to dive and wanted to save the sharks in Jaws. She spent every penny she had to buy him the very best of gear and his course and he has been grateful ever since to his mom. Darrin has achieved the rating of PADI Course Director, TDI/SDI Instructor Trainer, TecRec Instructor Trainer, and PSI Inspector Instructor. He loves to cave dive in Florida, and explore the beautiful Pacific Ocean off Vancouver and Vancouver Island. His most accomplished dives has been on the SS Andrea Doria and the Hydro Atlantic in Florida. He has worked, managed and operated 4 dive stores in the Calgary and Airdrie area over the years, including his current shop Aqua Dive. Darrin also is a highly experienced and the most knowledgeable service technician around. Being able to service a wide range of every make and model of dive equipment makes him highly sought after. But with all this achievement he is just loves to dive and get other people diving. His passion has always been teaching diving and making the sport available to everyone.
Scott Bruce-Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Scott Bruce-Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Scott Bruce-Master Scuba Diver Trainer
I was first certified as a PADI Open Water diver in 1978 while in high school. I spent 2 years diving around Northern Saskatchewan before life took me in a different direction. 30 yrs later, yikes, I found my way back into the diving world. I recertified as an Open Water Diver in 2008, achieved Divemaster in 2011 and Master Scuba Diver Trainer in 2015. I am also a PSI inspector. I’ve been very fortunate to be able to dive some beautiful spots including the Canadian west coast, Tobermoray, Bahamas, Bonaire, Cozumel, Curaçao, Roatan, Utila, Cocos Island, Mali, Australia, The Maldives and Iceland. Looking forward to meeting and helping new people find the enjoyment and beauty of our underwater world.
Dan Ovens- Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Scott Bruce-Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Mike Brotherton-Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Dan is a dedicated scuba diving instructor with a passion for the underwater world. What began as enjoying it for the peacefulness, excitement, and discovery of diving, it soon evolved into a love of teaching, which he began in 2005.
Now a Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Dan focuses on inspiring and empowering divers of all levels. He places a strong emphasis on safety and confidence, helping students uncover the wonders of scuba diving while building their skills in a supportive environment. He also teaches an extensive variety of specialty courses, preparing divers to explore more advanced and challenging underwater settings. An avid diver, Dan is especially passionate about showcasing the beauty of local Canadian dive sites. Some of his favorite places to dive include the HMCS Annapolis and virtually anywhere along the West Coast, and Cozumel for a tropical trip! His enthusiasm for both diving and teaching makes him a standout instructor who is always eager to share his knowledge and love of the sport.
Mike Brotherton-Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Mike Brotherton-Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Mike Brotherton-Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Mike’s passion for diving is attributed to his first dive with his father in the late 1970’s. Mike has over 20 years of Recreational and Technical instructional experience, from Alberta to Vancouver Island. He has worked on Cruise Ships for many years which is a great passion and achievement of his, as he loved to interact and share his love of diving with his students and shipmates, and experience all the amazing Islands in the Caribbean. Mike has also lived in the diving oasis of the Philippines. His favorite local dive spots include Waterton Lakes National Park and Emerald Lake in the Crowsnest Pass.
Jassen Jackman-MSDT
Mike Brotherton-Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Jassen Jackman-MSDT
I was first certified as an open water diver in 2003 in Waterton in a wetsuit, and early on I mostly enjoyed holiday diving in warm destinations. When I relocated to Calgary in 2016, life and career created more time for diving and I started completing certifications to meet people, become familiar with local dive sites, and improve my skills. Shipwreck diving in the Florida Keys was a big encouragement for me to enter the world of technical diving, dive planning, and exploration. From complicated scuba math, multiple cylinder mixed gas dives, to deep dark dives, I’m fortunate to explore with a great group of skilled friends and see places many people don’t know exist. Out of the water, I’m also a PSI Cylinder Inspector, Oxygen Cleaning Cylinder Technician, Advanced Gas Blender, and a Certified Valve Repair Technician. In 2021, I completed my Dive Master and in 2022 completed my Open Water Scuba Instructor, and always looking for more courses!
Melinda Gilroy-MSDT
Mike Brotherton-Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Jassen Jackman-MSDT
Hi! My name is Melinda and I have been a certified scuba diver since 2001 and have been diving ever since around the world. I was trained in Calgary/Banff and I’ll say that if you can dive here in cold Alberta mountain lakes, you can dive anywhere in the world! I love the water and when I’m teaching, I want everyone else to love it too while having a fun and safe time. I like to teach people about limits and that it’s ok to say no if you’re not comfortable with something. I’ve taught diving not only in Alberta but also in Utila, Honduras as well which is a nice balance to see the difference of teaching environments. I have dove around the world from Canada to the Caribbean, the Galápagos Islands and the highlight so far was cage diving with Great White Sharks in Australia! Diving is amazing and I want you to love it too!
Ken Pon-MI
Tony Schwengler-MSDT
Judy Davis-MSDT
Judy Davis-MSDT
Tony Schwengler-MSDT
Judy Davis-MSDT
Tony Schwengler-MSDT
Tony Schwengler-MSDT
Patrick Brown-Harrison-MI
Patrick Brown-Harrison-MI
Patrick Brown-Harrison-MI
Patrick Brown-Harrison-MI
Ron Foster-MSDT
Patrick Brown-Harrison-MI
Sheryl Penner-AI
Sheryl Penner-AI
Patrick Brown-Harrison-MI
Sheryl Penner-AI
Al Roemer-Master Instructor
I started diving in 1977 through NASDS and the University of Calgary.
That very first dive off the coast of Galeano, grabbed me and has held me ever since.
There is a silent simple majesty to the ocean and I never tire of the privilege of exploring her treasures big and small.
Darrin Barker showed me that I could share that wonder with others, and I am truly grateful for that gift.
Oh yah .... and it's a BLAST!!
Gertie Griffith-MSDT
Kevin Kidd-OWSI
Kevin Kidd-OWSI
Your PADI Divemasters
Keri Barker-Divemaster
Keri Barker-Divemaster
Keri Barker-Divemaster
Keri started diving while she was in Sea Cadets in 2002 and has been hooked ever since. She started working in dive stores when she was still attending school over 20 years ago and loved it so much she never looked back. She took a break off diving when her daughter Koral was born with a rare liver disease, but now that her health is better, Keri went right back into diving. Keri is the Owner of Aqua Dive along side her husband Darrin Barker since 2017. She achieved her Divemaster rating in 2018 and has been working on her PADI OWSI. Keri is also a PSI Inspector, and a NSSCDS Cave Diver. She loves diving off Vancouver and Vancouver Island, but her favorite dives are in the caves in Florida.
Lee Martin-Divemaster
Keri Barker-Divemaster
Keri Barker-Divemaster
I originally learned to dive in the late 1990s for a marine biology course I was taking as part of my degree in biology at the U of C. My grandfather had been a scuba diver since the 1960s, so I was always interested in the sport. I very clearly remember taking my first breath underwater from a regulator in the pool and thinking, “This is amazing! I want to do this for the rest of my life!”.
I continued diving on vacation and on the odd trip out to the coast, but really got into diving in big fashion when my work relocated me out to Vancouver in 2011. I started diving on a weekly basis out there and went to get my PADI TEC65 certification and NSS-CDS Full Cave down in Florida. I have enjoyed diving off the west coast extensively, down in the Caribbean, Florida and Mexico caves, and even over to Europe, where I spent a week diving the wrecks at Scapa Flow.
Work has since moved me back to Calgary, and as I enjoy being around other divers and helping build the sport that I’m truly passionate about, I decided to take the leap and become a PADI Pro! Looking forward to seeing you in the Aqua Dive pool and in the local lakes!
Ben Doucette-Divemaster
Keri Barker-Divemaster
Tanisha Stromberg-Divemaster
I have always been obsessed with the ocean from the moment I took my first swim lesson. It went from snorkeling on vacations, to aquarium visits, to finally saving up for my Open Water Certification. I always had it in me to explore more and experience as much as I could about the underwater world. I became obsessed and still want to do it all. I got my Divemaster Certification in May of 2024 and it was the best thing I have ever done! The joy for me simply comes from being at peace in the water and feeling free. Whether I am doing a ice dive, a snorkel in the pool, learning more about dive gear or doing a wreck dive on the coast, it is home to me. Come dive in the fun, I can’t wait to show you!
Tanisha Stromberg-Divemaster
Tanisha Stromberg-Divemaster
Tanisha discovered diving on a whim during a 2016 vacation, and it quickly turned into a passion! After a few years of holiday diving, she realized she wanted to be underwater more often. A spontaneous visit to Aqua Dive led her to pursue Drysuit certification, and from that moment, cold-water diving in Canada became an obsession—eventually including ice diving!
In 2024, Tanisha joined the Divemaster team and is working on her Instructor Development Course. She loves sharing her passion for diving with students, and you’ll often find her smiling poolside or gearing up at the lake. Known for her contagious energy (and sometimes fresh-baked cookies!), Tanisha has serious FOMO when a dive is planned.
Tanisha has dived in incredible places like the Dominican Republic, Hawaii, Playa Del Carmen, Cenotes, Cozumel, Bonaire, Homestead Crater, and in Canada, the HCMS Annapolis wreck, Alberta, and the West Coast.
Whether you're just starting or advancing your dive journey, Tanisha is excited to make your experience unforgettable.
Joel Stromberg
Joel Stromberg
Ian Lord
Joel Stromberg
Mark Lagerweij
Karl Desjardins
Trudy Huyghebaert
Trudy Huyghebaert