As Co-Director of Overland Underwater I run the York and Harrogate shops along with Steve. I started diving back in 1991 with the British Sub Aqua Club and have dived extensively in this country and abroad. I joined PADI in 1999 and qualified as an Open Water Scuba Instructor. In March 2001 we opened our York Centre and diving became a full time career for me, which was a bit of a change to my previous career as a biologist. In March 2002 I qualified as a Master Scuba Diver Trainer, an IDC Staff Instructor in March 2003, Master Instructor in May 2005 and Course Director in July 2006. I can teach 16 PADI specialties at both diver and instructor level and am an Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer. All these years later, I still love diving as much as ever and find nothing more rewarding than introducing others to the sport that I love. You will find me in one of the shops most days, or out and about training, and when I get the chance pleasure diving.

As Co-Director of Overland Underwater I run the York and Harrogate shops along with Sue. I also run our service centre and am a fully qualified and experienced service technician for a variety of equipment manufacturers. As an IDC Staff Instructor I get involved with a lot of our training, so there is plenty to keep me busy! I have dived extensively in the UK and abroad. When I get the chance I enjoy pleasure diving and you will often find myself and Sue on the club trips.

Harry, Alfie and Ellie can normally be found giving a warm welcome to all visitors to Overland Underwater.

I was persuaded to complete a try dive whilst on holiday in 2007, but to my surprise actually loved it. Now you can find me diving at every opportunity and I have dived extensively in the UK and abroad. I completed my instructor training in May 2009 and now enjoy training as well as pleasure diving.

I have completed over 500 logged dives since I completed my PADI Open Water Diver training in the balmy waters of Stoney Cove in 1996. I qualified as a PADI Divemaster in 2006, and as a PADI instructor in 2008. I enjoy diving in the UK, especially the Dorset Coast, West Scotland and our own local sites of St Abbs and Farne Islands as well as the Red Sea and Maldives where I have dived many times.

I was taught to dive (with my brother) in 1992 by ‘Chuck’, the coolest of all people, who passed on his passion for diving and more importantly what it was to be an instructor. After passing my Instructors Exam I headed to Malta to work and then just carried on travelling and I worked and lived the dream in Australia and various African sites, exploring every nook and cranny for nudibranchs which are my passion. Lots of sun tan-lotion later, I decided to come back to the UK to have a break but thanks to Sue and Steve now back into diving and loving it. Oh and yes I broke a Diving World Record while in South Africa!

Never happier than when in the water so diving for me was a natural step. Being an instructor just gives me more opportunity to get wet!

Began my diving career in 2003, finally achieving my goal of Open Water Scuba Instructor in 2006. My main reason for working towards this qualification was to give me the ability to introduce students to the underwater world. Through this I can directly influence future diving behaviour and attitude towards the environmental issues threatening our oceans. The more people I can get underwater the greater peoples understanding of these issues will become.

From Yorkshire, England Rebecca "Becks" has been diving for 6 years and teaching diving for over 3 years in Australia, Egypt, and the Bay Islands of Honduras. Her favourite marine critter is the Frog Fish. She has a degree in Psychology and enjoys travelling during her off time. Shes now back in England to start a Masters degree in Marine Environmental Management

I began diving in August 2005 with the Open Water course completed at the converted slate quarry Vivian in North Wales. The plan was to then go on holiday somewhere warm but before the end of the weekend I was hooked. I returned to Vivian in October to complete the Advanced OW and had my first sea dive in the Farne Islands in December 2005. Although the surface was choppy with the first day blown off the 2nd day we got in and I was amazed at the life that was on view. In 2006 after more dives in the Farne's and Eyemouth I completed the Rescue course; a few more specialties and was off to Sharm el Sheikh for the first of my 3 visits. I now dive at every opportunity and have dived in Malta, Gozo, Tenerife, Saudi Arabia as well as a number of locations around the coast of the UK. I joined Overland Underwater in 2007 after 50 dives and was soon heading out of Saltburn on a rib for a night dive; exciting stuff! My 100th dive took place during my first trip to Swanage in 2008 with some excitingly fast drift dives. My 200th dive took place in 2010 during a diving holiday visiting the wrecks of Scapa Flow. My diving career has taken me to a wide range of locations in both sea and fresh water at a range of depths and temperatures. The darkest was probably in Largs, with the possible exception of a night dive in the Red Sea and in Malta. A favourite place is St.Abbs; both from the boat and the shore with the seals at the Farne Islands a very close second. I have yet to see a shark but there’s always the next dive.

I started diving after doing a try dive in my local swimming pool in 2004. I went straight on to do my Open Water course and was hooked. Since then I have gradually worked through the courses and passed my Instructor Exam in 2010. Along the way I have done a lot of diving around the UK, in the Red Sea and the Med. I am now looking forward to introducing others to the underwater world.

My first love in life is rugby and most weekends you will find me on the pitch where I referee for the Yorkshire RFU. My second love is diving which I have been doing for several years now. I dedicate any spare time, when I am not refereeing, to diving and enjoy assisting with training both at the pool and in open water.

I became completely captivated with scuba diving in 2003 following a discover scuba course in Cyprus. However, it wasn’t until 2008 that I was able to realise my dream and dedicate my spare time to diving. I qualified as a divemaster in August 2010 and am currently participating in the IDC program under the instruction of Sue, Steve and Tim. I help out in the Harrogate shop one day a week, usually on a Tuesday.

I first learnt to dive when at university, but like others, I stopped for various reasons. When Andrea walked into Overland and booked herself onto her Open Water course, she also enrolled me onto an Advanced Open Water course to get me back into diving. I now enjoy underwater photography, which I find is a great way to capture and remember all the fantastic encounters with marine life and dives on famous wrecks!

Always wanted to learn to dive, but was always too skint or too scared to take the plunge... until I got off the Park and Ride one day, walked into to the shop and there you go! Originally did a an Open Water Referral with Overland Underwater in April 2004 (with a view to completing somewhere warmer) but was hooked from then and a fortnight later was in a drysuit at Capernwray completing the course!

I discovered scuba diving with a try dive back in 1992, and soon went on to take my open water qualification, by this time the bug had bitten, and since then I have enjoyed diving abroad as well as in the UK as often as I can. I took the Divemaster course in 2009 which was a great experience and now allows me to help others discover the great world of scuba diving.

I started diving when I was in New Zealand back in 2001 and on returning to the UK I continued diving, gaining experience and various qualifications to become a Master Scuba Diver. In 2010 I became a dive master which is a great role that allows me to dive and meet new and interesting people at the same time.

I have always loved the natural world and the sea and I learned to dive whilst on a family holiday in Turkey and then dived regularly in the Red Sea for a few years before learning to use a dry suit and discovering the beautiful life to be seen in UK waters. Helping and taking part in courses and diver training seemed a natural progression for me as it reinforced and expanded my own experiences and skills. Scuba diving is very much a group activity and people bring their own interests and enthusiasms to it, whether for marine life like myself or for the equipment used, or photography, or just for the physical pleasure of being underwater, and it is a privilege to be involved in developing those skills and interests.

I started diving in 2009 after a try dive in Greece. When I started my diver training I challenged myself to give up smoking and put all the money I would have spent towards my dive kit. I soon had a full set of gear and have never looked back. After my Open Water Diver Course I went on to complete Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver as well as several specialties. In 2010 I started my Divemaster training. I enjoy diving at every opportunity and am aiming to complete my instructor training course with Steve and Sue so that I can pass on my experiences and enthusiasm to others.

I first started diving in 2008 in the Dominican Republic and upon returning to the UK continued to dive with Overland Underwater, diving in Capernwray, South Shields, St Abbs & the Farne Islands. There is some great wildlife & challenging dives to be accessed in the UK so always something new to do. I enjoy diving and especially like the social life provided by such an inclusive diving community, with regular club events and trips to UK and international diving venues. I am never happier than when diving and ‘just keep swimming’.

I am currently a trainee Divemaster. Once I have completed this I hope to further my training to instructor level. Whilst on holiday in 2006 after having been interested for some time, I had the opportunity to try scuba diving. I was immediately hooked! The experience of being underwater is both exciting yet peaceful. I have completed some of my diving qualifications abroad, but am now learning about diving in UK conditions and enjoying all it has to offer. Since diving with Overland Underwater, I have found everyone encouraging, friendly and professional. Especially Sue and Steve who have helped me learn and broaden my understanding of diving.