Our Team

At Dive Missoula, we’re passionate explorers—of both the ocean and Montana’s wild landscapes. Our team of seasoned instructors, gear experts, and dedicated divers has explored waters worldwide, from the Philippines to the Pacific Northwest. Whether training military groups, mentoring new divers, or geeking out over gear, we love sharing the thrill of diving. Join us in exploring new depths and unforgettable adventures!

Marc

Dean

Marc, a former U.S. Marine, is a PADI Master Instructor and Emergency First Responder Instructor Trainer. A five-time PADI Elite Instructor, he’s trained every diver himself. Passionate about scuba, conservation, and teaching, he specializes in working with military groups and divers with disabilities.

Brandon

McHenry

Brandon is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting, fishing, and archery. He also volunteers as a Boy Scout leader, event organizer, and Wilderness First Aid Instructor. As the dive shop’s Pacific Locations Specialist, Brandon is your go-to for personal recommendations on some of the best dive spots in the region—his favorites are in the Philippines.

Mike

Nelson

A Montana native and former competitive swimmer, Mike transitioned from coaching to scuba diving and is now a certified PADI Dive Master. His swimming background gives him a unique edge in exploring the underwater world.

Rich

Goldman

Rich is one of Montana’s sons and resides in Missoula, MT. Rich is employed as a Firefighter, EMT, and a Rope Rescue Technician. In Rich’s spare time, he enjoys metal fabrication and machining, outdoors activities and offroad racing trucks. Rich is an Army veteran and patriot. Rich began diving in 2016, and is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer.

Abril

Antonini

Abril was born in Venezuela and grew up exploring tide pools, earning her Junior Open Water certification at 11. After moving to the U.S., she came to Missoula at 18 to study wildlife biology at UM. Though life pulled her from diving for a while, Dive Missoula reignited her passion. Now, she hopes to inspire others to love and protect the underwater world as she does.

Nate

Brown

Nate, originally from Livingston, Montana, has a degree in Aquatic Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana. He became an Advanced Open Water Diver after first getting certified in March 2024 and has been interning at Dive Missoula since August. Outside the water, Nate enjoys snowboarding and playing soccer.

Bob

Harrington

A University of Montana graduate and avid traveler, Bob discovered scuba in 2017 and has since dived in the Socorro Islands, St. Vincent, and Bonaire. He and his wife Angela enjoy exploring Montana’s backcountry. Now a PADI Rescue Diver, he aims to earn his Master Scuba Diver rating.

Elise

Wilberg

Elise Wilberg, a freediver from Great Falls, Montana, has spent the past five years exploring the underwater world. She is Open Water certified and earned her PADI Advanced Mermaid certification in Florida, blending freediving skills with artistic movement. Elise brings a deep passion and strong dedication to every dive.

Bill

Ballinger

Bill Ballinger spent 31 years in the Army (23 full-time, 8 in the Reserves and National Guard). He is AOW/Nitrox certified and aims to become an adaptive instructor. As president of the Montana Veterans Aquatic Program (MVAP), he’s working to build a dive program for U.S. Military Veterans. Bill is also the head cross country coach at Hellgate High School and a PhD student at UM, studying International Educational Leadership.

Will

Rowe

Will is a U.S. Marine, Dive Master Intern, and Dive Equipment Technician at Dive Missoula. Outside the shop, you’ll often find him diving at Lake Como or floating the Bitterroot River with friends. He also serves as Secretary for the Montana Veterans Aquatic Program (MVAP), helping provide dive training and support to veterans with disabilities.

Trevor

Ashcroft

Trevor is a Disabled U.S. Army Veteran and certified Dive Equipment Technician for Dive Missoula. Passionate about travel and veteran outreach, he’s often diving at Lake Como or Flathead Lake. As Sergeant at Arms for the Montana Veterans Aquatic Program (MVAP), he supports veterans with disabilities, sharing the therapeutic benefits of scuba diving.

FAQs

General

Do I need to be certified to join a dive trip?

No. Our dive trips revolve around being in beautiful tropical locations and non-divers are always welcomed. To Scuba though, our trips require an Open Water certification. If you're new to diving, ask us about getting certified before your trip!

What if I haven’t been diving in a while?

We strongly recommend taking the PADI ReActivate course (a refresher) course with us, if you haven’t been diving in over a year. Many destinations require proof of recent dives, so it’s always a good idea to brush up on your skills in and out of the water before your trip. This will make your adventure less stress full and more enjoyable.

Can I bring my own dive gear?

Absolutely! We encourage divers to bring their own gear for comfort and familiarity. However, rental gear is available if needed, and we offer exclusive discounts for Dive Missoula travelers.

How do I get Scuba certified? How long does it take?

There are basically three parts of tasks that need to be completed to earn your PADI Open Water Diver certification.

First, an online training needs to be completed which takes approximately 12 hours and can begin as soon as we enroll you in the class.

Second is a weekend of confined water (pool) training. Learn all and more of the skills you will need to become a certified diver. We have these classes monthly

Third, you will need to in an open water environment (Lake, geo-thermal location, ocean) need to demonstrate to a PADI instructor with mastery, that you can perform the skills you learned in a pool, in open water. We have these classes monthly.

Can I do part of my training at home and then finish while on vacation?

Yes. This is called an Open Water referral. In this situation you will complete your eLearning and your confined water portions locally (two thirds complete). Then your local instructor will produce a referral that you will provide the facility you are going to as proof that you have completed this training and want to complete the open water portion with them. Do this well in advance, so you are assured that there is an instructor available.

Payment

How do I reserve a spot on a dive trip?

Cancellation policies vary by trip. In most cases, deposits are non-refundable, but partial refunds may be available depending on the cancellation date. We highly recommend travel insurance to protect your investment.

What is your trip cancellation policy?

I want to buy my own gear, are there payment plans?

Yes. Put down 50% of the cost and we can make a plan to pay the remainder off in increments. When it’s paid in full, the gear is yours!

Do you offer travel insurance?

While we don’t sell insurance directly, we strongly recommend purchasing dive-specific travel insurance to cover trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost equipment.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, major credit cards and debit cards.