Learn how to dive.

“I really meant the title! I have been diving for over 40 years. I taught SCUBA at YMCA’s in Chicago for ten years and at Duke University for two years. I am also trained as an ENT MD. I’ve dove deep wrecks in the great lakes, ice dived, and dove the caves in central Florida. I simply took the Free Dive course with my wife on a whim in order to ease her back into the water in preparation for an upcoming SCUBA trip. But we both got so more out of the course than I ever anticipated! Free Diving is so much more than going on a snorkel. I am now recommending it to my buddies who are already SCUBA certified. Melanie dove DEEP (pun intended) into this fascinating and complex topic. The course was very comprehensive and well designed. Melanie has superb communication skills and is highly intelligent. Her lectures were interesting, and since she has dove with competitive free divers she knows the topic inside and out. She welcomed my questions and challenges when I dug deep into anatomy and physiology. In the open water phase, she was incredibly safe and attentive. She is a natural in the water. She was also very sincerely and enthusiastically supportive. I am 62 years old and not in outstanding physical shape. By the end of the class, I could descend to 30 feet quite easily. I KNOW I could not have done that were it not for Melanie’s teaching. My wife was at first unenthusiastic about taking the class. But after the classroom and pool classes, she changed her mind and insisted that we complete the open water portion. We both still have a couple of skills to complete. We hope to do that after our upcoming trip. And Melanie is being so accommodating, giving us flexibility to complete it after our trip. Plus, she’s pretty and funny!”

— TOM FUNCIK

"Mel has been one of the best instructors I have had the pleasure of meeting and learning from in the 36 years of diving, and I have had many over the years. Her passion, enthusiasm and teaching technique is superb. Her fun personality and compassion makes the learning experience both fun and low stress. Thank you.”

— MARK GUTEKUNST

“Melannie is one of the most thoughtful people I’ve ever met. She has the attitude and knowledge of a world class instructor while remaining humble. Throughout our class it was apparent that she strives to create a mindful connection with each student. We can’t wait to take another class with her.”

— CHRIS WHISENHUNT

“Melannie was a great instructor who taught the class with enthusiasm. She was very attentive to everyone in the class and worked on skills with patience for each person. I would highly recommend having her as an instructor.”

— DAVIS GIBSON

“I recently took the freediving level 1 course with Melannie. He teaching and guidance through the course was outstanding. Her knowledge of the sport and the science was very obvious and her presentation of the information very clear and helpful. And perhaps most of all, her love of freediving, the water, and helping people become more comfortable in the water shined brightly throughout the course. Thank you for the great learning experience Melannie!”

— ANNOYMOUS

“If you’re nervous at all about getting scuba certified, Melannie is definitely the instructor you want to have. Her instructions are extremely clear, she makes sure that your questions are answered satisfactorily and then some, and her patience is incredible. At the same time, she ensures the standard is met and that she can trust you as a diver. At the end of the course, I definitely felt like I earned my certification.”

— ADEANA STEINLAUF

“Had an awesome experience with Melannie- she really took the time to make sure you knew what to do and how to do it. Her enthusiasm lights up the room. She loves what she does and it shows. Really gets you excited to dive into the scuba world”

— ALYSON

“Melannie is an excellent instructor and a highly enthusiastic diver. She welcomes all of her students with high spirits, great stories, and an expectation of peak performance. I am so thankful to Melannie for her flexibility and willingness to advance my diving to its greatest potential. She was my first point of contact when I asked about taking Advanced and Rescue courses within a very limited amount of time, and Melannie did not hesitate to work around my busy schedule and ensure the integrity of my training. She’s an efficient businesswoman, an effective instructor, and a great role model. I highly recommend her as member of your diving community.”

— BAILEY FALLON

“Melannie was a fun and knowledgeable instructor. She always had a real world story to share that reinforced the importance of following the safety tips provided during the course.”

— CHRISTINA SYMONS

“Our 12 year old son completed his dive certification with Melannie and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. She is extremely knowledge, thoughtful and kind. He enjoyed his training so much.”

— NIKKI COOKE

“When my husband stated he wanted us to take the open water dive class I wasn’t too sure I could do it. I went in with hesitation and some fear. As a mom of two small boys I wasn’t sure I could complete everything in the allotted time. The staff was patient and worked with our crazy schedules. Melannie was our final dive instructor. She was so knowledgeable and understanding with any of my questions or concerns. She has patience of a saint! Her smile can light up the water! She was so encouraging and supportive. I have learned so much about diving and diving safely. I had absolutely the best time diving and look forward to diving again soon. Can’t wait to take more classes with her!”

— MANDY TYE