With extensive experience within the dive industry, your professional staff and instructional team at Pura Vida Divers values your comfort, safety, enjoyment, and achievement.

Dean Shuler
President

     Captain, PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, DAN Instructor
Born and raised in Griffin, Georgia, Dean studied marine zoology while pursuing a career indiving. After 6 years of extensive experience within the dive industry including managing charter operations at a highly-rated dive operation and teaching at a PADI Career Development Center, he developed and opened Pura Vida Divers. In addition to his role asPresident, he is an accomplished United States Coast Guard-licensed 100 Ton Captain, PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Emergency First Response Instructor, DAN O2 Provider Instructor, and TDI Instructor. He was recently interviewed for a National Geographic Special on Sharks. On his "off" days he enjoys diving the springs, caverns and cave systems in North Florida and Mexico. His favorite dive sites include Atlantis and Paul's Reef.

Kevin Cox
Captain/ Rescue diver/ Paramedic

     Born and raised in Virginia, Kevin never ventured far from the water. He began his diving career in Florida working with a highly-rated dive operation where he obtained his United States Coast Guard 100 Ton Captains license. Kevin then captained for a well-known liveaboard company taking charters to both the Bahamas and Belize, and later joined Pura Vida Divers as a Managing Captain. After recently completing his EMT, Paramedic, and Fire Rescue training, Kevin has begun working for the Boyton Beach Fire Department on his "days off"! His favorite dive sites include Northwest Double Ledges and Toybox.

 

Jake Ziegler
Captain, Padi Assistant Instructor

     Originally from New Jersey, Jake migrated to Florida to pursue a career in captaining and diving where he obtained his United States Coast Guard 100 Ton Captains license.  He captained for several years on a Bahamas liveaboard boat specializing in shark diving...tigers, lemons, hammerheads, even the elusive oceanic whitetips. He was recently interviewed and filmed in 'Requiem', an astounding shark awareness documentary. Additionally, Jake's an accomplished underwater photographer and loves snapping shots of our local fishy friends on his days off.  Jake just won 2nd place for Wide-Angle in Scuba Diving Magazines 2008 photo contest. You can find his winning photos in July 2008's magazine, page 47. Come by the shop to view some of his other amazing photos! His favorite dives sites include Shark Dive and Midreef.

Shana Phelan
Dive Facility Manager

     Environmental Conservation Advisor, PADI MSDT Instructor, DAN Instructor, EFR Instructor
Originally from Columbus, Indiana, Shana graduated from the College of Charleston in South Carolina with Marine Biology and Environmental Science Degrees. After initially moving to Florida to pursue a career in diving she returned to the Carolinas where she completed her Masters Degree in Coastal Environmental Management at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment. She has worked with the Juno Marine Life Center as a Marine Biologist and Researcher studying endangered and threatened sea turtles including the elusive Leatherback. In 2002, she was interviewed by The Discovery Channel in regards to her research, and in 2005 she worked closely with WIDECAST to create a Sea Turtle Stranding Field Guide. She returned to Pura Vida in 2005 as Dive Facility Manager. In addition, Shana is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, DAN Instructor, EFR Instructor, and TDI Instructor. Her favorite dive sites include Juno Ledge and Fourth Windows.

Barbara DeClerque
PADI Course Director (Instructor Trainer), DAN Instructor Trainer, Captain, EFR Instructor Trainer

     Originally a mathematics professor at Fordham University in New York City, Barbara began her diving career as an instructor in Manhattan but decided early on to move south to warmer climes and endless diving opportunities. She traveled and taught classes extensively throughout the American and British Virgin Islands and eventually made South Florida her home and "base of operations". Barbara enjoys teaching new and old divers alike and relishes the opportunity to transform divers into instructors for PADI, DAN, and EFR. Although diving is now her passion and full-time "job", Barbara has a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy from Fordham University and a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University. Her favorite dive sites are the Mizpah Corridor and Paul's Reef.

Jeff Hawes
SSI Dive Control Specialist, PADI Divemaster

    Jeff started diving back in the mid 70’s, while attending University of Minnesota. After moving to Oregon in the mid 90’s where the water was saltier, and even colder, he really became enamored with the sport. He obtained his SSI DiveCon certification and spent every weekend splitting his diving between assisting with new students, spearfishing, and underwater photography. While in the Pacific Northwest, he divemastered aboard the 116-foot liveaboard Nautilus Explorer in British Columbia. Jeff travels and dives throughout the world in several diverse locations including Bonaire, Curacao, and Hawaii. Looking for warmer waters, he finally settled in Palm Beach and, when not pulling a float ball, can be found photographing our amazingly diverse underwater realm. His favorite dive sites include Teardrop and The Corridor.

Racquel Edema
Captain/ Assistant Instructor

Jerry Smith
IDC Staff Instructor

Donna Smith
IDC Staff Instructor

Bill Crumbaugh
IDC Staff Instructor

Tyler Pearson
PADI Instructor

       One of the few Florida natives on the team, Tyler grew up around Palm Beach County and recently moved back "home" after leaving South Carolina where he was a Project Manager for a large construction company specializing in green building. He joined us in summer 2008 as full-time divemaster/deckhand. You'll most likely find Tyler on every trip but when not diving on Sirena, Tyler is either surfing, skateboarding or building something "green"! His favorite dive sites include Midreef and Princess Anne.

Charity Cox
PADI Divemaster

     Originally from Virginia, Charity attended Virginia Wesleyan College and graduated with a degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies. Charity received her certification in 2001 and fell in love with the sport. She quickly excelled to the rank of Divemaster and began working for Pura Vida in 2003. Because Charity works full-time as a school teacher and girls lacrosse coach at Saint Andrew's School, and as a Level 1 Lacrosse Coach Trainer for US Lacrosse, she gladly spends her free time looking for hammerheads and frogfish on our amazing reef systems. Her favorite dive sites include Elevator Shaft and The Corridor.

Kyle Mitchell
PADI Instructor

     One of the few Florida natives on the team, Kyle's been in the ocean practically since birth. Since helping his father operate their family boat from a young age, Kyle knows all things water. On his "days off", Kyle frequently travels to the Bahamas for fishing, diving, and boating fun. Kyle recently joined the United States Marine Corps and, just out of boot camp, has started his military career in San Diego.  However, if he gets any time off, he'll likely be out working on the boat and teaching new divers.  His favorite dive sites include Spud Barge and Juno Ledge.

Jason Hoyos
PADI Divemaster

     An enthusiastic and fun loving dive guide, Jason joined Pura Vida in the summer of 2008 as a dive guide/deckhand. Jason is currently in medical school full-time in Arizona so when he's home for the holidays or for the summer, you'll find him on the bottom every opportunity he gets! When he's not diving, he loves to surf, ski, wakeboard and travel. This is a photo from diving in the Mediteranean this past August 2008. His favorite dive sites include Jolly Jacks and Paul's Reef.