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My philosophy for teaching classes is that student safety is number one. However that doesn’t mean not having fun. In fact, when people are having fun they are more comfortable. That means they are less likely to be nervous or make mistakes, which means a safer environment for everyone. So our goal is to make you as safe and comfortable while in a fun learning environment as possible. I love working with new students. I get a big kick seeing the look in a student’s eyes the first time they encounter the undersea life in their natural habitat. I feel very fortunate to have met some incredible people through classes here. And in some cases, develop great friendships and been a part of all their classes to the point of becoming Dive Masters here at the shop. This is an incredibly rewarding hobby and I wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world. I hope you find our shop to be a “fit” for your dive training needs and to see you in future classes and out diving at the local dive sites in the very near future. |
Dave IshmaelMaster Instructor 26593, Training Director and Diving Equipment Technician |
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As a child I learned of Scuba diving by watching Sea Hunt and Jacques Cousteau TV programs. I decided as a boy, I wanted to become a professional diver and explore the The Underwater World. I became certified as a NAUI Scuba Diver in 1976 and worked my way up the NAUI ranks. In 1986 I became a PADI Instructor. I’ve also been a Certified Equipment Technician for over 20 years. My diving has taken me to the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii and Canada. Although my favorite dives have been here in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve been fortunate to be with Hilde and Under Water Works for over 21 years now. Between helping Hilde with dive store operations, diving equipment repair and teaching SCUBA diving I’ve lived my passion. Please visit our dive store so we can show you our experience and professionalism and we can get you on the road to exploring the Under Water World. |
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Meet our Staff |
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I was certified in March of 1972 at Octopus Hole in Hood Canal and fell in love with the sport and the marine environment. For the next several years I dove in Oregon, Washington, San Juan Islands, Canada and California while assisting with classes at Hood Canal and the Oregon Coast. In the 80’s I started leading dive groups to Cozumel, the Cayman Islands, San Salvador, Roatan, Fiji and Hawaii. Over 30 years I have managed and will continue to be involved in the daily operations of Under Water Works and am still passionate about the business and the sport. I plan to continue diving in the Pacific Northwest as I do believe we have the best diving and most diverse marine life in the world and there are still many sites to be discovered. |
Hilde FreyOwner/Manager |
Bobby DeckerAssistant Instructor 50791 |
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My first dive experience was in 1964 in Florida while in the military. Without a certification or instruction it turned into a very bad experience. Then in 1987 I walked into Under Water Works and after talking to Dave, I decided to try SCUBA diving again. With the proper training and instruction it turned out to be the most wonderful adventure one can imagine. If you were to ask my friends, they would probably say that I have a lot of diving stories to share. Now after 19 years of diving and working part time at Under Water Works for almost 12 years I have logged over 1100 hours under water, not counting all of the training dives with students. Whether I am coldwater diving looking for Wolf Eels or in warm water looking for the golden coney, I am still passionate about diving as every dive is different. |
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As a kid I spent every minute I could at the beach surfing, spearfishing or swimming so when a buddy of mine suggested I take a SCUBA class it was a no brainer. I was hooked after the first dive. I wandered into Under Water Works looking for a place to do my training for the Divemaster course and never left! I felt at home the first day. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to share my love for the sport with hundreds of students over the years. The training environment is the safest and funnest I’ve ever been involved with, either as a staff member or student. Some of my best friends are former students. I’ve been a Divemaster for Under Water Works since 2002. My greatest dive memories have been here in the Pacific Northwest. I still love diving Hood Canal, the Puget Sound and the Oregon Coast as much as the day I came up from my first training dive. I’ve been lucky enough to have dived in Oregon, Washington, California, Hawaii, The Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and New Zealand.
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12170 S.W. Main St Tigard, OR. 97223 (503) 620-6993 Mon— Fri 10:00— 6:00 Sat 10:00—4:00 |
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MSDT 184502 |
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I’ve been a water lover since I was a young child. At the age of 7 I was diving from the high dive at our local pool. All through high school and college, I was never far from water. My first open water experience was a skin diving class in Santa Cruz, California. Free-diving for abalone was the motivation for most people, for me it was just to see what was down there. My first scuba dive was on my honeymoon in Mexico and after one dive I was hooked. Since then I have been fortunate to have dove in the Caribbean, the South Pacific, the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and the Red Sea. My favorite place to dive is still right here in the Pacific Northwest. The marine life is fantastic and divers here are the best trained divers in the world. Teaching for me is incredibly rewarding and it keeps me in the water on a regular basis. I love to have fun, but safety always comes first. Proper equipment and training go a long way to safety, and I’m looking forward to helping students enjoy the world that lies beneath the surface |
