» Steve McCann

With over 20 years of teaching experience, Steve is a SCUBA Instructor with four different agencies: SEI (was YMCA), PADI, NAUI, SDI, and TDI (Technical Diving International). He has certified thousands of students and has taught SCUBA in a variety of venues including Grand Cayman Island, adult education programs, and local universities. Steve and his wife, Andrea, have traveled throughout the world leading dive adventures with Blue Water Pursuits. He is currently a NAUI SCUBA Instructor Trainer and an SEI Course Director. Certifications are issued through both agencies. Steve is a full-time faculty member at West Valley College in charge of the Marine Diving and Martial Arts Programs. He has extensive boating experience and holds a U.S. Coast Guard Captain's license for a 100 ton vessel rating. Steve has a Bachelors Degree in Business and a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology/Biomechanics from San Jose State University.

» Shaun McEvoy

Shaun has been a certified SEI(YMCA) SCUBA Instructor since 1992 and crossed over to NAUI in 2008. He is also a TDI Nitrox instructor, a DAN oxygen instructor and an American Red Cross CPR/First Aid/AED instructor. He works with Steve on all levels of scuba instruction including instructor certification . When he's not diving he works for Cadence Design Systems as an engineer. He has been diving in several locations around the world including, Cayman Islands, Palau, Truk Lagoon, Fiji, The Galapagos, Cozumel and several trips to the Channel Islands in southern California.

» Scott Chapman

Scott completed his SEI(YMCA) SCUBA Instructor training in January 2004 and crossed over to NAUI in 2008. He teaches beginning SCUBA, Advanced SCUBA, and Research Diving courses through the West Valley College Marine Diving Education program. His scientific background includes conducting a study on the effects of nitrox on post-dive fatigue. He is also a Reef Check California instructor. Scott spent five summers working as an Underwater Explorers instructor at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and is currently the web developer for the Sanctuary Integrated Monitoring Network (SIMoN).

» Matt Bray

Matt, aka "Minnie Me", received his first scuba certification the summer of 1999. He continued to enhance his skills and in January 2004, became an SEI(YMCA) SCUBA Instructor and crossed over to NAUI in 2008. Matt has been diving with Blue-Water Pursuits since his initial certification and can often be found assisting dive classes at West Valley College. To pay the bills Matt builds custom high-end swimming pools. He enjoys spending time with Tucker, his “rat dog”, mountain biking and creating things in his workshop.

» Dave Hambleton

Dave received his first diving certification in early 1998 and was bitten hard by the "diving bug" and became an SEI(YMCA) SCUBA Instructor in January 2004 and crossed over to NAUI in 2008. He has been diving with Blue Water Pursuits since 1998. He has a Marine Biology degree from San Jose State University, and has been an intern at both the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation. He has an active interest in all aspects of the Ocean but a particular interest in shark research and preservation. Dave is also a certified AAUS Scientific Diver.

» Mike Teng

Mike is working toward his Instructor certification and continues to provide guidance and leadership to our program. He worked as a divemaster at the Channel Islands Marine Institute (CIMI) and loves exploring the depths below.

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Assistant Instructors and Divemasters

» Patrick Sosinski

Patrick started his SCUBA career in the spring of 2004 and immediately began assisting teach classes. Patrick is the first student to complete all leadership courses offered through West Valley College's Marine Diving Education program. He is a certified Assistant Instructor and continues to contribute his skills to the Blue-Water Pursuits program.

» Steve "Centaur" Wilson

Centaur received his first diving certification over 15 years ago and has put his skills to good use as both a scientific diver and assistant instructor. He has a bachelors degree in Marine Biology from San Jose State University and works for the water district (hey, it involves water!). He has an active interest in all aspects of the Ocean but a particular interest in shark research and preservation.

» Rachel Ritchey

Rachel is a certified Assistant Instructor who has been annointed the "official" food director of the BWP staff. She organizes all meals and dinner reservations for the group. It is a tough job, but someone has got to do it!

» David Ritchey

David is an Assistant Instructor and has been helping with the program for many years.

» Sridhar Nanjundeswaran

Sridhar, aka. "Shredder", has been helping teach courses at West Valley College and is an active Assistant Instructor within our program.

» Steve Guthrie

Steve is a certified Assistant Instructor and helps out with the program whenever he has a chance. You can often find him hanging out at the local dive shop listening in to learn about what's new in the world of diving.

» Kris Drummond

Kris earned her Assistant Instructor rating in the Fall of 2008. She is also a physical education instructor at West Valley College.

» Peter O'Day

Peter earned his Assistant Instructor rating in the Spring of 2009. He actively participates in Blue-Water Pursuits training activities.

» Trish Jessen

Trish is nearing completion of her Divemaster training. Over the past few summers, she has worked for the Monterey Bay Aquarium as an Underwater Explorers instructor leading kids on surface scuba diving excursions.

» Ben Longcor

Ben completed his dive education through the Marine Diving Education program at West Valley College and is now a certified Assistant Instructor. He continues to help with Blue-Water Pursuits while pursuing a degree at CSUMB.

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