Jack Whitaker - Instructor

What type of diving activities do you enjoy?
I love diving with our family. Clo and I have two teenage children, Adam and Kelsey. They became certified when Kelsey was ten. We enjoy going to new places, experiencing new cultures and sharing diving experiences.

Where have you been diving?
I have been to the Lake many times, Andros in the Bahamas, Green Turtle Key, also in the Bahamas, Belize, Bonaire, Cozumel, and the Turks and Caicos islands.

What was the most challenging skill for you to complete during your open water training?
First learning to relax and then use the power of my lungs to breath continuously but either deeply or shallow to facilitate descending, ascending, and maintaining neutral buoyancy.

Why did you become an Instructor?
Teaching has always been a component of my professional life. However, teaching scuba is different. It has a life maintaining facet to it. I love helping students get past their fears and misconceptions and enjoy seeing them begin to experience the joy of a whole new world. I also believe the added knowledge and skill means more fun and safe diving for our family.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Seeing a student go from “Kung-Fu fighting” and “bicycle peddling” to effortless, horizontal gliding using only their lungs and the power of their fins.

How do you stay current with the changes in diver education?
I continue to take courses on diving equipment, activities, and skills; engage and observe other instructors, and read professional journals and magazines.

What courses are you certified to teach?
Snorkeling, Discover Scuba, Scuba Tune-up, Open Water, Computer, Deep Diving, Diver Stress and Rescue, Enriched Air Nitrox, Navigation, and Night and Limited Visibility.