David Houghton

Dede Houghton
DeDe Houghton, owner of Aqua Safaris SCUBA Center, remembers what it was like wanting to become a diver! It was something I had dreamed of since I was a little girl. I have fond memories of snorkeling above my father and brother as they explored the bottom, searching for cannonballs in the Panama Canal. I loved popping their bubbles as they rose to the surface, d reaming of the day I would send up my own bubbles. In 1991 I earned my SCUBA certification card. I completed more than 100 dives that first year! Being a California Credentialed Teacher with 8 years of teaching experience in the public education system made my transition to teaching SCUBA easy. In 1998 I earned my NAUI instructor rating and began teaching classes for Aqua Safaris. I have staffed numerous Instructor Training Courses and I enjoy all levels of instruction. Today I have 20 years of diving experience in addition to 16 years of managing our retail store. I take pride in helping to instill a sense of accomplishment in my students. It is gratifying to see them approach their ocean dives with confidence and be excited for their next adventure. In 2009 I earned my PADI instructor rating. Today, thirty some-odd years after my dreams to dive began, I am the one diving with one son at my side, while my other son revels in popping our bubbles at the surface. I look forward to blowing bubbles with you!

Luke Robert
Having grown up in Santa Barbara , California , Luke had the good fortune to start freediving at the beautiful Channel Islands just offshore while still in high school. Later, while working towards a Zoology degree at Humboldt State University , he enroll ed in the school's scuba diving program, eventually becoming a Divemaster in the cold, challenging conditions of northern California . Since then, he has worked as a deckhand, Divemaster, and Instructor at the Channel Islands, in Queensland , Australia , in Monterey , California , and on Maui . If anyone asks Luke about the time he had to punch a critically endangered Hawaiian Monk seal, he officially has no comment.

David Babineau
My name is David Babineau. I am 59 years old and have lived in Santa Cruz for 30 years. I have been diving in the beautiful Monterey Bay for over 35 years and find each dive to be as new and wondrous today as it was when I was first introduced to the area. I also enjoy diving in the Gulf of California, Fiji, Leeward Islands and Hawaii. I am a licensed NAUI, PADI and TDI scuba diving instructor and teach all three curriculums. I teach Basic, Advanced and Specialty courses. I enjoy training Junior Scuba Divers as young as 10 and have trained senior divers 65 years young. Working with the UCSC staff training new scuba instructors is very rewarding. Being retired allows me a great deal of flexibility in meeting your specific training needs and schedule. I volunteer my time working with disabled veterans and SOS environmental projects. In addition, I hold a USCG Masters License and Mariner credentials. I look forward to being your guide to a new and exciting world. Come dive with us.