Know your crew

“My philosophy is simple: I enjoy diving and I want you to as well. We have created an experience that will be fun and safe, and we know you will leave feeling like part of the family.”

Lora has owned and operated the Marissa since 2009. She loves helping her customers feel like family, playing with her beloved hounds — Captain and Scout — and driving the boat.

Lora has a history as an EMT and Emergency First Responder Instructor, and holds a Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Cellular and Molecular Biology.

Captain, the old man beagle, needs very little introduction. He loves greeting customers, laps, cozy boat coats, and TREATS (but not chicken). He’s named “Captain” because he is actually in charge ;)

He enjoys alerting us to sea lions, dolphins, and other marine mammals. He is on board nearly every dive, and will dazzle you with his cuteness.

“I like to think of each customer as a part of my extended family and, just like family, I promise to support you through thick and thin — without the awkward holiday dinners!”

Chris has been dive mastering on the Marissa since 2015 and is now captaining her too. An experienced diver and dive master, Chris has loved diving since 1996.

Chris loves working out, training his Belgian Malinois — Leo — and of course diving.

In 1995 Rod started diving, and has been immersed in the underwater world ever since. If he could sprout gills you would never pry him away from the depths.

He became a certified instructor in 2001 and ran his own dive shop for many years. Rod’s passion is helping others on their diving journey and watching their excitement as he leads them beneath the surface. He is an ardent macro photographer, shooting both local waters and exotic locations, warm and cold.

In 2020 Rod added a captain’s licence and takes the helm of the Marissa whenever he can. What he treasures most — apart from sharing his lunch with Scout — is the joy on divers’ faces as they come up the ladder chattering about what they just saw.

Sweet, shy Scout is very cute to look at. Unlike his older brother he is slow to warm up. He mostly likes to be ignored, but when he chooses your lap you feel extremely special. He also enjoys chasing his older brother.

Robin is a USCG Masters Captain, and the most qualified technical instructor Lora has ever met.

He is certified to teach technical dive master, technical open circuit and multiple rebreathers — among them rEvo, JJ, KISS (Classic and Sport), MK 15.x, Sentinel, Dräger, Inspiration and Megalodon.

Ryan is a Technical Divemaster who joins the crew after a 30-plus year career in law enforcement and the military. Ryan’s first dive on the Marissa was in July 2010 and he has been diving ever since.

Ryan loves diving the wrecks off the coast of San Diego when he is not working the deck of the Marissa. He is an avid technical and rebreather diver.

On board, you can find Ryan never sitting still, working to ensure all divers are ready to enjoy their dives safely. Ryan loves the history of the wrecks of our coast and loves sharing his knowledge.

Ryan feels that the crew and divers of the Marissa are a large family. He loves assisting divers and enjoys hearing the stories of their underwater adventures during surface intervals.

When not on the water, Ryan spends time with his wife Barbara and their three dogs. Ryan is a father of five and a grandfather of two, with two more on the way.

It has long been suspected that Ryan originally joined the crew to gain access to the Marissa’s famous chili recipe.

“I’ve always been drawn to the ocean and to experiences that push you outside your comfort zone. Diving gives me the chance to explore, challenge myself, and share that adventure with other people.”

Nate has been diving since he was 16 years old, developing a passion for the underwater world early on. That passion eventually led him to become a Dive Master, giving him the opportunity to guide other divers and share the experiences that first drew him to the sport.

His love for the ocean and adventure later carried into his service in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he gained experience in search and rescue and maritime operations. He also went through Rescue Swimmer training, further developing his water confidence and ability to perform in challenging environments.

Nate is also a certified EMT, bringing emergency medical knowledge and a safety-focused mindset aboard the boat and into the water.

When he’s not diving, you’ll usually find him looking for another way to stay active or get outside, whether that’s hiking, traveling, training martial arts, or exploring somewhere new. For him, scuba diving combines everything he enjoys most: the ocean, adventure, exploration, and helping other people experience it for themselves.