Brendan Andresen
PADI Course Director / Shop Manager
Diving is one of my passions. For the past decade, I have dedicated my professional career to the dive industry as a PADI Professional. It has given me a great opportunity to meet new people and travel to some amazing places. Offering a one of a kind experience to explore the underwater realm gives me great pleasure. I hold the highest PADI Instructional rating and conduct the Instructional Development Programs. I am the Manager and Director of Training of the UBC Aqua Society. Our team works hard to make your experience safe and enjoyable. We look forward to diving with you soon!
Meagan Abele
PADI IDC Staff Instructor / BSc Marine Biology / Training Manager
Since my days of prairie diving, I have climbed the PADI ladder up to IDC Staff Instructor, and now teach full time at the AquaSoc. I am also a CAUS scientific diver. It has been great having the opportunity to go diving every weekend, and getting to travel all over the world with diving. As well, I have gotten my bachelors degree in Marine Biology and enjoy getting to see what I learned in the classroom when diving. So if you ever want to find me I’m either in the shop, in the ocean, or enjoying some kitten cuddles at home (in which case don’t interrupt please!).
Rahim Kaba
PADI IDC Staff Instructor / Training Manager
I am quite new to the world of diving only getting my start in late 2011 in Tanzania. Since my first trip with the Aquasoc to Roatan, Honduras as an open water diver, I realized my passion for diving and my love for marine life, especially sharks. Later that year, I worked my way up to become an instructor and am now currently an IDC Staff Instructor and Training Manager with UBC Aqua Society. It is an amazing experience to be able to pass on my enjoyment for diving to my students and I hope to enjoy the ocean with all of you!
Lauran Liggan
PADI Specialty Instructor / MSc Marine Botany
I’m a marine botanist (phycologist) who is always amazed by the complexity of the sea. As an ecologist, I’m always perplexed by the little things and diving enabled me to turn my interests into a passion. One rock in the middle of a reef can tell 1000 stories and this is what drives me to be in the water. Being a dive professional is so rewarding and I learn from every student I meet. I started my dive career in Northern California as a scientific diver and I try to integrate science and the sea in all of my courses! Come diving with me and I’ll show you how beautiful seaweeds can be!
Michael Ulhmann
PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer / PhD Theoretical Physics
I got certified as an open water diver in summer 2009. After finishing my advanced open water a month later, I was ready to explore the underwater world of BC with a buddy. Over time, I got involved in many different activities, including night diving, wreck diving and underwater photography and still enjoy them in the local waters and abroad. Dive travel has brought me to many exciting places like the Great Barrier Reef, the Red Sea and Malta. Eventually, I became an instructor in 2012 and now pass on my knowledge about scuba diving and the underwater world to others.
Bartek Radziej
PADI Specialty Instructor
I started my adventure with scuba diving in 2013 while working at a resort town on Santa Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California. Growing up in central Europe, I was never exposed to the beauty of the ocean. Once I experienced scuba diving, I immediately fell in love with it. Since then I moved to Canada and continued my training. Currently I am a PADI Divemaster working for the UBC Aqua Society. I never imagined how amazing and unique cold water diving can be but now I can easily say that British Columbia waters are my absolute favorite. I strongly encourage everyone to give it a try and I promise, even though sometimes it’s hard work, it’s worth the reward you get once you are underwater blowing bubbles!
Ryanna Yang
PADI Specialty Instructor / Webmaster / BComm BUCS
Ever since I got my open water certification in 2012, I started loving the ocean. It shows me a different side of the world. After doing a couple more dives, I’ve decided I want to be a professional and get people excited to go diving. Exploring the world and the ocean life are two of my passions. It gives me a fulfillment that I do not get anywhere else. Being close to the sea creatures and see how they live amazes me. When you see me at the shop, feel free to talk to me about your passions too!
Colin McCune
PADI Specialty Instructor
Colin is a PADI Specialty Instructor that started diving some time in summer of 2012. Prior to his certification as an instructor, he studied Ecology and Evolution at Simon Fraser University, graduating in 2011 with his bachelor’s degree. In regards to diving, Colin is particularly passionate about side mount diving, self-reliance through training and redundant equipment, use of the frog kick for propulsion, and exploring freshwater sites. In addition to diving, Colin’s interests include boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, triathlons and playing music.
Cassandra Konecny
PADI Divemaster / BSc Hons. Marine Biology
I am a PADI Divemaster, marine biologist and ocean enthusiast! I have a deep passion for ocean systems and marine life and enjoy the opportunity to educate others through scuba diving. My favourite part about being a dive professional is the opportunity to help others in their journey to becoming an ocean explorer. There is still so much that we don’t know about the ocean and therefore the more people that have access to this unique environment, the more that we can learn. I spend most of my free time in the ocean and I am always happy to go out for a dive … just be ready for a post-dive marine biology lecture once we surface! FFAC (Fun Fact About Cassandra) – My favourite marine organism is the stubby squid.
