Instructor Bios

Gary Beecheno

BSAC Open Water Instructor

Gary has been diving for about 15 years having learned to dive originally in the sunny Caribbean. Having been bitten by the diving bug he progressed through to PADI instructor level in 1999 and taught commercially for both Andark and YoYo divers in Southampton before becoming an independent instructor. Joining Eastleigh BSAC in early 2008 Gary crossed over to become a BSAC Open Water Instructor. Gary enjoys exploring new dive sites, underwater photography and passing on the experience of diving through developing others.

Neil Morgans

BSAC Advanced Instructor, BSAC Advanced Snorkel Instructor & BSAC Approved Boat-handling Instructor

Neil started diving back in the days when ABLJ’s were the horse collar design. Having become a novice diver in 1985 he has continued to move up the ranks and is hoping to gain his First Class Diver so as to achieve National Instructor Status. Having gained both BSAC and PADI Instructor grades he draws together the best of both organisations and after extensive world wide diving experience would rank British wreck diving some of the best and most challenging there is.

James Farr

BSAC Open Water Instructor

James originally learnt to scuba dive in 2001 while on holiday in the Maldives. In 2003 he decided to take an 18 month career break to travel and work overseas, which gave him the opportunity dive extensively in Vietnam, South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand. During this extended holiday he settled in Palau Tioman (Malaysia) becoming a PADI DiveMaster, and working as a dive guide for a PADI dive centre. On returning to the UK he joined Eastleigh BSAC and passed the OWI course in 2005. He now mainly dives in the UK.

Mark Boyd

BSAC Open Water Instructor

Mark first tried diving whilst on holiday in Majorca, in 2002. On returning home he sought out a route into diving, and joined Eastleigh BSAC. He qualified as an Ocean diver in May 2003, and has not looked back. He progressed through the qualifications of BSAC, and qualified as an instructor in 2007. He has dived mainly in UK waters, but has ventured to Tenerife, Southern Italy, and northern France.

Pete Whieldon

BSAC Open Water Instructor

Pete joined Eastleigh BSAC in January 1980 and during the early years trained to advance diver and open water instructor. He is motivated by his passion for diving and photography. As his interest in photography progressed he has since dived around the world, now enjoying visiting areas in and around South Africa above water and below water filming the words top predators. He enjoys training and sharing his experiences with new club members and welcomes them to join our very well establish and busy club.

Dawn Theaker

BSAC Open Water Instructor

Back in 1988, Dawn signed up with Kingston & Elmbridge BSAC and went on to complete her Novice and Sports Diver qualifications diving only in UK waters. Finding it a bit chilly, and a bit costly she had a sabbatical from diving. Returning to diving with PADI affiliated groups (both overseas and in the UK) she qualified as a PADI DiveMaster. Having settled in Hampshire, and purchased a dry suit, she joined Eastleigh BSAC in 2001, completed her Dive Leader in 2003, Open Water Instructor in 2004 and Advanced Diver in 2005. She is motivated to dive in order to experience the marine environment and enjoys helping others learn new diving skills.

Dave Sawdon

BSAC Open Water Instructor

Dave joined BS-AC branch No 83 in 1979 and qualified through the diver training program of the day, attaining the equivalent grade to the current advanced diver qualification in 1982. Dave spent time instructing within his branch, and held a number of committee posts over the years. Turning diving into a career, Dave dived commercially for Northern Divers based in Hull, undertaking survey and salvage work in the North Sea. Dave joined Eastleigh BSAC in 2008 and looks forward to meeting new people wanting to dive and his thirtieth year as a diver!

Tom Walsh

BSAC Open Water Instructor

Tom started diving in 1995 in Plymouth at Fort Bovisand. Plymouth and did his PADI open water and advanced open water certifications and loved it! He then didn’t dive until 2000 and went to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt and has not stopped diving since. He joined Eastleigh BSAC in 2004 and carried on training with BSAC becoming an instructor in 2006. Tom loves to see his trainee’s smiley faces after their first open water dive with the fishes. Tom loves to see all the life we have in UK waters.

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