Rick and Julie Smith started their dream of owning a dive shop in 1995. Their love of scuba diving, corresponds with their love of traveling to exotic locations and meeting others in different societies, and cultures. It is this love for the lifestyle of diving that continues to drive them to help others become certified divers, and see the wonders of the world, both, above and below the water!

Contact Us
Contact Us

Rick & Julie – Owners

Rick Smith
Rick SmithOwner
It is my goal as a owner, instructor and staff member, that all our students get the best possible education, so they can become safe and capable divers. My favorite dive destinations are Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.
Julie Smith
Julie SmithOwner
When I’m not traveling throughout the world, diving in the most exotic marine environments, I assist in helping new divers get the necessary equipment and classes, here at Toucan Dive, so they can also join us on these incredible tropical destinations.

Toucan Dive Shop Staff

Toucan Dive has a number of passionate divers who work in our retail store helping customers with scuba and snorkeling equipment fit, training questions, and getting you the best information concerning dive travel opportunities. We look forward to seeing you in the store!

Gary Natkin
Gary NatkinStore Staff & Instructor
Jamie Smith
Jamie SmithStore Staff
Linda Wallace
Linda WallaceStore Staff & Instructor
I am often asked, what is your favorite dive?  My answer is always the same. I can’t pick one favorite dive because each location is different and each dive is different with its own unique circumstances. I enjoy diving North Carolina wrecks, the cenotes in Mexico, Belize, Egypt, Truk Lagoon and the great local wreck diving.
Lary Maroni
Lary MaroniStore Staff
Larry’s favorite place to dive is Cozumel as it compares closely to the Great Barrier Reef of the northern region of Australia.
Melissa Smith
Melissa SmithStore Staff
Melissa’s best diving experience was in North Carolina, where she came face-to-face with a tiger shark looking into a wreck’s dark porthole … lit up by her dad – AKA the Parrothead – and owner of Toucan Dive, Rick.
Frank Variny
Frank VarinyIn Memoriam
Frank passed away in Feb. 2011 after a long battle with cancer. As a member of the staff, he was our chief engineer, maintaining our compressor system. He leaves his wife Alecs, daughter Melissa, son Michael, and a bunch of friends here at Toucan Dive.

Toucan Dive PADI Instructors

David Marlier
David MarlierInstructor
Dave enjoys diving everywhere including the Bahamas, Cozumel and of course the Midwest! He loves to see students surface with a big grin on their face after their first open water dive.
Jeff Spapperi
Jeff SpapperiInstructor
I started diving more than 20 years ago in Seattle, Washington with a few co-workers. I have been diving casually ever since; diving the Australian Great Barrier Reef, the Greek Isles, the Caribbean, Mexico, the Philippines and recently a wreck dive in the Black sea out of Romania.
Tom Behnke
Tom BehnkeInstructor
Since first discovering the underwater world with a discover scuba diving experience in 2002, I have had a passion for exploring the underwater world. I have enjoyed diving a variety of local diving sites as well as sites around the Caribbean and the Great Barrier Reef.
Arlan Peterson
Arlan PetersonInstructor
Bob Dulay
Bob DulayInstructor
Carrie Ewbank
Carrie EwbankInstructor
David Theimer
David TheimerInstructor
Eric Johnson
Eric JohnsonInstructor
Phil Logsdon
Phil LogsdonInstructor
Steve Donato
Steve DonatoInstructor
Tom Sattizahn
Tom SattizahnInstructor

Toucan Dive PADI Assistant Instructors

Jeff Jaeger
Jeff JaegerAssistant Instructor
Beau Fortney
Beau FortneyAssistant Instructor
Tina Kohler
Tina KohlerAssistant Instructor

Toucan Dive PADI Divemasters

Billy Bingham
Billy BinghamDivemaster
Casey Carr
Casey CarrDivemaster
Chris Galardi
Chris GalardiDivemaster
Alex Kartsev
Alex KartsevDivemaster
Erin Kaht
Erin KahtDivemaster
Jim Paarfusser
Jim PaarfusserDivemaster
John From
John FromDivemaster
Ned Pendleton
Ned PendletonDivemaster
Richard Thomas
Richard ThomasDivemaster
Scott Rein
Scott ReinDivemaster
Sylvia Niemczynksa
Sylvia NiemczynksaDivemaster
TJ Farella
TJ FarellaDivemaster
Dusty Decker
Dusty DeckerDivemaster
Keith Glaser
Keith GlaserDivemaster
Mike Pietchman
Mike PietchmanDivemaster
Sebastian Dabrowski
Sebastian DabrowskiDivemaster
Tom Beien
Tom BeienDivemaster
Yan Berezkin
Yan BerezkinDivemaster