Steve Griffiths PADI Master Instructor – #626144 EFR Instructor Trainer & Qualified Diver Medic, DAN & DSAT Instructor RYA Commercial Boat Handler & Head of Training at Scuba in the Weald
Steve completed all his PADI training here in the UK, including all his Instructor training. He worked for a PADI Dive Centre for two years, teaching as an Instructor, then started his own dive school in 2003. Steve also works part time for the Emergency Ambulance Service on the frontline and as a Staff Responder in Kent. Steve can teach a full range of PADI courses from Discovery programs to Instructor level courses, including 22 Speciality training programs. He is also a DAN First Aid for Diving Instructor & Emergency First Response (EFR) Instructor Trainer. Steve who comes originally from London, has lived in Kent for the last 17 years, he is known for being friendly, approachable and fun to be around. Having taught in Egyptian and Spanish waters, Steve has gained valuable experience and knowledge in different diving environments around the world, but still loves UK diving. Steve is respected for adhering to PADI standards, safety awareness and his communication skills at all levels. When Steve’s not teaching he is a passionate underwater photographer, all of the photos on this site were taken by Steve.
Neil Parfrement PADI Assistant Instructor – #633362
Neil was bitten by the diving bug on his very first dive – a Scuba Try Dive in the warm waters of Antigua, and has been mad about it every since. Neil completed all of his training in the UK with Steve, and as well as being qualified in 12 diver Specialities he has achieved his PADI Master Scuba Diver rating. He is a fully qualified Oxygen Provider and Emergency First Aid Responder, holds a RYA Commercially Endorsed Powerboat License, a Maritime Operator’s Short Range Radio Certificate and has completed the RYA Sea Survival course – so you know when diving with Neil you are in a safe pair of hands! Neil loves diving in varied environments and exploring new sites. He has dived throughout the Australian coast line and extensively the Great Barrier Reef, North and South Red Sea, the Indian Ocean including Mauritius and the Maldives, the South Coast of England as well as extensively at inland sites in the UK (which he still has a soft spot for!). If forced to choose Neil says wreck diving is one of his favourite dive types because of the element of adventure it presents – “…descending every time onto something like the SS Thistlegorm in the Red Sea is just breathtaking – especially when you remind yourself how few people will ever get to see and experience it. The sense of exploration and discovery is overwhelming – the history and the marine life combining to offer a truly unforgettable experience. When you consider that 75% of the world is covered with water – scuba diving opens up a huge unseen part of it for me to explore”. Like the rest of the Scuba in the Weald team, Neil is passionate about training other divers. So why does Neil do it? “The real motivator for training, for me, is knowing that when students qualify, I have helped give them the knowledge and tools to help them safely unlock this whole new world that I have discovered and they can see it for themselves.”
Most memorable dive to date: 8.00am in the waters of the Maldives, 14 metres down watching 12 or more fully grown Manta Ray’s landing on a cleaning station – “…it was surreal… just like watching aeroplanes queuing up and coming in to land at Heathrow Airport on a busy day – awesome!”
Nicola Griffiths PADI Divemaster
Nicola learnt to dive in 2005, after enjoying a Scuba Try Dive with Steve. When finished her PADI Open Water Diver course, Nicola then continued her adventure, by completing the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver & PADI Rescue Diver courses, here in the UK, in 2006 Nicola loves all aspects of her diving, and is always fun and friendly to be around. She likes being involved during training sessions, so she can pass on her experiences to new divers. Nicola is also an Emergency First Response (EFR) Instructor and qualified as a PADI Divemaster in 2013. She has completed several PADI Speciality courses, which have given her valuable skills and knowledge as a professional diver. Nicola has dived at various dive locations around the UK, including Wreck diving in the English Channel from Brighton & Eastbourne and Quarry diving at Stoney Cove! She has also dived some fantastic dive sites in the Maldives & Red Sea, regually enjoying blue water diving each year with her Dad Steve, who runs Scuba in the Weald. Nicola says her best dive to date was, Wreck diving the Giannis D in the Red Sea, to be joined by 27 Bottle Nosed Dolphins for the whole dive – “It was an incredible experience I will never forget”
Lily Rowlands Logistical Support and Student Diver
Lily has always had a passion, love and curiosity for the underwater world, after seeing fantastic marine life, while swimming and snorkelling during her holidays.
Lily has now started her underwater adventure, and is learning to scuba dive for the first time! She is looking forward to qualifying as a PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water Diver this summer, so she can dive in the Red Sea in the Autumn and enjoy the amazing underwater experiences waiting for her!
Lily is also a proactive member of our team, helping with the preparation of training courses and with the logistics of the day to day running of the school. She is Friendly, helpful and happy to share her new found experiences with others. Come and join Lily on an adventure of a lifetime!