Staff Bios
Ron Vearrier
I've been around diving with Eugene Skin Divers Supply for a long time — since before some of our customers were even thinking about learning to dive! I started as a student in the University of Oregon scuba program in 1989 and then became the lead instructor for the program in 1996. Since then, I've had the pretty amazing opportunity to teach thousands of divers and eventually become the manager of ESDS and a PADI Course Director.
What I enjoy most about diving hasn't really changed over the years: getting people excited about being underwater. There's something pretty cool about watching someone take that first breath underwater, overcome their nerves and suddenly realize, "Hey...this is actually pretty awesome!"
I still love learning, teaching, traveling, finding new dive sites and, most importantly, diving with good people. After all these years, I guess I've decided that this is a pretty good way to make a living!
Favorite Dive Site: Salt Pier — Bonaire
Salt Pier is one of those sites I can dive over and over and still find something new. The structure creates an incredible home for marine life, and there's always something going on if you slow down and actually look. Schools of fish, critters hiding in the structure, and the amazing visibility make every dive a little different.
But really, I think what I love most about Bonaire is that it's a "choose your own adventure" kind of dive vacation.
You want to get up before the sun and do a sunrise dive? Go for it. Want to sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast, and make a couple of afternoon dives? Absolutely. Want to dive a completely different site every time you get in the water? You can do that too. Want to go back to your favorite site three times in one day because you just can't get enough of it? Nobody's stopping you!
There's an incredible amount of freedom in being able to decide when, where, and how much you want to dive. Add in warm, clear water, great visibility, and an unbelievable variety of marine life, and it's pretty hard for me to come up with a better place to spend a week underwater.
Favorite Piece of Dive Gear: Mares Planet Regulator
My current favorite new piece of gear is the Mares Planet regulator. After all these years and a lot of dives, I've become a pretty big believer in keeping things simple: I want my regulator to breathe great, be dependable, and let me forget that it's even there. The Planet does exactly that. When I'm underwater, I don't want to be thinking about my regulator. I want to be looking at what's swimming around me, checking out the reef and wondering what I'm going to find around the next corner. And if the regulator lets me do that comfortably and reliably, it's doing its job! After decades of diving, I've learned that good gear shouldn't get in the way of a great dive — it should make the whole experience easier.
Michael Thompson
Michael started diving in 2020 and, with the help of the amazing staff at Eugene Skin Divers, is now a PADI Open Water Scuba instructor. Michael works at the University of Oregon and assists with the college scuba program. An avid golfer and traveler, Michael had the pleasure of living in ten different places growing up as the son of an officer in the Air Force. Quick with a dad joke (both good and bad), Michael enjoys the opportunity to introduce people to the world of diving.
My favorite dive site is the wreck of the Superior Progressor that lies at 90 feet just below where the cruise ships dock in Curaçao. When there are no ships in the port, you can use the dock as a starting point for this fun and challenging dive. You make your way about thirty feet past the wreck along the reef, then launch yourself into an exciting current that takes you directly to the Superior Progressor; the ship sits upright on the sea floor and is largely intact. You get yourself out of the current in the hold or behind the wheelhouse and hang out with the tarpon that live on the wreck. After a bit of exploring, you launch back into the current that takes you right back to the reef and an easy exit at the cruise ship maintenance dock. Fun, challenging, and a ton of fun exploring makes this one my favorite dive site.
I live by my Garmin MK2i dive computer/watch. It literally does everything for me and is a great integrated way to see my dive profiles, air consumption, and GPS locations for all my dives; the logbook is amazing, and the watch integrates well with all my other above-water activities. It pairs with your smartphone so you can get notifications, and it even has the ability to offer underwater communications, provided you have some additional equipment. It is truly a game changer and one of my favorite pieces of dive gear/tech; no way would I dive without it.
Amira Fahoum
Due to a healthy fear of the underwater world, Amira never expected she would scuba dive. In 2019, thanks to an incredible PADI Discover Scuba in Mexico, that completely changed. She loves the outdoors, traveling, being active and adventurous, and helping others overcome their “impossible”— completely opposite of, and yet surprisingly similar to, her corporate day job. Amira has been an Open Water instructor with ESDS since 2024. You can find her regularly teaching with the University of Oregon scuba program.
Favorite dive site: Milford Sound, New Zealand.
Honestly, it wasn’t the diving that made this my favorite spot. It was the towering cliffs all around us with waterfalls tumbling thousands of feet down over the edge. I felt so small and gained so much perspective among the larger-than-life display of nature. It is a magical, humbling, and surreal experience I could never forget. Be sure to get dry suit certified for this one— it’s cold!
Favorite dive gear: My Garmin Descent MK2s.
It’s not just my reliable go-to for diving; it’s been my go-to for golf, running, hiking, workouts, biking—you name it, you can use it for any activity. I still can’t wait to take it skydiving (yes, it does that too!).
Dean Vincent
I started diving in 1998, took a bit of a detour, and came back to diving with a vengeance in 2016. I became a PADI Instructor in 2020 and eventually made it to Master Instructor. What I really enjoy, though, is teaching. There’s nothing quite like watching someone discover that they are capable of doing something underwater that they weren't sure they could do. That moment never gets old.
Favorite dive site: Dodd Narrows in Nanaimo, BC.
It’s quintessential Pacific Northwest diving — cold water, current, and absolutely ridiculous amounts of life. The walls and rocks are covered in beautiful fauna, and there always seems to be something new to see. It's one of those dives where I find myself slowing down because there is simply too much cool stuff to look at.
Favorite piece of dive gear: My Mares XR Pure sidemount BCD.
I love diving “monkey.” There is something wonderfully liberating about being streamlined, mobile, and able to move through the water without feeling like you're carrying a scuba rig on your back. Sidemount just feels… free. And once you've gotten used to that feeling, going back to being a conventional back-mounted diver can feel a little like wearing a backpack to go swimming.
Rogelio (roh-HEH-lee-oh)
Cassol
My former girlfriend (now wife) told me she would break up with me unless I got certified. She paid for my open water certification, my advanced open water certification, and created a monster. I started the Open Water Course with Mike Allen and Troy Knabe in February 2012 (notoriously the best time of year to get certified in Oregon). After a couple of years of sporadic diving, I took the Rescue Diver Course in April 2016 and the Divemaster Course in May 2016. I graduated to Divemaster in February 2017, Assistant Instructor in January 2018, and Open Water Instructor in January 2019. I had 50 dives when I started my Divemaster Course. Since then, I have averaged more than 130 dives a year (humble brag), mostly in cold, dark Pacific Northwest waters. I learned to dive and teach SCUBA from some of the most impressive dive professionals and SCUBA support personnel in the US. And some of that actually rubbed off on me. You could say I am a perfectly adequate amalgamation of my mentors (emphasis on adequate).
Favorite Dive Site: The Boiler, Revillagigedo Archipelago.
Mind-blowing dive.
Favorite Piece of Dive Gear: I love my Aqualung Legend LX Supreme regulator.
It delivers excellent performance in all conditions. Going strong for more than 10 years now. But if we are going to limit this to local diving, it has to be my SHOWA 720 dry gloves. Of course, those are useless without the Bare Sentry Tech Dry suit and Weezle undergarment (and Weezle socks). Then again, any of my three air-integrated Suunto dive computers (and pod) make tracking my dive time/depth/air pressure super-easy to keep track of and make associated dive logging efficient and information easy to access.
Margaret McKenney
So, since June 1986, when I got my initial PADI Open Water certification at the University of Oregon's infamous "BR" (so before Ron) SCUBA program. It's actually more than 1/2 my biological age, but that's a different math problem 😀
My favorite dive site: How can I just pick one site?
Basically, if it's safe to enter/dive into, then I like it. But if I had to pick a "dive site", then I would say "Point Lobos, California" as the area is rich in life both underwater and topside, and its close to Monterey, CA where there's an amazing aquarium and the 17-mile auto route to drive and stop at scenic spots.
My favorite piece of dive gear: I would say overall, I keep my Mickey Mouse diver dude close, as he goes everywhere with me to honor those who are not diving with me; i.e., he's my memory mouse to remember to enjoy each dive as best I can.
Other: I will always be available as a dive buddy once I certify someone, and I am always learning something new in each dive class and/or dive experience.
Sean
Hi, I'm Sean, and I've been diving since 1993. I've met and become friends with a lot of fantastic people through diving, and in 1999 I earned my divemaster rating with mentorship through Eugene Skin Diver's Supply. I love diving and sharing the adventure.
My favorite dive site: Almost any place I can dive, and simply being underwater is my favorite place to be.
My favorite piece of dive gear: While I have spare masks in my vehicle all the time and will toss fins in almost everywhere I go, the one thing I always have is a Garmin Descent watch, diving or not.
Greg Sladcik
Certified to dive in 1984. After diving for just a few years, life happened, and I took a 30-year hiatus from diving.
Found my way to ESDS in 2018, where I learned to dive and then learned to teach scuba diving.
Dove as a volunteer at the Oregon Coast Aquarium for several years and with Reef Check Oregon. I enjoy diving with a purpose...
Currently, I live in Maryland, work in Minneapolis, and commute to Eugene to help with classes at ESDS whenever I can (and to visit my grandkids).
I miss the Pacific Northwest diving and the friends I've made since becoming part of the ESDS family.
Favorite dive site? Honestly, that one's still in my future.
Second favorite - God's Pocket. I love the cold water, rocky reefs, and the variety and abundance of life on them.
Favorite piece of dive gear? My Scuba Pro HUD dive computer.
Having all your dive information literally in your face, especially the compass in low-viz, is priceless. (Lost without it)
Maya Holly
Hi, my name is Maya, and I'm 18 years old. I've been diving for about a year and a half now, and I'm currently in the divemaster program. I started working in the shop in spring 2026.
My favorite place to dive is Flagpole
I see new things every time. It's so diverse, has so much life, and is the most beautiful place I've been to.
Almost all my dives have been in cold water, so I’d have to say my favorite piece of gear is my drysuit undergarments.
I've always been cold during dives, even in a drysuit, but my Weezle thermals made such a difference in how warm I stayed.
Allukoy (Ally) Newton
Most probably know me as Ally at the shop! I’m currently working through my Divemaster candidacy and once completed, I hope to continue my training to reach my Instructor certification. I love being able to introduce the world of diving to anyone curious and love to see excitement sparked in others to jump in. I’ve been diving now for about four years and have been working at ESDS for a year. Outside of scuba I enjoy being at the barn with my horses and going on adventures.
Diving in the PNW is always such an amazing experience, whether it be the sealife, the thrill that comes with some diving conditions or the expeditious feeling I get every time I descend into waters many don’t ever get to explore. I think I’d have to say Flag Pole in Hoodsport, WA would have to be my favorite dive site thus far into my diving career! To enjoy the cold waters of the North West to the fullest, I rely on my drysuit to keep me comfortable all year round, it’s my super suit!
Jamie Marie
PADI Diver-2001 Rochester, NY; drysuit-2002, DM-2006 Sterling, Va; AI-2024 Eugene, Or, SDI/Lifewaters instructor-2026 Jupiter, Fl
I’ve been diving with ESDS since 2022 and working with ESDS instructors since 2023.I love my trilam Bare drysuit and my oceanic gear.My favorite dives on the west coast are anywhere in the Puget Sound. My favorite dives on the east coast are the midatlantic wrecks and sharks!
Tim Meyer
Certified in 2009 with ESD, DM in 2012
One of my favorite dives is Flagpole in the Hood Canal.
My favorite gear is any exposure suits because I like to stay warm.
Being underwater is my happy place.