Greg McCracken – Owner, Platinum PADI Course Director (Instructor Trainer)  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Greg earned his PADI Instructor rating in 1992 and his PADI Course Director rating in 1997. Before settling down in Vancouver, Greg has managed dive centres on Vancouver Island, Central America and Mexico.  Over the past 20 years, Greg has issued over 1600 instructor level certifications and over 3300 certifications in all levels.  Greg continues to be enthusiastic for teaching and diving.  Every year, he makes a strong effort to learn and evolve as an instructor and as a diver.  Greg truly enjoys assisting his students meet their goals as divers and professionals and has assisted instructors around the globe find successful careers in the diving industry. 

In 2006, PADI commenced a new recognition program acknowledging active PADI Course Directors around the Globe. Greg is one of less than 50 PADI Course Directors in the world to earn the highest recognition available – Platinum!  Greg has earned Platinum status each consecutive year. 

Aside from his work at Ocean Quest, Greg works with Capilano University to conduct their Professional Scuba Dive Instructor program.  This program attracts up to 24 students every year from across Canada and around the globe. Greg has a vast array of experience from recreational diving to wreck and technical diving. Over the past year, Greg has worked closely with DSAT/PADI’s Technical Diving Division to assist them in updating their technical diving programs.

 Greg's qualifications include:

• PADI Course Director (Instructor Trainer)
• DSAT Technical Instructor Trainer
• DSAT Trimix Instructor Trainer
• PADI Specialty Instructor Trainer
• Emergency First Resonse Instructor Trainer
• DAN (Divers Alert Network) Instructor Trainer

Deirdre Forbes McCracken - Owner, PADI Master Instructor  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Deirdre first was inspired by the wonders of the underwater world while snorkelling in Hawaii at the age of 6.  She soon discovered her hero – Jacques Cousteau and always knew her path would lead her to the ocean.  Deirdre has been working in the diving industry since 1989 and became a PADI Instructor in 1993. Her extensive dive experience spans around the globe from Australia, Thailand, the Red Sea and the Caribbean. Despite all of her tropical experience, Deirdre’s favourite dive destinations still remain in BC. Deirdre has managed dive centres on Vancouver Island, Vancouver, Central America and Mexico.

Over the past two years, Deirdre has taken on an active role in the diving industry by joining the Board of Directors for both the Artificial Reef Society of BC (ARSBC) and the Dive Industry Association of BC (DIABC).  The British Columbia dive industry benefits from Deirdre's continued commitment and enthusiasm to diving and the industry.

Deirdre is well known for her underwater photography and her knowledge and passion for preserving the underwater environment.  At Ocean Quest she ensures the highest level of service is provided to all of our customers and takes pride in finding special items not normally stocked whenever requested.   Deirdre has made life long friends through the social sport of diving and enjoys sharing this undiscovered world with everyone around her.

Deirdre’s qualifications include:

• PADI Master Instructor
• PADI IDC Staff Instructor
• Master Scuba Diver Trainer
• PADI Specialty Instructor
• Emergency First Repsonse Instructor

From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders.   He is bolted to the earth.  But man only has to sink beneath the surface, and he is free. 

Jacques Yves Cousteau

Stuart Werner - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Stuart began diving in 2004 and immediately fell in love with the sport.  In 2008 he enrolled in the Capilano University Professional Scuba Dive Instructor (PSDI) program where he developed a vast amount of experience and knowledge about diving.  Upon completion of his program, Stuart completed a practicum at Scuba Caribe in Playa del Carman, Mexico.

Upon graduation, Stuart was hand picked from the Capilano PSDI program to work at Ocean Quest as a full-time employee.

His favourite dive sites include Porteau Cove, Agamemnon Channel on the Sunshine Coast and the HMCS Sakatchewan in Nanaimo.  

Stuarts qualifications include:

• PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
• PADI Specialty Instructor
• Emergency First Repsonse Instructor
• Scubapro Reg Technician
• Aqualung Reg Technician
• Graduate from the Capilano University Professional Scuba Dive Instructor program

Brandon Hill - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Brandon took up diving in 2004 after trying a Discover Scuba Diving Experience in a pool here in Vancouver. Brandon fell in love with diving and pursued his PADI Instructor rating in 2006. Brandon has been diving around the world from the Gulf of Oman to the caverns of Tulum, Mexico; however his favourite diving is right here in B.C., particularly on the Sunshine Coast and the north end of Vancouver Island. He enjoys a wide range of diving, from shallow photography dives to deeper trimix dives exploring the ocean depths.

Brandon’s qualifications include:  

• PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor
• PADI Specialty Instructor
• Emergency First Response Instructor
• Aqualung Reg Technician