​Meet the Team
Get to know the Crew
Jerry Williams
100 Ton Master Captain and PADI IDC Staff Instructor
Capt. Jerry is known around Siesta key as the pretty face of scuba (his words).
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In 1979, he experienced his first dive with his Uncle Gene who took him to a pool for his 6th Birthday. That pool dive set in motion his love for diving. In 1986, Jerry got certified as a PADI Junior Open Water Diver.
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He served in both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Coast Guard and, in 2007, went on to work as a professional dive instructor in the Caribbean and all over Florida.
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Capt. Jerry takes great pride in training and running dive trips though the keys. He has certified hundreds of divers throughout the years.
He can always be found helping divers and boaters alike enjoy the waters of the Siesta Key.
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Jerry’s Quote:
“Is hero too strong a word?”
Ryan
Master Captain and PADI Divemaster
There are no seas too high, no wind too strong. Encounter an issue, Ryan will solve it without even taking his eyes off the horizon.
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Captain Ryan is a Marine who served our country honorably prior to serving us again, as a Police Officer. He and his K-9 partner kept the streets of Ohio safe for more than 20 years.
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Now he and his Huka crew-mates continue to use their super powers for good; keeping weekend warriors safe on the beaches and waterways of Venice, Florida.
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Ryan should not have survived his adventures in Guam (for real, ask him about the underside of a submarine!). Regardless, we are so fortunate that he did!!
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Ryan is one of the longest tenured team member at Keys Huka Dive for a reason. He is an amazing Captain who will ensure that your day is adventurous, safe and organized.
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Ryan’s quote:
“The green ones are the best.”
Janell
Master Captain and PADI Divemaster
Janell is as Florida as flip-flops and gator sightings! A true sports fanatic and nature lover, she’s spent more time outdoors than a beach chair at spring break. Growing up, she dominated the softball field and later the volleyball court, and she still loves to spike and swing for fun. But the ocean? It’s had her on speed dial since day one. Janell has racked up more hours on the water than a pelican; reeling in monster fish, lobsters the size of small dogs, and enough scallops to start her own seafood buffet.
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Now that her kids are older (and she’s free from chauffeuring them to practice), she decided to dive headfirst into a new challenge. In just five short months, she breezed through the Divemaster program, all while managing a household that would give a circus ringmaster a run for their money. And because she never does things halfway, she went ahead and snagged her Master Captain’s license too.
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So if you’re up for an adventure, let Janell take you on a journey under the sea—just don’t be surprised if she out-swims the fish!
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Janell’s Quote:
“Captain by day, fish-whisperer by night, just another day in the life of a Florida girl!”
Wes
PADI Divemaster
Wes is an actual Florida native; they do exist! He worked several part time jobs while growing up in Florida; including fisherman extraordinaire and secret agent (leaping tall buildings in a single bound and photographing goats in trees).
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Wes decided he wanted to do more than just fish. He applied himself to studying of the migration of prehistoric sharks from the Boneyard in Venice to the Mariana Trench. While Wes was in high demand as both a high stakes gambling influencer and a highly skilled sushi chef, his love of the sea ultimately won his heart.
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At this point it was all over for Wes, he responded to a social media ad from Captain Jerry and his destiny was forever changed. Wes mastered both the academics and practical skills of the training, quickly earning his Padi Divemaster. Wes is a valuable member of the Keys Huka Dive Team.
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Wes’s Quote:
“Just dive already!”
Philip
PADI Master Scuba Instructor | Global Dive Nomad |
Ocean’s Favorite Tour Guide (don’t worry, the fish voted)
Born in South Africa and shaped by the sea (and maybe a few too many salty snacks), Philip is driven by a thirst for adventure that has taken him from the kelp forests of the Cape to the coral gardens of Southeast Asia—because who wouldn’t want to swim with fish that are better dressed than most people?
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With over 16 years of experience as an expat dive professional, Philip has taught hundreds of students how to stay calm, float like pros, and avoid screaming when a curious fish gets a little too close (they really do have personal space issues). He’s logged dives in places most people can’t pronounce, survived more accidental fin kicks to the face than he cares to admit, and once led a night dive where bioluminescent plankton completely stole the show—because glowing critters don’t follow lesson plans.
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Certified in everything from Deep Diving to Wrecks, Night Diving, Nitrox, and Marine Conservation, Philip isn’t just here to teach—he’s here to inspire awe, protect the ocean, and ensure every diver surfaces with a story that’s more memorable than their last Tinder date.
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When he’s not underwater, you’ll find him planning his next dive, fixing gear with zip ties and blind optimism, or charming airport security while explaining why his luggage smells like neoprene and raw adventure (and no, it’s not a new cologne).
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Philip’s quote: Just a guy helping humans not drown…………stylishly!
Tristan
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Tristan is an open water scuba trainer from Ohio—quite the achievement, considering the state is more famous for its cornfields than coral reefs. He’s been diving for over 10 years, exploring the watery wonders of Florida, Australia, Honduras, and the Bahamas, all while perfecting his underwater selfie game and hoping to find a fish that’s not camera shy.
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As a kid, he spent summers fishing, sailing, and swimming—basically training for a life of aquatic shenanigans and convincing everyone that he wasn’t just a mermaid in disguise. These days, you can find him either teaching people how not to drown (it’s a lot harder than it sounds), chasing his Corgi (who firmly believes she’s the captain of this ship), or explaining to bewildered strangers that yes, scuba instructors can indeed come from landlocked states—because someone has to keep the fish on their toes!
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His favorite quote: If in doubt, dive it out!
Claire
Claire was born and raised in the icy plains of North Dakota, now fully defrosted and thriving in sunny Florida. At 19, she packed up, moved down solo, and dove headfirst (literally) into a brand new life with zero scuba experience.
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Fast forward a bit, and now she's a PADI-certified Divemaster living her best saltwater life; trading snow boots for fins. While her friends back home scraping ice off their windshields, she's giving high-fives to fish. Moral of the story? Never underestimate a girl with a suitcase, a wetsuit, and no interest in winter.
Her favorite quote: "Every day is a good day when the ocean is your office."
Derek
Originally hailing from Corvallis, Oregon, Derek often gets mistaken for a Wyoming local—probably because his wardrobe screams “cowboy chic” and his demeanor says “I just wrestled a bear.” After a brief fling with the Navy (where he learned that folding a fitted sheet is not a military skill), he decided to try his hand at law enforcement. He bounced around three different agencies like a pinball, finally landing with the Oregon State Police—because who doesn’t want to be the coolest kid on the block with a badge?
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As a Detective, he dabbled in everything from counterterrorism to homicide, basically collecting job titles like Pokémon. He spent so much time at the TITAN Fusion Center that he almost asked for a desk with a nameplate. And while he was at it, he snagged a degree in Public Health and Sociological Science from Oregon State University—because why not add “master of the universe” to his résumé?
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For two years, he pursued a master’s in Epidemiology, focusing on weaponizing tropical diseases. Talk about a niche! He became the go-to guy for biological terrorism incidents, which is a fancy way of saying he spent too much time explaining why sneezing in public is not a bio-attack.
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After years of research in the Caribbean and South America, he finally decided he had enough of Oregon's rain and headed to Venice, Florida. His retirement plan? Sail into the sunset and fish like he’s in a seafood commercial. But, true to form, he found himself at a marina and somehow became a PADI Divemaster. Because, clearly, lounging on a beach wasn’t challenging enough!
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Derek’s classic quote? "Wait, you are really going to pay me to do this?"—which perfectly summarizes his approach to life: if you can make a living doing what you love, then you’ve officially won the jackpot!
Keira
Keira may spend most of the year landlocked in Kentucky, where the only waves she sees are from the local cornfields, but this summer she's traded those rolling hills for rolling waves—and boy, is she ready to make a splash! Growing up, she dreamed of being a pirate (with a side gig as a mermaid, of course), which means becoming a dive master intern in sunny Florida is basically living the dream—minus the eye patch and parrot.
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While she hasn’t commandeered any ships yet (mostly because she can’t find a ship that doesn’t have “No Pirates Allowed” signs plastered all over), you can catch her treasure hunting for teeth and doubloons at the Venice Boneyard reef. Just don’t ask her about her findings; she might try to sell you a shark tooth for the price of a yacht!
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Keira is absolutely thrilled to finally ditch her life of frosty mountain springs and ice-cold lakes for the warm embrace of the ocean—where the only thing lurking in the water is the occasional gator and her dreams of becoming the next Captain Hook! Until her college inevitably drags her back inland to finish her degree (because apparently, “Pirate Studies” isn’t a real major), she’s taking full advantage of Florida’s warm coast—soaking up every salty breeze, fish sighting, and, of course, that glorious Florida sun.
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Watch out world—Keira’s on a quest to find the best tan and maybe a hidden treasure or two, all while practicing her best “Arrrr!” Just don’t ask her to navigate; she still thinks the stars are just fancy Christmas lights!
Grace
Grace hails from the sunny state of South Carolina, where her love for water and the outdoors blossomed like a beach umbrella on a hot day. Growing up, she was basically a fish out of water – surfing, fishing, boating, and snorkeling were her bread and butter. If there was a water-related activity, Grace was probably the one trying to catch fish while standing on her head!
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After high school, she embarked on a six-month travel program that took her from exploring the Great Barrier Reef (where she may or may not have tried to befriend a clownfish) to riding camels in Morocco – because, you know, every adventure needs a camel ride. Somewhere in between, she probably lost a flip-flop and found her life’s purpose.
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Once her globe-trotting came to an end, Grace returned to her roots in the deep bayou of Louisiana. She enrolled at Louisiana State University, where she quickly discovered that while the football games were thrilling and the gumbo was a taste sensation, her true calling wasn’t a business degree. Who needs spreadsheets when you can have shrimp and grits?
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So, she packed her bags once more and headed to the sunshine state of Florida. At just 20, she became a PADI-certified dive master with zero scuba experience – because who needs practice when you can just dive right in? Now, instead of being confined to a classroom, she’s living her childhood dream, getting as close to being a mermaid as possible. If you hear someone singing “Under the Sea,” it’s probably Grace auditioning for her new role!
Haylee
Business Operations Manager, Master Captain and PADI Divemaster
Haylee is a born and raised Florida native. She has lived in many locations throughout the state, including Panama City and the Florida Keys. She has worked a variety of jobs, from librarian to bartender.
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Haylee came to Keys Huka Dive in January of 2020. In just five months, she went from never even seen Scuba gear before, to a certified Divemaster. While swiftly moving through the dive certification courses, she also hunkered down and worked on earning her 6-Pack Captain’s and Master Captain’s licenses.
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After earning her certifications and licenses, Haylee moved to the Florida Keys to become a “professional turtle stalker”. There, she worked diligently with first-time divers; introducing them to the underwater world and finding as many sea creatures as possible up and down the gorgeous reefs.
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She enjoys traveling the world in her free time. Currently, she works remotely from Germany; handling paperwork and technical duties for Keys Huka Dive in between exploring French vineyards and German castles.
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Haylee’s Quote:
“Tell me I can’t do it.”
Kim Williams
Chief Financial Officer and Queen of Everything
Kim has worked as a CPA and Finance Director for several Florida state government agencies during her career. While she loved her career, she wanted more than just a desk in her life; so she decided to check out scuba diving.
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She met the good Capt. Jerry as a dive student in Mexico Beach, Florida. Once she completed her advanced diver certification, Kim decided to ask the good Captain out for a few drinks after the dive trip. Well, it just so happened that the good Capt. Jerry had his eye on Kim, as well. After pursuing the young Captain for many, many years, she finally won the big door prize! She is now Mrs. Capt. Jerry Williams.
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She is the backbone of Keys Huka Dive. With Kim’s extensive experience in financial management (as well as early childhood development), she is keeping the business and the good Capt. Jerry in order. Although Kim holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Florida State, she still wishes she could be a Florida Gator.
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Kim’s Quote:
“Play the long game, ladies!”