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Meet the Asia Divers Team

We have a friendly and highly experienced team, some being pioneers in the dive industry in the region. We'll provide the highest standards of tuition and an adventurous yet enjoyable time.

Executive Team

PADI Course Director, Managing Director

Allan Nash

Allan, originally from Australia, spent several years in Hong Kong in the construction business before discovering Puerto Galera in 1985. The founding partner of Asia Divers and El Galleon Resort, Allan has one son Arthur. Allan’s other interests include Ultra-Light aircraft and golf.
PADI Master Instructor, Technical Director

Andy Norman

Andy is the other founding partner of Asia Divers. A veteran of the aeronautical industry in Oman, Andy first visited Puerto in 1982. Andy keeps himself busy with the dirty side of the business: compressors, generator and equipment maintenance. Andy walked 520 Kms around the island of Mindoro mid 2000, to raise money for charity. Andy runs all the Equipment Seminars at Asia Divers
PADI Master Instructor, Director Sales & Travel

Tommy Soderstrom

Asia Divers’ third partner is Swedish Tommy Soderstrom who started as a Divemaster in 1988. Tommy is married to Lina and has a daughter and son. His passions include motor biking and ‘hash running’, when he’s not exploring new dive destinations.

Diving Instructors

Mermaid / PADI IDC Staff Instructor

Allison Manis

Allison escaped the icy cold Canadian waters and has been in the Philippines since 1995. Originally, an Art Director/Graphic Designer in Toronto, she moved to Manila and worked for the Canadian Embassy before heading to Puerto Galera. She’s been with Asia Divers since 1997 and loves taking her camera out for a spin to look for all the weird and wonderful macro creatures. With over 11,000 dives in the local area, she knows all the dive sites intimately!

Besides diving, she is responsible for the Monday Newsletter, and also leads marketing for the company. Allison is kept busy in her spare time with her 17 year old daughter, Ariana.

Partner, Instructor Trainer and Manager of TECHASIA

Dave Ross

Born in London in 1964. Dave is a Geologist by education. He learned to dive whilst living and working out of Hong Kong, and turned professional, as a Divemaster in 1991 and then a PADI Instructor in 1992. When IANTD came to the Philippines in ’95 he was among the first group of Instructors certified, and currently holds the ratings of IANTD Trimix Instructor, plus Normoxic Trimix and Gas Blending Instructor Trainer.

A lot of Dave’s current effort is in the area of dive trip organization and trying to find new and interesting opportunities for our divers to enjoy.

PADI IDC Staff Instructor and EFRI Trainer

Pete Eaton

Pete was born in the north of England. A Mechanical Engineer by trade, he has tried his hand at a wide variety of jobs including Market Trading and Plant Operating. He worked in South Africa and Hong Kong before arriving in the Philippines in 1995.

Pete arrived as many do, in Puerto Galera and the Philippines, on holiday and just hasn’t left. He has a wife, son and daughter here.

IANTD TRIMIX and Technical Wreck Instructor Trainer

Sam Collett

Another Brit, originally from Brighton, Sam began diving at Asia Divers in 1994. He was at that time living in Sydney and owned a very successful Stone Masonry and Restoration business, which he ultimately sold and moved to full time diving as a career. Sam is an IANTD Instructor Trainer to the levels of full Trimix, Technical Wreck and Gas Blending, and also teaches DPV, Essentials courses, Rebreather, and all of the PADI/DSAT levels to Tec Trimix. Sam’s instructional and supervisory skill, patience, and attention to individual’s diver’s particular needs and abilities have made him a tremendously popular and highly respected member of the Tech Asia team, and in the field of Asian technical diving generally. Sam also involves himself actively in dive travel, having put together excursions all over the Philippines, and from Micronesia, South China Sea, Java Sea, Sri Lanka and to the Burma Banks.
PADI Instructor

Ruben Maranan

Ruben has worked for Asia Divers since 1998 carrying tanks, assisting in the shop, driving boats and fixing regulators. He worked his way up through the ranks to become a PADI Instructor.

Ruben is a valuable member of our team and is very experienced in the local area. He is a great spotter for all you photographers out there. Ruben is from here, married with two daughters.

PADI Instructor and Adventurer Extraordinaire!

Rhea Maceda

Rhea's journey to becoming a scuba pro is as exciting as it gets. Initially "stuck" in Puerto Galera due to the pandemic, she didn't let that hold her back. As lockdowns unfolded, Rhea's curiosity led her to dive deeper into the depths of the ocean. From a curious explorer, she evolved into a Dive Master, falling in love with the serene beauty and wonder of the underwater world.

Back in her varsity days, Rhea was always a part of sports competing teams, but scuba diving brought her into a whole new universe—one where tranquillity and amazement reign supreme.

Rhea is an outdoor enthusiast through and through. The mere thought of office confines or endless night shifts confined to a single chair was simply unbearable for her adventurous spirit. And so, she made the bold choice to transform her passion into her profession. Dive in and explore the underwater wonders with Rhea—the sea is her calling, and she's ready to share its magic with you!

PADI Instructor

Arthur Nash

A local to Puerto Galera. Art has been a PADI instructor for 3 years now and enjoys blackwater, drift and muck dives the most. He has a background in music and first love is playing the bass guitar.
PADI Instructor

Randy Lopez

Meet Randy Lopez, a passionate member of our incredible team hailing from Puerto Galera. With four years of freelance diving experience across various dive shops in the area, Randy found his home at Asia Divers, where he not only became an instructor but an invaluable part of our amazing team.

Randy specializes in muck diving, where he thrives in showcasing the extraordinary world of marine life. His enthusiasm shines as he guides divers through encounters with peculiar creatures such as pygmy seahorses, flamboyant cuttlefish, and ornate ghost pipefish.

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Contact Information

El Galleon Dive Resort & Asia Divers

Booking/General inquiries:
admin@asiadivers.com

Diving/Courses Inquiries:
instructors@asiadivers.com

PADI Professional Courses:
idc@asiadivers.com

Technical Diving:
dave@techasia.ph


Cellphone+ 63 (917)814-5107

Address:
Small Lalaguna Beach, Sabang, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines 5203

Manila Office
Equipment Sales

Address:
1741 Dian Street, Abimir Place, Palanan Makati City, Philippines 1253

manila@asiadivers.com

Tel: +63 (02)-8- 834-2974