Guiding the Next Descent
The same discipline and care that drive public safety divers also shape the people who teach others to dive. Instructors transform curiosity into confidence and show students both the beauty and responsibility that come with the sport.
At the heart of this network is Blue Wave Dive Center, a cooperative-style shop established by a team of experienced instructors.“ We wanted to represent the pulse of the community and support all aspects of diving,” said Ken Robbeloth, Master Instructor and Director of Training. Blue Wave, located in Georgetown, offers a full range of courses from beginner to professional, recreational to technical, including public safety and adaptive diving.
“ We wanted something inclusive, something that met community needs,” said President Dennis Haines. Blue Wave divers take recreational trips across the U. S. and abroad, as well as local dives in nearby lakes and quarries. Whether someone is training for public safety work or getting certified for a family vacation, the goal is the same: to make diving safe, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone.
Richard Haines, a Navy veteran, Master Instructor, and owner of Blue Wave, sees diving as more than sport.“ Diving is therapeutic,” he said.“ Serene, relaxing, and helps people heal, especially veterans and people with PTSD or disabilities.”
That sense of care and awareness carries into the classroom and the water.“ You start with relationships,” Punjack said.“ Every student is different. Learn what motivates them.” She remembers a student with sensory sensitivity. The fix was not encouragement; it was switching gear to make him more comfortable. She added,“ Problem solving and patience matter.”
McDole agrees that lessons learned below the surface translate above it.“ It is the most unnatural thing you will ever ask your body to do – breath underwater,” he said.“ Once you master that, you have opened up 70 percent of the planet most people never see.”
Surfacing Together
Diving connects people in different ways. For some, it is a calm break from everyday life; for others, a way to teach, serve, or simply stay curious.
Whitney Nash says diving deepened her respect for the natural world and the balance that sustains it. Amelia Cantrell calls it a kind of freedom— an escape that feels both peaceful and alive. Public safety divers Cameron Corley,
Monika Punjack, and Lee McDole find purpose in teamwork, service, and the trust that every mission demands. Instructors and diving community leaders Ken Robbeloth, Dennis Haines, and Richard Haines work to make diving safe, welcoming, and accessible for everyone.
Back on land, divers unpack gear, trade stories, and think about the next descent. The appeal never fades. There is always another place to explore, another dive to plan, another moment of quiet waiting just below the surface.
JAN / FEB 2026 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE PAGE NO. 25