Capt. Ray Black began his diving career 18 years ago serving in the USMC/USN. After an Honorable discharge he continued his career as a commercial diver working in all aspects of commercial diving. Capt. Black Founded Commercial Diving Academy in 1995, his goal then and still today is to produce Certified World Class Divers and to prepare them with necessary skills needed and sought after in the Industry today.

SAFETY-EDUCATION-INTEGRITY

Mr. Hibbard started diving in 1975 and began his commercial career with the U.S. Navy in 1983. Mr. Hibbard’s class was the “last class of copper and brass”- The last class the USN trained in the MK-V diving helmet of old as portrayed in the movie “Men of Honor”. Mr. Hibbard has earned his living in the field ever since, logging over 7000 + hours diving and has extensive experience in salvage and underwater construction. Mr. Hibbard is an expert in ships husbandry and has specialized in military vessels. Mr. Hibbard has held the title of Diver, Dive Supervisor, Project Manager, Operations Manager and Vice President of Diving Operations in various companies and holds a Mixed Gas Diving Supervisor certification with the ADC

Mr. Callaway retired from the U.S. Navy in 1998, after 27 years of service.  Twenty three years were as a First Class Deep Sea Diver and as a Master Explosive Ordinance Technician.  During this time, he was qualified as an unlimited Air/Mixed Gas Diving Supervisor, Craft Master, Master Training Specialist, Divers Life Support System Technician, and a Hyperbaric Chamber Technician.  He also is an Air/Mixed Gas Diving Supervisor with ADC.  Since retiring from the Navy, he has worked as a Diving Equipment Technician, Dock/Barge Master, Divers Life Support System Technician, and as an Owner/Operator of a Diving Company in Northwest Georgia

Drew started his diving career as a SCUBA instructor for NAUI.  He decided to advance his training in 1997 and enrolled in school to certify as a Commercial Diver.  Drew worked for Underwater Construction Corp. as a lead diver.  He performed ECCS Suction Strainer retro-fits for Nuclear Power Plants. Drew also worked offshore performing Oil Rig maintenance, hull surveys, topography surveys, inspections and emergency call outs for welding repairs.

 

Mr. Joslyn retired from the U.S. Navy in 1990 after 23 years of service as a First Class Diver and Diving Officer. During his Navy diving career his jobs included heavy underwater salvage, diving instructor at both Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center and Naval School of Diving and Salvage. Mr. Joslyn also qualified as a Master Training Specialist, Life Support Systems Certifications Officer, QA Officer for Diver Life Support Systems and HEO2 diving supervisor.

After retiring Mr. Joslyn has worked as a Hyperbaric Chamber Operator, commercial rigger, crane inspector, and repair technician. He is now returning to what he loves.being an instructor.

Mr. Koteski started diving in 1987 as a Diver in the Yugoslavian Navy. He left the Navy in 1989 and worked as a commercial diver for Irix, a Commercial Diving and Construction company. Vinko fabricated concrete forms for docks and pilings, worked in electrical power plants and installed underwater pipelines for municipal water delivery systems. He also worked for the Macedonian Government excavating a 4000 year old underwater archeological site. Mr. Koteski has performed underwater salvage operations and opened Kaneo Diving in 1998, a recreational scuba instructional school. Mr. Koteski has worked as a Commercial Diver in: Croatia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and the United States. He speaks English, Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Slovenian, and Macedonian

Scott Evans began diving in 1982 and has been involved in the diving industry ever since.  In 1992 he received his B.S. from Radford University and qualified as a SCUBA  instructor.  In 1997 he purchased the family dive business and went on to create one of the largest dive retail stores in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Scott is a NAUI Course Director, Technical Diving Instructor , PADI Master Instructor and IDC Staff instructor.  Additionally, he holds instructor certifications as a Handicapped Scuba Instructor and DAN Oxygen Provider.   Scott is an ADC certified Commercial Diver and a founder of Dive Services Inc., a commercial diving company.   After selling his interest in both companies he relocated to Florida and joined CDA.  Scott is the Program Manager for Professional Scuba Diving Academy( PSDA) and is currently working on his M.B.A. at University of North Florida.

Michael Parks served in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman for 15 years. He has worked as a Paramedic for 11 years. Michael has directed EMT-B Courses, Paramedic courses and holds his instructor certifications in ACLS, BLS, PALS and PHTLS. Mike has audited courses such as TNCC, Wilderness EMT, Cold Weather Training, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Confined Space and Hazmat Technician. He currently works as a FF/Paramedic at Mayport Fire and Emergency Services as well as teaching at Commercial Diving Academy.

Michael brings to CDA over 26 years of Firefighting and Emergency Medical experience. After spending 8 ½ years in the US Army as a Combat Field Medic, being decorated with the “Bronze Star”, for Valor under fire. Michael joined the Department of Defense as a Firefighter/ Paramedic. He is a certified Firefighter I and II, Airport Firefighter, Hazmat Technician, Confined Space Rescue Technician, High Angle Rescue Technician, Florida Paramedic with Pals, ACLS, NRP Provider, and PHTLS Combined Provider.

Frankie Taylor has worked as a blacksmith for the Navy and civilian ships for more than 20 years. His certifications include first class welding, mig and tig, sub-arc, flux core, hardwire, 7018, 7024, brazing, ship fitter-first class, and machinist (outside)-first class. Frankie has worked in Norfolk, Charleston and Mayport Naval Bases as well as international ship repair. Some of his projects completed include a $125 million dollar 2 year flight deck replacement, weapons remag project aboard the USS John F Kennedy, and redecking and regulating L.H.S. ships for Abraham M1 tanks. Frankie is trained in vacuum and metal particle weld testing and specializes in sub-arc, speed weaver, weld handy, buggo, carbon arc, and torch welding. All in all Frankie brings to C.DA. an invaluable plethora of topside welding expertise ready and willing to share his knowledge with all students of the Academy.

Capt. Joe has successfully completed training from Chapman School of Seamanship, Stuart, Florida, 1992. Bluewater Foundation, Jacksonville, Florida, 2000. He was Issued USCG License #944473, Miami, Florida, 2000. Always an active boater since 1960, Living aboard his vessels since 1982. Extensive cruising since 1991. He completed the “The Great Circle Loop” 1993, which included Texas, Louisiana, Alabama & Florida. Then north along the Atlantic to New York, east to Chicago, south to Alabama and commencing back at Florida. Between 1994 and 2003, Joe delivered several vessels including an offshore return of a sailboat from Culebra, Puerto Rico to West Palm Beach, Florida.

Johnny Charrier Jr. started his diving career in 1989 as a search and rescue diver for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. In 1992 he completed commercial diving school and started his career in the offshore oil industry in the Gulf of Mexico. In 1996 he became a Nationally Registered Paramedic (NREMT- P), working the streets of New Orleans. Combining these two careers he completed the National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology (NBDHMT) course in 1997. Johnny has also worked in the Hyperbaric Dept. of JoEllen Smith Medical center logging over 2000 chamber hours both in the chamber and as a chamber operator, in addition to the years of wet diving in the Oil Patch.

On Assignment
Offshore in the Gulf

David Mallin began his diving career in Scotland in 1975, working in the North Sea for Comex and Wharton Williams Taylor. After serving an apprenticeship as a mechanical engineer in the coal mining industry he worked in copper mines in Australia and Papua New Guinea. He served as an engineer in the British Merchant Navy before going offshore as a diver. He was a saturation diver and supervisor in the North Sea, India, Norway, France, Singapore, and New Zealand. He worked in Brazil for 4 years before moving to the Gulf of Mexico where he has been a supervisor and superintendent for 15 years.