Team Marco

Meet Team Marco

We love our quiet little dive shop with it's true, old-fashioned "mom & pop" vibe, and love the people we get to share it with everyday.  So stop by and say hello - we're always happy to meet new people and help new divers discover the wonders of being underwater!


Captain Jeff

Captain Jeff has over 40 years experience on and under the water right here in Southwest Florida. Despite all his whining, Jeff's parents relocated from Ohio to Naples in 1973. "Thank God they didn't listen to me" is how he feels now! He received his first scuba certification as well as a degree in psychology from the University of Florida in the 80s. Jeff holds both PADI and SSI instructor certifications. He has certified 1000+ students and done over 6000 dives.

Jeff Dawson

SHOP COORDINATOR / FUN SPECIALIST

Jessi is originally from Arkansas where she grew up in an avid water loving family. Any given weekend was spent boating, waterskiing, and working out the kinks on lakes and rivers in her Papaw or dad’s latest project boat. In the early 90’s an opportunity came to move to Southwest Florida for her folks. Unlike Jeff, Jessi was ecstatic to move by the ocean. In fact after a couple years in Naples she decided she needed to be out by the Pacific for a while. Although northern California was wonderful and will always have a place in her heart, in 1998 she felt pulled back to Naples / Marco Island. After a few months back ‘home’ Jessi’s parents introduced her to their scuba instructor Jeff. And well, the rest as they say is history. Currently Jessi loves being involved in scuba kids camps, Camp Able, planning and guiding group dive travel, and of course being in the shop helping everyone get exactly the right equipment for their needs.

JESSICA DAWSON


Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Can you say diving teddy bear? Loud, boisterous, and fun loving, Instructor John loves to introduce people to the underwater world of scuba diving.  A born water baby, John grew up swimming and playing water polo in Northern California.  While attending  college, he earned his PADI Open Water certification in a quarry in Pennsylvania. The next year, he went back to the same quarry to complete his advanced certification.  After college, he served 6 years in the Navy, but you don’t have to thank him for his service.  While serving, he lived in Hawaii and was able to dive all over the world. 

After leaving the navy he traveled to Florida to become a PADI Open Water Instructor and started his professional career working in Key Largo.  He eventually moved to Naples  and has continued teaching SCUBA while also occasionally working as a Middle and High School Math Teacher.  When asked what his favorite dive is, his answer is always YES, because he can enjoy all types of diving in a wide range of conditions.

JOHN BLAKE

Scuba Instructor

I love Scuba diving any where from coldwater, to warm water, to hot tubs. I’m a PADI IDC Staff Instructor and teach many specialties. I’m a mixed gas technical and cave diver. Come dive with me!

Craig Lyons


REPAIR TECHNICIAN

John has been diving since he could run and teaching Scuba since 1999. He’s borderline OCD but that’s good for a Scuba repair tech! He holds current certifications authorizing him to service almost every brand, and his primary lab is here in SW Florida where he has lived since 1984. He sets up his mobile repair lab at Scuba Marco weekly.

JOHN FOX

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