 Instructor
Profiles | Mike Morris
- Instructor #: 207004
- Level of Instructor: IDC Staff
Instructor
- Diving since: 1994 (founded Sharky's
in 1997)
- Teaching Specialties:
- PADI:Alantis/Dolphin Rebreather,
Altitude Diver, Boat Diver, Deep Diver,
Drift Driver, Enriched Air Diver, Equipment
Specialist, Multilevel Diver, Night Diver,
Peak Performance Buoyancy, Project Aware,
Ray Rebreather, Underwater Naturalist,
Underwater Navigator, Wreck Diver
- TDI: Nitrox, Rebreather
- SDI: Open Water Diver,
Solo Diver
- DSAT: Gas Blender Instructor
- Special Credentials: EFR Medic
First Aid Instructor
- Distinctive Teaching Specialties:
Dry Suit Diver, Oxygen First Aid,
- # of divers certified: 125+ (Sharky's
1750+)
When I opened the dive shop back in 1997
my objective was to launch a small business
that would pay for a few annual diving vacations
- simple as that. The success of Sharky's
has been incredible and has exceeded my
wildest expectations. We've applied the
same customer service principles from the
hardware store (Morris Home Hardware) to
the dive shop and it has paid huge dividends.
Just as we have ironed out the bugs operationally,
the sport has really taken off. We are poised
for growth.
So we have a great situation supported
by great people. I want diving to be fun
- but it has to be safe. So just as we take
great pains to ensure high professional
standards are adhered to, we also practice
a philosophy that scuba is fun here at Sharky's.
Diving brings me incredible joy and relaxation.
As soon as I hit the water, my business
brain shuts off and I go into this mode
of wonder and adventure. It's like clicking
a switch. There are no cell phones underwater
and if they invent one I don't want it.
The best advice I can give someone just
starting out or considering scuba diving
is take your time and learn to dive safe.
Don't rush it at all - you'll be doing it
for the rest of your life.
Let us show you how.
Diving Career Highlights
The biggest highlight of my diving career
was becoming and instructor in the fall
of '99. I get immense satisfaction from
being with people as they first discover
scuba. The wonder and excitement in people's
wide-open eyes never ceases to make be smile.
Another time when I was in Hawaii I took
a newly wed couple out for their first Discover
Scuba course. Within 20 minutes, the woman
was petting the back of a black-tipped shark
at 35' - just incredible. I'm sure she never
forgot that either.
Mike's Top 3 Diving Destinations
- Hawaii: Pristine clear waters
and totally unique marine life (rare seals,
ancient boxy fish). Reefs are not as mature
as you get down in the Caribbean but are
beautiful never-the-less.
- Utila: Pristine water. Accommodations
are more rugged (it's more like backpacking).
Reefs are incredible, people are nice,
the island is safe and inexpensive (you
can dive for a week for $150 US whereas
in Hawaii you can spend $60 to $80 US
for a single dive).
- St. Lawrence: Our back yard.
Incredible fresh water diving that changes
daily - it's never the same. Constant
temperature from top to bottom. Visibility
can be fantastic one day and just a few
feet the next. Many large ship wrecks.
Lots of dive operations with great friendly
people.
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