Melissa G ( Conservation Team Team )

  • Instructor

    PADI IDC Staff Instructor - Scuba Diving since 2000

    Growing up on Long Island in New York, Melissa always knew she wanted to be a Marine Biologist. After graduating from Boston University with a degree in Business and a minor in Biology in 2006, she worked in worldwide logistics for a semiconductor company for three years. 

     

    In 2015, Melissa completed her Ph.D. in Biology at Texas A&M University. Her research resulted in publications on the population genetic structure of dusky smooth-hound sharks in the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Melissa relocated to Hawaii where she taught SCUBA Diving and Science at the middle and high school levels. Her passion for leading youth-based experiential education brought her to Odyssey Expeditions in 2021. In August of 2022, Melissa moved to Key West, where she taught Physical Sciences at Horace O’Bryant School and continued facilitating SCUBA Diving classes while teaching at Southpoint Divers. Melissa continues to teach marine education through DiveN2Life.

     

    She most recently started her career at Rainbow Reef in May of 2023! Her favorite part of teaching is helping people to achieve their dreams, often in spite of their fears.

    • Favorite Dive Site:

      Spiegel Grove

    • Favorite Specialty Class:

      Fish ID

    • Favorite Fish:

      Bony: Spotted Drum, Cartilaginous: Atlantic Guitarfish

    • Favorite Restaurant:

      Num Thai

    • Favorite Movie:

      Good Will Hunting

    PADI Specialty Instructor Certifications:

    • Wreck Diver

    • Deep Diver

    • Enriched Air/Nitrox Diver

    • Boat Diver

    • Peak Performance Buoyancy Diver

    • Night Diver

    • Search & Recovery Diver

    • Self Reliant Diver

    • Underwater Navigator

    • Digital Photo/Video

    • Diver Propulsion Vehicle

    • Drift Diver

    • Equipment Specialist

    • Project Aware

    • Coral Reef Conservation

    • Dive Against Debris

    • Fish Identification

    • Shark Conservation

    • Sea Turtle Awareness

    • PADI Emergency 02 Provider

    • EFR Primary/Secondary Care

    • EFR Care for Children

My Dive Gear:

  • Regulators:

    Aqua Lung Titan

    Titan image - medium Incorporating all the best features of its predecessors, this third generation Titan has innovative features resulting in a more comfortable, lighter-weight and easier-breathing regulator. For the consumer that wants performance at an affordable price to ...

  • BCD:

    Aqua Lung Pro HD

    Pro HD image - medium The Pro HD is a wrap-around jacket with weight integration that is sure to appeal to a wide range of divers. It provides excellent value because it is so feature-rich for the price. Wherever you want to take it, it's ready to go....

  • Dive Computers:

    Aqua Lung i300C Dive computer with Bluetooth

    i300C Dive computer with Bluetooth image - medium Connect wirelessly to your new Aqua Lung I300C Dive computer with Bluetooth...

  • Mask:

    Atomic Frameless

    Frameless image - medium The success of this product derives from meticulous computer design and numerous optical tests. The central position of the eyes and the optimally angled window provides the widest possible viewing angle in every direction. Quick-adjusting ergonomic buckl...

  • Octopus:

    Aqua Lung Titan / Calypso Octo

    Titan / Calypso Octo image - medium Perfectly compatible with the Titan regulators, this mid sized alternate air source is a high quality, affordable octo. High viz purge cover along with the high viz 39 inch hose makes identifying fast and efficient. The front purge cover is designed for e...

/home/rrdc/tmp/weather.FWYF1-xml.cache0
Rainbow Reef Dive Center Barracuda