Ohana Dive Co.
Meet the Ohana Dive Co. Staff
PADI Course Director
Owner
Ryan Hiler #302149
I started diving in 2011 and fell in love! I am passionate about ocean conservation and protecting its wildlife. I am a PADI Course Director, Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer, Airborne Pathogen Instructor, and a DAN O2 Provider Instructor. I also enjoy underwater photography and Technical diving. I have lived in various places around the world, including the Philippines, Florida, and Hawaii. I have gotten the opportunity to teach all ages to dive and experience life underwater. I look forward to introducing you to the world of diving!
PADI IDC Staff Instructor
EFR Instructor
Sarah Rich #440648
I started diving by accepting a dare and taking the discover scuba class. I immediately fell in love with the sport and the freedom that came with being underwater. I finished my Open Water in May 2018 and was in the water as much as possible. Along the way I discovered a passion for not only diving, but teaching and sharing that passion with others. I have since then finished my IDC Staff Instructor certification! I look forward to being able to share my passion for not only diving, but ocean conservation, with a younger generation. My goal is to continue to educate others on the amazing world that lies beneath the surface.
I dare you to take the plunge into diving!
PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Craig DeBourbon #523910
Hi fellow divers! I was privileged to start my diving adventures in the indescribably beautiful Egyptian
Red Sea, long-ago, and after an extended diving pause, I reignited the passion and resumed learning and
exploring in 2020. Like most divers who’ve had the opportunity to spend time up close with some of our
world’s beautiful marine wildlife, I certainly love and appreciate our precious sea-life … but I feel like my
main areas of passion and future specialization will be both the technical/equipment side of undersea
exploration, and also trying to communicate to, and with, other veterans about the positive life
outcomes of becoming an active diver. Of course, I’d love to teach and share the experience of diving,
with anyone and everyone who desires and dreams to explore the hidden underwater treasures of
mother nature.
PADI Openwater Scuba Instructor
Brad Vermeulen #528746
I started diving in 1995 in college and loved it immediately. After a long hiatus from diving after college to focus on my family, I came to Ohana Dive Co. to rent a tank to work on a friend’s pool. Sarah invited me to meet them at Martha’s Quarry for a refresher dive, which I did, and I was hooked again! I have since completed PADI Divemaster certification and am working toward instructor certification next. I love my family at Ohana, and I think you will too! Come see us! I’m looking forward to diving with you!
PADI Openwater Scuba Instructor
Ken Grilliot #528714
Ken Grilliot served 20 years in the United States Army. While assigned to Schofield Barracks in 2002, he received his Open Water and Advanced Open Water scuba diving certifications. He continued to dive throughout his military career. Ken was working as a contractor in Saudi Arabia when he decided to continue his scuba diving career. He earned multiple specialty diver certifications and his Rescue Diver certification. Upon returning to the United States, Ken took on the Divemaster program and earned his certification in 2022. After more than
20 years of diving, he finally attended and passed the Instructor Examination in March 2023. He has had the pleasure of diving in the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the Maldives, the Bahamas, Australia, Florida, Hawaii, and the great state of Tennessee.
Ken moved to the Nashville area in 2020, where he runs the Handgun Permit Unit in the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
James Copeland #395057
Like many people, I originally had concerns and fears about taking my first scuba course, but with each skill I mastered, I couldn’t wait to learn the next skill, take the next class, and earn my next certification. Before I knew it, I was certified to teach scuba. I will never forget my first open water dive and the indescribable feeling I had and continue to have with each dive. I love to share my passion of the underwater world, the places it takes me, and the people I meet. Scuba is my therapy. It can be both calm, quiet, and relaxing or challenging and adventurous depending on the style of diving.
PADI Divemaster
DSD Leader
Jarett Williams #455773
Hello fellow divers or soon to be divers! My name is Jarett Williams and I am a Divemaster here at Ohana Dive Co. I was able to start my diving career about two years ago and then was able to take my first trip shortly after I was open water certified. This was an absolutely amazing experience for me because not only was it my first dive trip, but it was also my first time out of the country. I could not have been happier that I was able to share this life changing experience with my Ohana family. There have been a few more trips since then with the best so far being a shark dive in West Palm with both bull and tiger sharks! I hope to take many more trips with Ohana Dive Co. in the future to be able to dive with all of the diverse sea life around the world. Now that I am a divemaster I am able to learn more about what it takes to be a responsible diver and how to be a better teacher to new students. It has been very fulfilling to be able help teach new divers about the opportunities they will have once they become certified; and I really look forward to seeing all of you new students in the water becoming awesome divers!
Scuba Queen 2023
Danielle DiLorenzo
PADI Divemaster
Shop Staff
Hi friends, my name is Dani! I have been passionate about the water since I was in 3rd grade getting my Bubblemaker certification in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Like many, I took my first breath underwater and was instantly hooked! I furthered my dive experience at 17 when I spent 21 days on a sailboat in the British Virgin Islands getting my Advanced Open Water and assisting with local wildlife conservation. After 9 years I have jumped back into the water with the incredible family at Ohana Dive Co. to continue my certifications and start teaching! It is my wish to expose more of you to the wonderful world under the surface and teach you how to safely and confidently explore some of the most beautiful places, this world of ours, has to offer. My dive goals not only include being an instructor; but they also include diving with the big 3: Tiger, Bull, and Great White sharks! Think that sounds crazy? Nahh it’ll be fun! Who wants to come with me?!
PADI Divemaster Candidate
Shop Staff
Sadler Webb
I came to know diving through a couple friends of mine and it spawned a whole passion in me I didn’t even know I initially had. I was training to go into the Navy, but ended up being denied. That somehow ended up leading me to Ohana, where I’m now a part of a community where I am loved and appreciated while becoming a better version of myself. My job doesn’t feel like a job; I am genuinely happy to go to work every day and learn something new to applicate to my diving progression.
PADI Open Water Diver
Shop Staff
Ash
I’m Ashleigh! I’ve spent the last two years heavily involved in animal welfare. My welding experience exposed me to a unique opportunity traveling across the country renovating Animal Shelters & Domestic Violence Shelters. Though I still care about the welfare of the cats & dogs in this world - I haven’t been able to ignore the tug towards the sea! I’ve had plenty of “light bulb” moments since starting at Ohana, and I’m eager to explore the realm of diving.
PADI Divemaster
Taylor Lynch
I started diving at the beginning of 2023 while studying abroad in the Turks and Caicos Islands for a Marine Resources program. There, I received my Open Water and Advanced Open Water certifications. My dives ranged from biodiversity surveys, coral tree installations, and scaling part of the 7,000-foot deep marine trench called the Turks Island Passage. This experience inspired me to pursue a dive master certification with Ohana Dive Co, which is close to home in Nashville. I’m super excited to further my diving career!
PADI Assistant Instructor
Remote "WPB" Staff
Jess Patterson #538389
Hey there! My name is Jess and you’ll probably get to know me as the girl who just really likes turtles. I got scuba certified at 18 and at 19 I started as an Aquarist at SeaWorld. I was lucky enough to care for sea turtles, sharks, octopus, and much more. I am currently a Certified Veterinary Technician caring for sick and injured sea turtles in Florida. In this position, I’m not only lucky enough to help save an endangered species, but I get opportunities to spark a passion in people to care about the planet. In 2022, I met the crew of Ohana Dive Co. and they have led me on journey back into diving! I completed my Divemaster course with this Ohana and now working towards being an Instructor, where I want to continue to get people excited about the ocean!! See ya under the water!
PADI Divemaster
Remote "WPB" Staff
Tim Thompson # 514061
Hey divers! My name is Tim. I decided to get into scuba diving because the girl I was dating now my wife, was already certified. I am friends with all the Ohana crew so I asked them to certify me in 2018. Also in 2018, I went with the Ohana Dive Company to Cozumel and got hooked from there on. I am a Dive Master with PADI. Now I live in West Palm Florida area. I love the diving here in Florida due to the warmer water year around! Come down and dive the Blue Heron Bridge. See you soon!