Phuket Thailand's best scuba diving (+66) 0806 961 461
Aussie Divers Team

Aussie Divers Team

Introducing you to the Aussie Divers Phuket Team

Darren Gaspari

Darren Gaspari PADI Course Director Aussie Divers Phuket

Darren Gaspari PADI Course Director Aussie Divers Phuket

Darren Gaspari is an Australian who was born and bred in the Victorian country town of Mildura and later moving to the city of Melbourne to take a position with Victoria Police where he worked for over 10 years.

Darren came to Phuket for six months in 2008 and never went back after falling in love with Phuket and scuba diving decided that teaching people how to dive was a whole lot more fun and rewarding than the life of a police officer.

Having completed over 3000 dives in the local area which gives Darren a comprehensive and intimate knowledge of the local dive sites.

Darren has instructed over 800 happy students from over 30 different countries though out his time in Phuket. Darren is the holder of the coveted PADI Course Director rating which is the highest instructor achievement obtainable in the PADI program. Darren is qualified and happy to teach everyone from the first timer to assistant instructor level and can assist you in achieving your instructor qualifications. He is also the holder of the following PADI Instructor specialty credentials:

Specialties

He loves his marine life and the St Kilda Football Club equally. He loves to chat Aussie rules with anyone that cares to listen.

Ashley Walker

Ashley Walker - PADI Master Instructor

Ashley Walker – PADI Master Instructor

Ashley Walker is a country Australian, with a passion for the water. This is surprising since Ashley was born in the middle of a 10 year drought, in the same small country town as Darren Gaspari, Mildura. Moving to Ballarat closer to the ocean is when Ash found his craving for salt water, this only grew stronger with a move to the sunny Gold Coast and living a life on the beach in his teenage years.

Its surprising that it wasn’t until the age of 26 that Ash did his first DSD dive in Phuket, Thailand and found his passion for Scuba Diving and for Thailand. After that trip to South East Asia Ashley went home and enrolled in the PADI Zero to Hero program, changing his career path from retail management to PADI Pro in 2010. With a strong background in retail Ashley entrenched himself into the dive industry working as a Sales, Marketing and Technical Manager for Mares Asia Pacific. This is how he met Darren G. promoting Aussie Divers at ADEX in 2012, amazing since Ash and Darren both originate from a town with a population of just 30,000 people.

Working as a PADI Dive Instructor in some of the best diving destinations in the world, including the a year on a remote island in the Great Barrier Reef, it was a natural progression to move to Phuket and start work with Aussie Divers early in 2016. With well over 3000 dives throughout Asia Pacific Ashley has moved up through the PADI Professional ranks earning his IDC Staff Instructor Rating at Aussie Divers. His passion for diving flows into the specialty course’s he can teach below (Can also assist you with “true blue” Aussie Slang as well).

Specialty Instructor Certifications:

And is a DSAT Gas Blender

Martin Ruhoff

Martin Ruhoff Aussie Divers Phuket Scuba Diving Padi 5 Star IDC Dive Centre

Martin Ruhoff Aussie Divers Phuket Scuba Diving Padi 5 Star IDC Dive Centre

Martin Ruhoff – PADI MSDT Instructor

Hailing from Denmark in the cold north of Europe Martin began his love of scuba diving more than a decade ago in Ao Nang Thailand. As with most of us he caught the scuba diving bug and has never looked back. He has now been teaching in Thailand for almost ten years.

Martin’s easy going and relaxed Scandinavian persona makes him an excellent and well respected instructor and we are proud to have him on our books at Aussie Divers Phuket. He is also an avid underwater photographer and talking about underwater photos with customers and students.

He has dived many countries of the world including Mexico, Philippines, Sweden, Palau, Indonesia, Turkey and many others.

If you are interested in Technical Diving then Martin is our Tech guru and the one to speak to about anything regarding the PADI Tech courses, going deeper and lasting longer. He is currently getting his dive hours up on CCR systems, and exploring for new Tec dive sites here in Phuket.

Wide range of specialties including

Guy Allen

Guy Allen Aussie Divers Phuket Scuba Diving Padi 5 Star IDC Dive Centre

Guy Allen Aussie Divers Phuket Scuba Diving Padi 5 Star IDC Dive Centre

Guy Allen – PADI MSDT Instructor

Guy Allen is an experienced PADI MSDT from Tasmania, Australia. He has been diving for over 30 years and has gained extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of scuba diving. Guy is a certified PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT), which signifies that he has the experience and certifications to offer all the PADI training a diver needs to become a PADI Master Scuba Diver. He has trained hundreds of divers at all levels, from beginners to advanced, and has a wealth of knowledge about the diving industry. Guy is passionate about diving and enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with others.

Now, Guy has taken his expertise to Phuket, Thailand, where he is teaching PADI courses. As an experienced PADI MSDT, Guy is able to provide his students with top-notch training and guidance, ensuring they are fully equipped to explore the underwater world safely and confidently. Guy’s teaching style is relaxed, yet thorough, and he takes the time to ensure his students understand the principles of diving and are able to apply them in real-life scenarios. Students who learn from Guy can expect a fun and rewarding experience that will prepare them for a lifetime of diving adventures.

Frank Degousée

Franck Degousée Aussie Divers Phuket Scuba Diving Padi 5 Star IDC Dive Centre

Franck Degousée Aussie Divers Phuket Scuba Diving Padi 5 Star IDC Dive Centre

Franck Degousée – PADI IDC Staff Instructor

Franck Degousée is an experienced PADI Staff Instructor from France who has been teaching scuba diving in Phuket, Thailand for the last 10 years. With over 20 years of diving experience, Franck has gained extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of scuba diving. He is a certified PADI Staff Instructor, which is a prestigious certification awarded to experienced diving professionals who have demonstrated their ability to teach and train others.

During his time in Phuket, Franck has become an integral part of the local diving community. He has trained hundreds of divers at all levels, from beginners to advanced, and has a wealth of knowledge about the diving industry. Franck is passionate about diving and enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with others. He has a reputation for being patient, calm, and thorough in his teaching approach, and his students appreciate his attention to detail and focus on safety. Franck is committed to ensuring that his students not only learn the skills required to become competent divers but also develop a love and respect for the ocean and its inhabitants.

Overall, Franck Degousée is a highly experienced and respected diving professional who has made a significant contribution to the diving community in Phuket, Thailand.

Wide range of specialties including

Rishab Kannambille

Rishab Kannambille Aussie Divers Phuket Scuba Diving Padi 5 Star IDC Dive Centre

Rishab Kannambille Aussie Divers Phuket Scuba Diving Padi 5 Star IDC Dive Centre

Rishab Kannambille – PADI OWSI

Rishab Kannambille is a passionate scuba diver originally from Bangalore, India, who is now a certified PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) teaching for Aussie Divers Phuket. He first discovered his love for diving while on a trip to the Andaman Islands and has been hooked ever since. Rishab has since turned his passion into a career and has been teaching scuba diving in Phuket for several years.

Rishab’s journey to becoming an instructor started when he did his PADI Divemaster course with Aussie Divers Phuket. He was so impressed with the quality of training and the professionalism of the team that he decided to stay on and become an instructor. Rishab’s enthusiasm for diving and his attention to detail make him an excellent instructor. He has a natural ability to connect with his students, and his patient teaching style ensures that they feel comfortable and confident in the water. Rishab is committed to providing his students with a safe and enjoyable diving experience, and his passion for the sport is infectious.

Overall, Rishab Kannambille is a talented and dedicated diving professional who is making a name for himself in the Phuket diving community. His love for diving, combined with his excellent teaching skills and commitment to safety, make him a highly sought-after instructor. Rishab’s story is a testament to the opportunities that can arise from following your passions and pursuing your dreams.

Wide range of specialties including

Three Minutes with MartinThree Minutes with Martin
Hi, was This Page Helpful?
(7 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...

A Diving Community In Phuket

Here at Aussie Divers Phuket we don't just consider ourselves a PADI dive shop, we think of it as more, a big diving family of like minded individuals coming together to enjoy the marine environment through diving in Phuket & Thailand. We are always happy to chat with new divers or old, so please drop by anytime to see what is going on and if you have dived with us or want to dive with us than feel free to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our community Dive Blog and generally stay in touch & stay informed.

Free Pool Try Scuba Diver Aussie Divers Phuket Helpful Diving Info

Do I Need to Know How To Swim to Scuba Dive?

This is a question that I often get asked, and really it is not as simple as YES or NO. If you want to become a certified scuba diver by doing the PADI Open Water Diver Course, the answer is yes. In the PADI Open Water Diver Course it is specified that you have to be able to swim 200 metres. This can be with any stroke. You also have to be able to tread water or float for at least 10 minutes. The reason for this is not for the fact that scuba diving requires you to swim. But rather it is for your and your groups safety. In the unlikely event that your BCD (Buoyancy Control Device) was to falter then there would be no device to kee [...]

Read The Story
Whale Shark Similan Liveaboard Aussie Divers Phuket Marine Life

Why whale sharks are NOT the coolest creatures in the sea…

One of the most popular creatures some say the coolest, in the sea is the whale shark. Look at most websites in Phuket and around the world and they will feature pics of these massive creatures. Travel to some locations in the world and you could not help but think they are the only creatures in the sea. We we are about to debunk that theory and prove that they are not as cool as what divers think. We rate the whale shark on four key areas, make you own mind up. They are never there when they need them to be Divers have spent many millions of dollars chasing that elusive glimpse of a whale shark and have failed. They have trav [...]

Read The Story
Great Scuba Diving Day Aussie Divers Phuket Everything Else

Scuba Diving Phuket – Recovery After the Pandemic

The Phuket scuba diving industry took a pretty big hit during the COVID pandemic. Phuket was isolated from the outside world for almost 18 months. During the period there were times when there was no scuba diving in Phuket at all. Even our local beach dives at Kata Beach were banned for an amount of time. The Phuket scuba diving industry is heavily reliant on international visitors and some businesses are almost 99% dependent on international divers. It was a very tough time for scuba diving in Phuket. A lot of scuba diving instructors returned to their native countries and employment within the scuba diving was slashed. The pand [...]

Read The Story