Staff, Crew & Boats
Who We Are
All our Instructor, Dive Master, Back-up, and Support staffs are experienced divers who enjoying sharing their love of diving with other people. Our staff of instructors alone has a combined total of over 65 years of experience in teaching people to dive. All of our instructors are certified to teach a multitude of specialty diving courses, and are recognized by SSI as either Advanced Open Water Instructors or Master Instructors, up to Dive Control Specialist (Dive Master) Instructors. In addition, we have YMCA SCUBA and PADI instructors on staff.
Our Fearless Leaders
Bob Karl - Contact Bob
SSI Master Instructor/Dive Control Specialist Instructor
SSI Instructor for Multiple Specialties
YMCA Silver SCUBA Instructor
University of Minnesota Faculty Instructor (Course# PE1205)
US Coast Guard Certified Captain for Great Lakes and Inland Waters
25+ year veteran of the local SCUBA industry
3000+ dives logged around the world
Shawn Jones - Contact Shawn
SSI Instructor: Advanced Open Water & Multiple Specialties
SSI Dive Control Specialist Instructor
YMCA SCUBA Instructor
US Coast Guard Certified Captain for Great Lakes and Inland Waters
Instructor Staff
Ian Kaner - Contact Ian
SSI Instructor: Advanced Open Water & Multiple Specialties
YMCA SCUBA Instructor
Instructing since 1995; American Red Cross Lifeguard Certified
Current Area of Diving Interest: "Teaching/instructing. I enjoy working with students, at their pace, and in a fun way to introduce them to the wonderful world of SCUBA diving."
Hanz Lehrke - Contact Hanz
SSI Open Water Instructor
In addition to working with Superior Expeditions, Hanz is one of the resident dive instructors with Northland Divers.
Andy Leidel - Contact Andy
SSI Instructor: Advanced Open Water & Multiple Specialties
Manufacturer certified technician for Atomic Aquatics, and Scubapro; Aqualung Master Technician
Diving since 1988
Current Area of Diving Interest: "Underwater Photography."
John Mazzarella - Contact John
SSI Instructor: Advanced Open Water & Multiple Specialties
Instructing since 1996
Manufacturer certified technician for Atomic, Scubapro, Apeks; Aqualung Master Technician
Favorite Place to Dive: "For local diving it's hard to beat Lake Superior. For warm water it's Cayman Brac. The combination of varied marine life and stunning underwater walls make this place hard to beat."
Mark Pagel - Contact Mark
SSI Master Instructor/PADI Advanced Open Water Instructor
30+ year veteran of the local SCUBA industry
Manufacturer certified technician for Atomic Aquatics, Scubapro, Apeks, and a bunch of other brands; Aqualung Master Technician
Mary Radtke - Contact Mary
SSI Open Water Instructor
Manufacturer certified technician for Aqualung and Atomic Aquatics
Advice to New Divers: "If you're looking for me,You better check under the sea, 'cause that is where you'll find me, Underneath the sea, lab, Underneath the water, Sealab, at the bottom of the sea."
Ken Ries - Contact Ken
SSI Open Water Instructor
Ken's Hokku About Diving:
"under sea
though buddied, alone - peaceful.
where I Am"
Brad Rolfs - Contact Brad
SSI Instructor: Advanced Open Water & Multiple Specialties
TDI Advanced Nitrox, Decompression Procedures, and Trimix
GUE Fundamentals of DIR / TDI Advanced Gas Blender
Manufacturer certified technician for Aqualung and Atomic Aquatics
Quote About Diving: "Dive education, at all levels, should be a mentoring process. The learning, and teaching, shouldn't end when a certification card is issued."
Assistant Instructors, Dive Masters & Backups
David Paulu - Contact David
SSI Dive Control Specialist/Assistant Instructor
Manufacturer certified technician for Scubapro; Aqualung Master Technician
Favorite Place to Dive: "Isle Royale in Lake Superior. Even though the water is a little chilly the wrecks are awesome."
Erik Green - Contact Erik
SSI Dive Control Specialist/Assistant Instructor
Favorite Place to Dive: "The warm waters of Lake Superior."
Current Area of Diving Interest: Shipwrecks and underwater technology (ROVs, drop cameras, side scan sonar)."
Quote About Diving: "The key to a good dive is a calm mind."
Mike Thompson - Contact Mike
SSI Dive Control Specialist/Assistant Instructor
In addition to working with Superior Expeditions, Mike usually teaches the regularly scheduled SCUBA Skills Update course at Northland Divers.
Quote About Diving: "Good divers are always learning. Whether it's refreshing old skills through an update class or learning new skills in a continuing education class, you should always try to improve your skill level."
Heidi Lehrke - Contact Heidi
SSI Dive Control Specialist/Assistant Instructor
In addition to working with Superior Expeditions, Heidi is one of the resident Dive Control Specialists with Northland Divers.
Linse Lahti
Stacia Madsen
Mike Felten
Seth Mayotte
Katie Hart
Walter Trach
Milena Sivertson
Ricky Biga
Kirk Gridley
Sterling Hostetler
Connie Jones
Naomi Soderbeck
Boats
Sunshine II
30' Trojan with twin 225 horsepower engines. Equipped with a full galley, running water, and head. Sleeps six. Ready for six divers, plus Captain and crew.
Betsy
20' Bombard hard hull with twin 60 horsepower engines.
Carries up to six divers, plus Captain and crew.
Roadtrip
18' Avon hard hull with a single 100 horsepower
engine. Carries four to six divers, plus Captain and crew.
