| Ocean Frontiers Staff - Cayman Islands |
The above Family Photo of the Ocean Frontiers Cayman Islands Staff for 2011, shows the whole team of 25 dedicated individuals who are passionate about diving and showing you the best East End has to offer.
Please enjoy the staff profiles below - honestly, you couldn't make some of this stuff up, even if you tried! World Disco Champion, Tool Bounty Hunter, Mount Everest, Coffee Snob, Fish Whisperer..... just to name a few:
 Name: Thumper the 'CEO' Dog
Nick Name: Boo Boo Country of Origin: Cayman Islands Joined OF: November 2004 Tell us what you did in a former life?
Hang out on the streets of East End looking for scraps to fill my hungry tummy. What other places have you worked in the world? This is my first job and I love it. I find that even on a bad day i manage to sleep through it. Favorite Marine Life: That’s a tough one, I love watching the Tarpon under the dock, and I have been known to jump in after them but I never seem to be able to catch them? I also really like the crabs and sometimes dig them up out of their hidey holes on the beach but Mummy tells me off when I do this. Crabs and Sprats and anything hanging in the shallows. What is your favorite Cayman dive site? Kelly's Caverns - Named after a dear friend. What do you love most about the East End? I love my Ocean Frontiers family who gave me a home and made me top dog :o) Tell us a random fact about yourself? I am suffer from Narcolepsy What would you be doing if you weren't working at Ocean Frontiers? Walking the streets of East End looking for my forever home. What is your Super Power? I can run faster than a gazelle when there is a fishing boat going by. What do you love most about the East End? Sitting at the end of the dock at sunset and waiting for a fishing boat or jet ski to come past so I can chase it along the shore line, its great!!!
Name: Stephen Broadbelt Co-founder and Partner, Steve has lived in the Cayman Islands since 1992 and logged over 3000 dives, just on Grand Cayman's East End! Steve has spearheaded the Mooring Buoy Installation program for the East End of Grand Cayman and The Shark Awareness Project. He focuses most of his time on marketing the business and further developing the property, such as phase II of Compass Point Dive Resort. Tell us what you did in a former life?
I've been a Dive Master since 18 and an Instructor since 20 years old- So not much before that other than school and working on construction sites. What other places have you worked in the world? Only Worked in the UK and Cayman. Tried to work in the US before I came to Cayman, but for some reason they wouldn't let me? Traveled to many dive destinations over the years: Hawaii, French Polynesia, Belize, Cozumel, Jamaica, Turks & Caicos..... What is your favorite marine life? Sharp Nose Puffer What is your favorite Cayman dive site? Kangaroo Gorge & Roger's Reef What do you love most about the East End? The best of both worlds - a true sleepy Caribbean Village, but only a short drive away from the cosmopolitan West side for good restaurants and entertainment. Tell us a random fact about yourself? I only planned to be in Cayman for 1 year and then return to college in the UK - 18 years later I'm still here, married to a beautiful island girl and now have a little baby daughter - Never going back, sorry Mum! What would you be doing if you weren't working at Ocean Frontiers? Photographer & Writer, publishing travel guide books OR designing and building Green / Zero Carbon buildings. What is your Super Power? The ability to put my daughter to sleep in less than 10 minutes.
Name: Maurice Fitzgerald Co-founder and Partner, Mo has lived in Cayman since 1996 and has as many if not more dives in East End than anyone. Mo and Steve designed and built their flagship dive boat "Nauti-Cat," noted as one of the best "Day Boats" for diving in the world. Not only did Mo work his magic on Nauti-Cat, but recently put his master dive boat design skills to work on our latest vessels- Ocean Hawk and Top-Cat. Mo can be found most days getting his hands dirty and keeping the dive boats in tip-top condition, or in his spare time practicing his Kiteboarding skills. Tell us what you did in a former life?
Real Estate Appraiser in Houston, Texas What is your favorite Cayman dive site?
What do you love most about the East End?Ol' Wreck Head The combination of the best diving and the best Kiteboarding in the Caribbean. What would you be doing if you weren't working at Ocean Frontiers? A professional tool bounty hunter, finding people who didn't put tools back where they belong and making them PAY! What is your Super Power? Finding missing tools
Name: Lesley Agostinelli Lesley is our Reservations and Marketing Manager. She has been with the company over 10 years and probably knows more about the business than Mo and Steve put together ;) Lesley has many years experience in the hospitality industry and since joining OF became an avid diver. Lesley and her reservation staff can be reached on ourdirect line for all your advanced booking needs: diving, snorkeling, car rentals, hotel/condo rentals and she's always the first to know about any special deals- 345 947 0000 (mon-fri). Or by email of course. Tell us what you did in a former life?
I started my working life as a Chef with the goal of traveling the world. Then decided to return to school and earn my degree, I proudly gained a 1st class honors degree in Hospitality Management all so i could get a proper office job ;o) What other places have you worked in the world?
What is your favorite Cayman dive site?I worked as a Chef on the QEII so did manage to go around the world a few times, seeing most of it from a porthole. I have also worked in Bermuda at a wonderful fish restaurant, as well as in Manchester and London in the UK. What is your favorite marine life? Clown Fish and Manatees Grouper Grotto when the Silversides are in season. What do you love most about the East End? That its not George Town. The drive to East End has to be the best commute in the world. East End is so peacefully quiet and relaxing and it is a wonderful village which boost such great community spirit. Tell us a random fact about yourself? I love dogs and have a huge passion for animal rescue. So much so that i am one of the founding directors of CARE - Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts, a newly (2009) incorporated registered charitable organization here in Cayman. Our goals are to assist in the education of spay and neuter within the community as the humane solution to end the over population problem that exists here in Cayman. So far this year i have successfully been able to spay/Neuter over 20 dogs in the district of East End What would you be doing if you weren't working at Ocean Frontiers? Working in Italy managing my own Bed and Breakfast, preferably in Tuscany ;o) What is your Super Power? I can talk to the animals
Name : TJ Staples Tell us what you did in a former life?
Dive shop and liveaboard manager in the Marshall Islands, Micronesia. Before that dive instructor in Cyprus, and prior to diving full time I worked for British Airways as a Terminal Manager at Gatwick London. What other places have you worked in the world?
 Country of Origin: UK
Joined OF: January 2007 Tell us what you did in a former life?
After becoming highly educated at University, I then went round the World three times and ended up working in the travel industry in London, England.
What other places have you worked in the world? Utila in Honduras and The Great Barrier Reef, Australia What is your favorite marine life? Rhincodon typus! (Whale Sharks) What is your favorite Cayman dive site? Fantasy Land'-Man What is Best Thing about Cayman Diving? What do you love most about the East End?
Best diving on the Island and a Caribbean feel. Also, when my car doesn't start or my bike goes missing, I still get to walk to work along the beach...... Its a hard life. Tell us a random fact about yourself? I like a bit of travelling, visited 41 different Countries.... But thats only 26% of the World! What would you be doing if you weren't working at Ocean Frontiers? Still spending 2 miserable hours a day commuting to London and back, to sit in front of a Computer screen for 9 hours. What is your Super Power? BBQ Pork Loin
Name: Sean Crothers Tell us what you did in a former life?
Worked at a boatyard, taught sailing, and diving... never had a dry job. What other places have you worked in the world?
Q: Run us through what you do here at OF-
A: I am the resident 'Photo Pro' and take still photos and videos of all the dive trips. Q: What were you doing before OF? Q: Best Thing about Cayman Diving? Favorite Marine Life: Anything that will pose for me! I get really excited when I find pipefish, and I'm always hunting for nudibranchs, and of course I love the perfect design and grace of reef sharks.
Name: Adam Goodfellow Tell us what you did in a former life?
Indian restaurant critic... What other places have you worked in the world? What is your Super Power?
Name: Mark Elliott Tell us what you did in a former life? What is your Super Power?
Name: Gaylene Gomez Tell us what you did in a former life?
Name: Brock Kelsch
Country of Origin: Canada Joined OF: July 2010 Tell us what you did in a former life? I was once close to being a Welder - dodged that bullet.
What other places have you worked in the world? I've worked various Dive/Adventure jobs in Australia, the Yukon Territory, Thailand, France and England. What is your favorite marine life? Blennies! What is your favorite Cayman dive site? Ol' Wreck Head What do you love most about the East End? The camaraderie - it's quiet out here so we need good friends to keep us occupied! Tell us a random fact about yourself? Born and raised in the Yukon Territory - 2.5x larger than England, only 30,000 people. And it was cold. What would you be doing if you weren't working at Ocean Frontiers? Shovelling, Wheelbarrowing and hauling concrete blocks. What is your Super Power? Avoiding the Cold  Name: Kevin Mounsor
Nick Name: Big Kev Born: UK Tell us what you did in a former life? What other places have you worked in the world? What is your favorite marine life? What is your favorite Cayman dive site? What do you love most about the East End? Tell us a random fact about yourself? What would you be doing if you weren't working at Ocean Frontiers? What is your Super Power?
 Name: Mark Tilley Tell us what you did in a former life? What other places have you worked in the world? What is your favorite marine life? What is your favorite Cayman dive site? What do you love most about the East End? Tell us a random fact about yourself? What would you be doing if you weren't working at Ocean Frontiers? What is your Super Power?
Name: Matt Russell Tell us what you did in a former life? What other places have you worked in the world? What is your favorite marine life? What is your favorite Cayman dive site? What do you love most about the East End? Tell us a random fact about yourself? What would you be doing if you weren't working at Ocean Frontiers? What is your Super Power?
 Name: Michelle Motsko
Nick Name: Michelle
Country of Origin: USA Joined OF: March 2010 Tell us what you did in a former life?
Taught English to juvenile delinquents, sprayed down dog cages for the vet, pumped gas in Florida, sold Kodak film to Japanese people at Disney World,then met the man of my dreams and sailed around the Caribbean for two years.Yeah, it's been a good life :) What other places have you worked in the world?
What is your favorite Cayman dive site?USA, Turks and Caicos, Cayman What is your favorite marine life? Flamingo Tongues & Squirrel Fish Grouper Grotto What do you love most about the East End? Still tastes salty like an island should...
Tell us a random fact about yourself? No cable TV for over a decade...by choice :) What would you be doing if you weren't working at Ocean Frontiers? I have six toes on my left foot (okay, not really) - Paying full price to dive and stay at Ocean Frontiers and Compass Point (can I have my raise now?) What is your Super Power? Karaoke - "Rapper's Delight" and the ability to make those around me THINK they have super powers
 Name: Restel Luansing
Nick Name: Stella Country of Origin: Philippines Joined OF: December 2008 Tell us what you did in a former life?
Worked with Zurich Insurance as Accounting Supervisor for cash collections
What other places have you worked in the world? Philippines What is your favorite marine life? I like small fish & sea horses What is your favorite Cayman dive site? Stingray City What do you love most about the East End? The Quietness and friendliness, no traffic, I like the sea view specially the color of the water. Tell us a random fact about yourself? I love listening to R & B musics and playing the guitar. What would you be doing if you weren't working at Ocean Frontiers? Still be doing the same work or maybe running my own business, such as a "Learning School" What is your Super Power?
Singing
 Name: Michael Minichiello
Nick Name: Kite Nazi
Country of Origin: USA Tell us what you did in a former life?
had former lives as a surf photographer, parachute packer, pizza cook and lots of other meaningless jobs What other places have you worked in the world?
Miami, Hawaii, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Cape Hatteras, Fiji What is your favorite marine life? humpback whale What is your favorite Cayman dive site?
Snapper Hole What do you love most about the East End? it is a relaxed part of the world... no worries, mon Tell us a random fact about yourself? I am afraid of heights, but love jumping off things... can't figure that one out What would you be doing if you weren't working at Ocean Frontiers? I am working at Ocean Frontiers??? I thought I was just having fun... What is your Super Power? flying
 Name: Mauricio Gomez
Nick Name: Maui Country of Origin: Costa Rica! Joined OF: March 2010 Tell us what you did in a former life? I've had my fair share of dirty jobs, from Fish Farmer in the Jordan Valley to Soap Engineer in the Canadian Rockies. One of the most memorable has always been Undercover Narcotics Agent. I had to go to bars and clubs in San Jose (Costa Rica) and sit down and drink (yes, drink!), maybe even dance (whoa!), while gathering 'intelligence' for HQ (this part of the gig was pretty good and I excelled at it-not so much the 'intelligence' bit). What other places have you worked in the world? Dahab, Red Sea, Sharm-El-Sheikh, Red Sea, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, Cayman Brac, BWI, Little Cayman, BWI, Alberta, Canada, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica What is your favorite marine life? The most cryptic of all: Phycodurus eques, Leafy Sea Dragon. Oh! and Nudibranchs! Oh-Oh! and Octopi! What is your favorite Cayman dive site? Ironshore Gardens What do you love most about the East End? Best of all worlds: Phenomenal diving, excellent kiteboarding, uncrowded and friendly people. Tell us a random fact about yourself? I am a coffee-snob. I grew up surrounded by some of the best coffee in the world and now I am a bit spoiled. My current fix: 8 shots of Costa Rican AA Peaberry Espresso, fresh ground and brewed in an all stainless steel Bialetti stove top percolator....ooo-la-la! What would you be doing if you weren't working at Ocean Frontiers? Probably sailing around the globe Kitesurfing and diving the most killer spots...yes!
What is your Super Power? My glass is half full  Name: Jodi Kirchman Jodi is a native born Caymanian and East Ender. Jodi works full time as Retail Supervisor at our dive shop head quarters. Jodi is an active diver and knows East End above and below as well as anyone. Be sure to stop by and see her for a chat with a real 'local girl'!   -----------------------------------------------------------------
The benefits of local knowledge By far the easiest way to make sure you don’t miss the very best of the East End’s marine life is to go on a guided dive. Ocean Frontiers’ dive staff are the real pros of the East End’s coral reefs and nobody has as much up to date knowledge of the divesites, as they do. One of the hardest critters to find on the East End reefs is the tiny Pikeblenny. As you can see from the picture, these guys may be miniature in statue, but more than make up for their small size in courage. Put your finger too close to their hole and out they will charge and give you a nip. The photo above shows a diver being taken on, well his finger at least, by the brave Pikeblenny! It is a bit like me picking a fight with a Cruise Ship! Pikeblennies are comical characters with their Donald Duck mouths and outrageous antics. They won’t only attack our fingers, but the males really get wound up if another male enters their territory and a punch up often develops. Pikeblennies are very hard to find as they live out in a the sand, and if you want to see any make sure you ask one of the staff if they have seen them around recently. The Pikeblennies you will see diving on the main divesites are Yellowface ones, although I have also seen Blueface Pikeblennies while diving at Sunset Reef during the day. Another recent discovery I wanted to share with you about is that we have recently found a nice pair of Cherub Angelfish that are currently in residence at Spilt Rock on the North Wall. Just go down to anchor line and head off to the right a bit as you swim towards the wall to see these diminutive flashes of colour darting in and out of the corals. Split Rock also has probably the best collection of giant barrel sponges on the island. Well the best collection shallower than 100ft, Adam is always telling his divers about the amazing sponges he sees on his deep technical dives, but that is another story…
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