Our Staff
DJ MORIN, Owner
PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Handicapped Scuba Association Scuba Instructor
Along with his wife Edith, DJ has been a co-owner of American Divers International for more than twenty years. His responsibilities at ADI are primarily sales, but as an owner he oversees all aspects of the business. He was born in Vermont and joined the Air Force at the age of 17. During the first twelve years of his Air Force career he served as a jet engine mechanic. He then became a film processor for U2, SR71, and satellite imagery. During his last few years in the USAF he once again retrained, this time into AFTAC, an Air Force organization responsible for monitoring nuclear activity worldwide. He retired as a Senior Master Sergeant (E-8). After 22 years in the service he and Edith purchased ADI and have been developing the business ever since. DJ has a bachelor’s degree in business and an associate degree in optics (photo). DJ learned to SCUBA dive in 1957. His neighbor was a diver and, in his own words, “I pestered him as only a 14 year old boy could to teach me to dive.” Eventually he found himself at the bottom of a quarry for his first dive. He made several more dives but was not certified until 1971 on Johnston Island in the Pacific. He is now a PADI Master Scuba Diver trainer and a Handicapped Scuba Instructor. (Indeed he is one of the original Handicapped Scuba Instructors.) He is also a NAUI advanced diver and took diving courses from the University of Hawaii. In December of 2006, DJ spent a week in the Galapagos Island to celebrate his 50th year of Scuba Diving!! When asked about what interesting types of diving he’s done he’ll say, “I’ve tried just about everything in the past 45 years. Ice Diving (burr!), fresh water lakes (most yuck), cave and cavern, some professional work (takes the fun out), and UW photo and UW video interests me a lot. But, teaching new people to dive is the most fun and if the person is in a wheel chair, blind, or otherwise disabled it’s a thrill.” If you go on to ask him what has been his favorite dive he’ll say, “This is the hardest question to explain. Diving or a dive is what you make it! There is always something interesting/exciting to see or experience. Sometimes it’s the people you’re diving with. The eight dives in Yap with ten to twenty foot wide manta rays flying around me like butterflies ranks as one of the most exciting things I have ever experienced.” Never being the type of person that limits himself, DJ is also active in river rafting, hiking, running, flying airplanes (he’s a private pilot), paddling his canoe, and sailing his sunfish. His greatest passion, however, is reading fiction, science journals, and just about anything else he can get his hands on.
EDITH MORIN, Owner PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
DJ’s wife, Edith, is not only a co-owner of American Divers but an active force in the management of the business, and shares equal responsibility with DJ for the success of ADI. She performs the essential work of running the office, ordering inventory, record keeping, book keeping, making travel arrangements, and all other management duties that are critical to the smooth operation of a small business. Originally born in Alabama she grew up in Columbus, Mississippi and has two years of College from the University of Maryland. During the years when DJ was in the Air Force she managed to raise four children while living in the Far East, Europe, and all over the United States. She served as an Administration Clerk for the USAF and Secretary for various companies as they traveled with the Air Force. Soon after they purchased ADI, DJ taught Edith to SCUBA dive. She felt that, since they we’re selling SCUBA, she should know how to do it. Her certification dives were done in Key Largo and she has loved the sport ever since. She’s a very capable diver and when asked why she has never advanced her certification level above Advance Open Water Diver she’ll say, “Oh, I just never bothered with the paperwork.” Like so many of us she likes Caribbean reefs and walls, wreck diving, and West Palm Beach drift diving. She also enjoys diving with the manatees in Florida springs. Her favorite dives have been Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman and Mary’s Place in Roatan, Honduras. Beyond working at ADI and diving Edith enjoys managing and singing in a southern gospel trio, flower arranging, ceramics, playing the clarinet, reading and travel. She’s not one to keep herself idle.
ALAN RICHARDSON, Manager/Lead Instructor
PADI Instructor
Alan is ADI’s Manager and Head Instructor. Born in Charleston, West Virginia, where he claims, “It is MUCH too dark and cold to dive.” Alan found his way into the U.S. Navy and served for 6 years as a Bos’n mate. Alan learned to SCUBA dive in San Diego while in the military. After achieving the rank of E-5, he left the Navy and went to work for himself as a truck driver. After deciding to be more active as a diver, Alan came to ADI as a repair technician. Since joining us, he has completed his Divemaster certification and, in January 2005, joined our instructor staff! Since then he has taken over the role of Lead Instructor as well as Manager at ADI. Alan’s favorite dive is the Rodeo, off of Hillsboro because, “It’s a large fish tank! Sitting at 120′, this wreck has barracuda the size of Volkswagons!” When he is not diving, Alan spends his time sailing his 25′ Catalina sailboat. He also plays billiards on a local league team.
, Service Department Head
PADI Master Scuba Diver Instructor (inactive)
Dean has 20 years of experience doing inspection and maintenance on all manner of SCUBA equipment. Originally from St. Louis, MO, Dean served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1982 to 1986 as an aircraft mechanic. After returning to Missouri, Dean decided to head down to Florida. Dean originally began working at ADI in 1991. In 2000, Dean was offered a job repairing SeaWorld’s Scuba equipment and worked there until returning to ADI in late 2005. Dean was originally SCUBA certified in 1983 and worked up to instructor in 1986. Dean taught SCUBA for many years but is no longer actively teaching. In his spare time, Dean works on his house and is restoring his 1969 GTO.
ANNETTE HILLER, Administrative Assistant/Sales Representative
PADI Open Water Diver
MIKE DEFFENBAUGH, Instructor
Mike is an Instructor for Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue and Divemaster courses as well as a host of PADI specialties. He was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He started his Open Water training (class & pool) in Colorado but finished his certification dives here at ADI while on a TDY assignment for Martin Marietta. Mike became a certified diver on his birthday in 1988. After returning to Colorado, he finished his Advanced, Rescue and Divemaster certifications. In late 1991, Mike moved to Florida permanently working as a Electronics/Computer Technician. Mike dived with ADI for years as a customer and then in 2005, became part of the family working in the Repair Department as well as a valuable Divemaster. Mike became a PADI Open Water SCUBA Instructor in November 2006. When asked about ADI, Mike says, “When I was here TDY and again when I moved to the area, I checked out every dive shop in Brevard County. After considering all things (location, pool, variety of equipment, people, overall look, etc), I decided that ADI was the best shop around.” Mike doesn’t have a particular favorite dive (so far). “I can say that I really enjoy diving anywhere off the South East Florida coast and the Spiegel Grove in Key Largo is an awesome dive!” When he’s not diving, Mike enjoys riding his Motorcycle and working with Computers.
ALBERT BARONE, Instructor
PADI Instructor
Al’s diver story is one that many of you would like to have. He became a certified Open Water Diver in 1987. He then worked his way through Advanced Open Water, Rescue and Divemaster. As a Divemaster, he helped all of our instructors by being an assistant with their classes. In February 2010, Al passed his PADI Instructor course with flying colors, and is now an instructor for ADI
DON RICHARDS, Web Designer/Computer Specialist
Advanced Open Water Certified Don was born in central Florida. He has been working in the industry since 1996 starting as a technical support consultant. He has been working for an IT department since 2001 and does freelance support and web design. He is engaged to a beautiful woman, Amanda Anthony. The two completed their Advanced Open Water Certifications in May 2008.