Staff
Experts
 Welcome To Rick's Dive 'N Travel Centers Team of PADI Diving
Professionals. We are excited about introducing you to our
world.......the world of scuba diving. We know you will have an
unforgettable experience learning more about "what's down there". The
Oceans and our lakes are wonderful opportunities to get a feel what
scuba Diving is like. We won't just throw you in the water and say
start swimming, and don't believe all the shark stories either. Our
staff at Rick's has over 135 years of combined educational experience and
has introduced over 10,000 people like yourself to the underwater world,
now in our 31st year. Our goal is to help you with the development and proficiency of
your Scuba Diving skills and knowledge that will lead you to become a
certified Diver or maybe even one of our Divemaster or an
Instructor.....Wait....Don't say NO, many of our instructors said the
same thing and Guess What? They now teach for us as well.
You will have a positive experience with Rick's, and we will sincerely
enjoy our participation with you in this exciting learning process. If
you are already a "certified" diver, we welcome you to come join Rick's
on our next underwater diving adventure!
Guess What ....
The Minimum age to learn to scuba dive is only 10 years Old!
Folks this isn't Rocket Science
(but we do have a Rocket Scientist among us that is a Master
Scuba Diver at Rick's)
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Rick
Newton
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After
graduating from Central High School
in 1970 and completing my military commitment with the Sixth Fleet in
the US Navy, I began pursuit of a business degree at Arkansas
State University, Beebe Branch and attending the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
While becoming interested in Scuba Diving, In the early 70's I
completed my Instructor rating at the PADI College in Jacksonville,
Florida in 1976. I managed the former Lynn's Ski 'N Scuba in Little
Rock before opening Rick's Dive 'N Travel Center in North Little
Rock in 1978. Traveling the world over, I have frequented many of the most popular
diving destinations, as well as "off the beaten path" dive
sites while completing many years of diving education and experience
in the diving industry. In 2004, Ricks was selected one of the Top
10 Dive Centers in America. Rick is a PADI Master Instructor with
over fifteen diving specialty ratings and married to Robyn who is
the Travel Coordinator at Rick's. We have three children, Jon Eric, Lindsey Nicole
& Kayla Marie.
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| Robyn
Newton
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Group dive travel is our specialty at Rick's, it's one of the
easiest, safest and most enjoyable ways to "dive 'n travel".
Robyn is our Dive Travel Coordinator/Office Manager. As a PADI Advanced
Open Water Diver and Dive Travel Specialist, she has the
scoop on many of the destinations that divers frequent.
If you have questions or interest in one of our group escorted dive
vacations to the Gulf of Mexico, Indonesia, Caribbean, Micronesia or the South
Pacific give her a call. Robyn can also help you plan a custom
diving vacation for yourself, or your family. |
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Sandy Carroll
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Sandy is our Educational Director at Rick's
by the way of Michigan. She holds a PADI Course Director rating and
the centers PADI "POLICE"! As the education consultant for our
instructor staff she organizes and oversees all of Rick's diver
training programs and instructor updates in education. She began
working fulltime shortly after becoming one of Arkansas' first women
SCUBA instructors, and
switched from a career in commercial photography to underwater
photography and has been working at Rick's since 1986. Sandy is married to Robert
Carroll and has two children, Ryan,
also a certified diver and Mackenzie whose "chomping at the bits" to
be a diver too. Sandy has taught many many divers, from Open Water
through Instructor, the fun and excitement of "blowing bubbles" and
making memories. If you have never taken a class from "THE BIG
WOMAN," you don't know what you're missing! Sandy enjoys escorting
Rick's "live aboard" diving vacations around the world and always there to make sure
everyone is having a good time. Sandy also hosts many of the stores
diving activities including Rick's, Summer Night Dives, Lake Exploratory
Dives and one of her many technical diving classes.....Ice Diving
anyone??? Yep, she does that too. If you want to have fun and meet a
wonderful person, come take a dive with Sandy! |
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Tom Styles |
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Tom is one of Rick's staff members and the former manager of the
Tech Department, which he still assists when needed. Tom is
the stores Sales assistant and a valued member of our Instructor
dive team and basically "does it all". Originally from San Diego,
California, Tom began diving with Rick's in 1990. He was so enthused
and excited that he began taking class after class
before obtaining the Master Scuba Diver rating and becoming a
PADI Instructor. He has lead several of our
dive groups to Blackbeards in the Bahamas and enjoys all types of
diving. Tom is great with children and teaches some of our
Kids Programs as well. Come take a class with Tom and get ready to have
loads of fun and excitement, You'll be glad you did! |
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Mike Gordon
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Mike became a certified diver in 1993
and currently holds the PADI Master Scuba Diver Rating. He began
working as a part time Equipment Technician at Rick's in 1995. After
gaining many years of diving experience and equipment knowledge he
has now advanced as our Service Department Manager. Mike retired from the military at the Little Rock
Air Force Base in 2004. With his past experience as a C130 crew
chief and mechanical supervisor, he
understands the importance of safety and "attention to detail" while
servicing our customers diving equipment. Mike and his wife, Brenda
live in Cabot and have a daughter, Courtney. He doesn't talk much,
but knows what he's talking about. |
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dive center