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
staff of Rick's has over 135 years of combined educational experience and introduced many people such as yourself to the wonders of the underwater world. Our goal is to help you with the development and proficiency of the basic diving skills and knowledge that will lead you to become a diver. We know 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. If not....come see what you're missing, you won't be
disappointed.
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Rick
Newton
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After
graduating from Central High School in
1970 and completing his military commitment with the Sixth Fleet in
the US Navy, Rick began pursuit of a business degree at Arkansas
State University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
While becoming interested in Scuba Diving, Rick completed his Instructor rating at the
PADI College in Jacksonville, Florida in 1976. Rick 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, Rick has 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 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. They have three children, Jon Eric, Lindsey Nicole
& Kayla Marie.
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| Robyn
Newton
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Robyn is
the Dive Travel Coordinator at Rick's. As a PADI Advanced Open Water
Diver and Dive Travel Specialist, she has had the opportunity to
visit 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, Caribbean, Sea of Cortez, the South Pacific
or would like Robyn to put together a dive vacation package
especially for you and your family, give her a call. Robyn also
specializes in the South Pacific, Australia, Fiji, Micronesia and other
Indo Pacific dive
adventures. Getting married? Unforgettable "Honeymoon" dive
experiences are another one of her specialties!! She knows the
diving world! Give her a call if you want someone to put a first
class dive honeymoon package for you! |
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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. |
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