Dive Center Instructors & Staff                                           Staff Certifications Page

Jeff Steiner - - Owner - PADI Instructor 233077 MSDT
Jeff was certified as a Divemaster in January 2007, an Assistant Instructor in September 2007, and an Instructor in Summer 2009. He currently holds specialty instructor certifications in Boat, Deep, Delayed Surface Marker Buoy, Dry Suit, Emergency Oxygen Provider, Enriched Air Nitrox, Fish Identification, Full Fask Mask, Night, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Search & Recovery, Underwater Naturalist, & Underwater Navigator. Jeff is also a certified Visual Cylinder Inspector. His first experience with SCUBA was in 1995 when his cousin (an instructor) told him that he should try it out. Since that time, Jeff hasn't been able to stay away from the water. He has over 25 years of diving experience and has dived in many locations throughout the United States. One of Jeff's favorite recreational activites is exploring shallow water wrecks off the Coast of New Jersey and diving an East Coast, but Nationally Recognized Quarry - Dutch Springs in Bethlehem, PA. Jeff is looking forward to serving your diving needs here at Steiner Scuba / Underwater World Scuba Center.

 

Don Stanger - - PADI Instructor 4161 MSDT
Certified as an PADI Instructor in 1974.
Original Owner and founder of Underwater World Scuba Center from 1975-2020. Don has recently decided to semi-retire so Jeff is taking the reigns of Underwater World. Don is an avid Scuba Diving Instructor and underwater photographer. His diving has taken him as far west as Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon to St. Lucia in the Eastern Caribbean. He currently dives Roatan & Utila, Honduras, which he considers the best diving that is easy to get to. He holds several instructor speciality ratings including: Boat, Drift, Drysuit, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Equipment Specialist, Ice, Multi-level, Night, Peak Performance, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Navigator, Underwater Photographer (Regular & Digital) and Underwater Videograper. He has also received several Awards from PADI for his work teaching Scuba Diving. Don is also a Service Technician for the Dive Center.

 

Mark "Skippy" Sidwell - - PADI Instructor MSDT
Certified as an PADI Instructor in 2008. Mark has been diving for over 15 years, quickly becoming a respected instructor within the scuba diving community. Mark has strong scuba diving roots here in Omaha as he is currently the Executive Secretary and Chief Technical Officer of the Greater Omaha Scuba Club. Scuba diving isn't the only extreme sport that he is into either. You can find Mark participating in long bike 'marathons' for charity in the warmer months.

 

Patrick E. Barton - - PADI Instructor 253893 MSDT
Water, Water, Water... That's about the best way to start any description pertaining to Patrick E. Barton. A Current PADI MSDT and SSI SCUBA Instructor, he's been an avid diver for over 20 years, traveling to many exotic locations. After visiting a few places above and below sea level, he decided to pursue the art of underwater photography. In 2003 he purchased his first Digital SLR and combined that with an order for an underwater housing. He is an artist born and raised in the Midwest. Most of his art training and experience has been derived from working on corporate designs. In 2018, Patrick obtained his United States Coast Guard 50 Ton license. This allows for much greater travel opportunities. He has had the pleasure of exhibiting his work in various locations around the United States and Abroad. He enjoys sharing his SCUBA and saltwater passion through teaching courses.

 

Beth Ann Nilson - - PADI Divemaster 188073
Beth Ann has been diving for over 20 years. She holds mutiple certifications with several scuba diving agencies, her highest rating being a PADI Divemaster. She holds specialty certifications in TDI Nitrox, SSI Photography, SSI Equipment Specialist, and SSI Dive Control Specialist. When not scuba diving she can be found serving the public as a registered nurse, assiting with Girl Scout activities, or attending a Greater Omaha Scuba Club function. Beth Ann has been a long time customer of Underwater World Scuba Center and is looking forward to serving your diving needs as Underwater World Scuba Center transitions to Steiner Scuba.

 

Steve Powell - - PADI Rescue Diver (Divemaster in Training)
Steve is our in house Divemaster in training. He has been working on this certification for quite some time, and is looking forward to sharing his knowledge with scuba students, both new and old alike. If you get him talking about scuba diving, he wont stop. He also loves to camp and grill out. Better yet, why not combine scuba, camping, and grilling. Most definitely his favorite pastime. If you want to hear exciting stories about scuba diving, then Steve is the guy to talk to! He currently holds the following scuba certifications: Open Water, Perfect Buoyancy, Enriched Air Nitrox, Deep Diver, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Sidemount Diver, Classified Dive Buddy Level III, Cavern Diver, Master Scuba Diver. Steve is also one of our certified Visual Cylinder Inspectors.

 

Dennis Jenkins - - PADI Rescue Diver
Dennis is our wannabe Divemaster, always willing to help out a class and offer some sage advice. He provides the muscle we need to get all of our scuba gear to where it needs to be both before and after class. He can't keep away from the water and is always getting into trouble. But be careful what you say around him, he might say... "Hey... I resemble that remark!" Oh and Dennis is so cool we felt he deserved two photos on his profile.

 

Theo Steiner - - PADI Open Water Diver
Theo was certified in 2018. He has completed his PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy and PADI Boat Diver Specialty certifications in addition to his Open Water Certification.Theo provides the muscle we need here to get our scuba gear moved around from place to place. He really just likes being around water. When he is not diving, you'll find him swimming laps in the pool as he is a competitive swimmer (USA Swimming) at Brownell Talbot. Theo is looking forward to serving your diving needs here at Steiner Scuba / Underwater World Scuba Center.

 

Gwen Steiner - - Team Mascot
Gwen wanted to be as important as her brother Theo, so we made her our Team Mascot. While not yet a certified diver, she can't wait to join the ranks of the brave underwater explorers by becoming a PADI Seal Team Member. She only has a few more years to go!

 

Steve Powell & Jeff Steiner Matt Ryle, Jeff Steiner, & Steve Powell enjoying some diving
at Atlantic Quarry, IA