Staff
Owner / PADI Gold Course Director
In 2012 I left the corporate world to pursue sharing my passion of Scuba Diving! In 2017 I was selected to attend the highest level of PADI Instructor training. Being a PADI Course Director allows me to teach others how to become PADI Scuba Instructors. Live the Dream and feel excited to come to work everyday! Come see me and I'll show you how!
Operations Manager
PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Buddha began his diving journey in San Diego in 1987 and became a DiveMaster just one year later. During his time there, he managed both a dive shop and several dive boats, gaining extensive hands-on experience in the industry. After retiring from being a police officer locally, he returned to diving full time with renewed passion, obtaining his PADI Instructor certification at West Shore Scuba’s first IDC in 2017.
Buddha then relocated to Key Largo Florida, where he earned his USCG 100-ton captain’s license. He also managed several dive operations in the Keys before launching his own dive charter company and quickly became the #1 small dive charter in the Keys. Along the way, he also built a reputation as an accomplished underwater photographer and enjoys helping others capture the underwater world through his underwater photography workshops.
Today, Buddha brings nearly 40 years of experience—and a serious love for diving—to his role as Operations Manager, where he’s always ready to share his passion and love for diving.
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Staff
Technician
Mermaid Instructor
As much at home under water as on land, Tiffany Kreider began her scuba diving journey in 2014 and has been steadily advancing as a scuba professional ever since, becoming an integral part of the West Shore Scuba team.
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Staff
Cassandra first learned to scuba dive with Liberty University’s Scuba Club in the fall of 2020. Over the following years she went on to get her Advanced and Rescue Diver certifications while continuing her studies. After graduating college, she went to work for The Hotel Hershey in Hershey....
PADI Instructor
Staff
Marine Scientist
My dive journey began in 2016 while studying at Juniata College - and I've been hooked ever since. In 2021, I moved to Miami to pursue a master's degree in marine biology at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, and in 2022 earned my Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) certification through Diver's Paradise.
With my master's degree and OWSI certification in hand, I spent three years aboard Sea|mester vessels, logging over 30,000 nautical miles and teaching marine science and diving courses across some of the most remote and biodiverse waters on the planet — from the Galápagos Islands and Fiji to Moorea, Cocos Keeling, and Ahe Atoll in the Tuamotus.
Along the way, I've had the privilege of contributing to marine conservation through organizations including UM Rescue a Reef and Coral Gardeners, working hands-on to protect and restore coral reef ecosystems.
I'm thrilled to be back home in Pennsylvania and excited to join the West Shore Scuba family. My aim is to bring that global perspective here - sharing my love for the ocean, launching PADI AWARE courses, and building citizen science initiatives that connect our local dive community to real conservation efforts worldwide.
PADI Mermaid Instructor
Jillian first put a mermaid tail on in 2020 for a photoshoot, and before she knew it, she was reeled into the world of mermaiding! Some of her favorite experiences since then include swimming and modeling in Hawaii, winning the title of Miss Mermaid PA through the Miss Mermaid International Pageant Program (2021-present), being in the first class of mermaids at West Shore Scuba (2022), swimming in the Mertailor Aquarium Tank in FL, and being hired as a pro mermaid entertainer for events around the mid Atlantic region.
Jillian has a background that includes years of training and experience in live theatre, character entertainment, modeling, children's education, small business management, and holistic healthcare. She helps manage a few entertainment teams, and often mentors aspiring character performers.
She has organized swim meetups over the past several years for mermaids who live around PA and MD, because she believes in the importance of keeping mermaiding fun and laid back for everyone.
Jillian's love for ocean life and mermaiding influenced her to also become certified in PADI Open Water Scuba, Freediving, Underwater Dance, and PADI Aware.
She believes certifications are necessary in order to properly learn and master how to safely swim in a tail. She is always willing to help instruct and guide anyone, no matter why or how they got into mermaiding.
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Originally from Poland. Residing in Mechanicsburg since 1998. Have been around West Shore Scuba for over 10 years
I had a late start to my scuba diving adventure even though I have thought about it since I was about 10 yo. Eventually when an injury ended my soccer days I needed a new passion. And it has been scuba diving ever since.
I absolutely love everything about scuba.
Open Water Scuba Instructor
I started diving in 2018 in Catalina, mostly because my dad needed a dive buddy. Far from home, I didn't get to do much diving until I moved back east in 2020. That's when the obsession began, and I started traveling as much as I could to dive around the world. After a lot of encouragement from friends and family, I became an open water scuba instructor in 2025.
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Lori achieved the PADI professional rating of Open Water Scuba Instructor in October 2020.
Divemaster, Tank Inspector
Fell in love with diving even before my first dive in Kona, Hawaii! The Army kept deploying me so my diving was on hold a few years. Once I was able to get going I went up to Divemaster! Ron and the entire staff at WSS helped me to learn a wide variety of diving skills and be able to enjoy scuba diving to its fullest!
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Divemaster/DSD Leader
I was hooked on breathing underwater after trying a Discover Scuba in 2018. I then promptly took 3 more. The underwater world is my peaceful retreat from the noisy world we live in. I became a Divemaster in 2020 and enjoy watching students taking their first underwater breaths.
Divemaster and DSD Leader
Kurt began diving with his father in 1990 on a trip to Roatan, but “turned pro” in 2019. He has enjoyed diving all over the Caribbean, in Hawaii, the Maldives, Red Sea, Bermuda and Mexico and is excited to assist WSS’s instructors in and out of the water as they introduce others to scuba diving.
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Adina began diving in 1985 as a teenager and was certified in the Red Sea. She completed AOW and Rescue Diver in 1995 when living on the sunny island of Aruba; then took the next steps into the pro level nearly 30 years later, completing her Divemaster and OWSI certifications with West Shore Scuba in 2024.
IDC Staff Instructor
Mark is one of those few who prefers cooler waters to the Caribbean and can be found lurking in the depths of the local quarries in the summer or under ice in the winter. His passion for adventure helps his students get past their own trepidations in their SCUBA training sessions. While he does most of his training at Willows Springs, there is an occasional sighting at Dutch to accommodate the needs of his students.
Divemaster
My brother had me try his SCUBA gear back in 2012 in a pool and I instantly fell in love. For the first time I experienced the ability to stay underwater longer and check things out w/o having to return to the surface for air. It was awesome!
Divemaster
Gear Technician
Leon started his love of diving in 2006 with a try scuba in Cozumel. He became an SSI Dive Control Specialist in 2013, and completed a 4 week PADI Divemaster internship on Roatan in 2022.
Leon loves warm water tropical diving as well as diving for fossils in the Cooper River, SC. His favorite hangout is Cocoview Resort, Roatan. Leon is very eager to share his love of diving with everyone.
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Master Instructor
Bitten by diving a few years ago, Randy went straight to the top of the PADI System and now enjoys supplementing our instruction at all levels including the Professional track. Randy's specialty is by far the PADI Rescue Diver Course. He brings a unique approach to this course and has upped everyones game here at the shop with his style. Ask Randy why every diver should take PADI Rescue Diver Course when you see him!
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Ever since I can remember I have loved being in the water, on the water, and under the water. If there was a mud puddle nearby, I was in it. The dive bug bit me when, as a kid, I would spend time at my grandmother’s house in Boynton Beach Fla., snorkeling the shallow reefs just offshore. My parents bought me a YMCA diving course in 1977, and I have been hooked ever since.
Scuba Instructor
Scuba is a lifelong love! It's all about the sharks for me! I was certified at 16 and then dove with my family and husband for a long time before I finally realized my dream of becoming a divemaster during COVID. After being a divemaster I was inspired to become an Instructor so that I could certify my amazing nieces and nephews. I love seeing people fall in love with scuba!
