About Us

Front Desk Receptionist- Divemaster

Bernelize is a native of South Africa. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Information Science.

Moving away from her schooling, her heart was calling her to the ocean. She spent time in the Philippines as a Divemaster and Store Manager and now resides on this side of the continent which allows her the opportunity to continue growing in the diving industry.

She is one of our lovely ladies that will greet you upon arrival, check you in or give you all the information necessary to make an informed decision on diving with us.

English and Afrikaans are her native languages although she is learning to speak Spanish. She enjoys softball and netball in her free time along with diving.

Administrative Assistant- Open Water Diver

Rebeca ( also called Rebee) was born and raised in Cozumel. She recently finished her Business degree and is now eagerly learning the diving industry.

She is responsible for ensuring the smooth transition of reservations and all other business admin responsibilities. You will find her in the office or in the water. She enjoys both immensely.

Spanish is her first language but she is also fluent in English. She enjoys spending her free time reading, diving, and hanging with her boyfriend.

Master Scuba Diver Trainer

With a degree in Biology specializing in coral genetics, Diana brings a wealth of scientific expertise to Maple Leaf Scuba.

Born and raised in Mexico City, she has since made the Caribbean her home and underwater playground. Diana's diving journey began within her university's scientific dive team, where she quickly transformed from a student researcher to a passionate scuba instructor.

Diana loves guiding divers and instructing. Her deep understanding of coral reef ecosystems allows her to share fascinating insights, bridging her scientific knowledge with her love for marine conservation.

She is fluent in Spanish and English along with Basic French.

When she's not diving, Diana can be found at Crossfit or solving a challenging jigsaw puzzle- a testament to her detail-oriented and analytical nature.

Open Water Scuba Instructor 

Marlène is from Marseille, France. She is educated with a Bachelor's degree in Environment Protection and Management. She has a particular interest in protecting the ocean.

She is a well rounded dive instructor with various experiences around the world. She first obtained her Divemaster certification on a Liveaboard in Australia and spent some time working on the Great Barrier Reef. She continued her diving education as an Instructor in Thailand. Following her tenure in Thailand and Australia ,she made her way to Bali, Indonesia where she completed certications ranging from Open Water diver to Divemaster level. With over 2000 dives, she proceeded to make her way to this side of the continent and enjoys her time living in Cozumel.

She loves to teach all levels of students and to guide various level of divers as she feels she always has something to learn. She is a joy to be around with her bright, outgoing personality.

French is her mother tongue, she also speak English fluently and almost on her way to being fluent in Spanish. She enjoys anything adventurous and loves to spend her free time learning.

Open Water Scuba Instructor 

Gemma is from Yorkshire, England. She holds a Degree in Fine Arts.

After trying diving at 12 years, Gemma was not hooked.  While traveling through Indonesia later in life, she discovered her passion for the underwater world. She fell in love not only with diving but with the community and the incredible places that diving could take her. Diving became something more than a sport, it gave her a space to slow down, a feeling of empowerment and a place to grow. It became her mental sanctuary.

After traveling and diving around Thailand and the Philippines, she eventually found herself drawn to the island lifestyle and the incredible diving in Cozumel and this is where she decided to settle.

She enjoys teaching students to overcome their fears and discover what they are capable of in the water. She enjoys seeing a student light up after conquering a challenging skill.

English is her first language and she is making best efforts to learn Spanish. She enjoys spending quiet nights at home and days at the beach.

First Mate

Alfredo is a native of Cozumel and has worked many years in the diving industry. He isn't a good swimmer so he hasn't yet been able to dive. Our staff are working hard to get him to a comfortable level in the water. He dreams of being able to dive one day.

He can fix anything and is a jack of all trades. He has knowledge of marine technology, engines,tanks, cars, etc. He is a very creative thinker. A person we all need around in our lives.

He is a father of four teenage and adult children. He loves spending time taking care of home projects and spending time with his wife and kids.

Supervisor of Operations- Open Water Instructor

Abraham was born in Mexico City but moved to Cozumel at a young age with his family. He is no stranger to the underwater world. He has many years as an Instructor in Cozumel and is very familiar with the diving industry and Cozumel's National Marine Park.

He is a delight to be around with his bright smile, knowledge of the coral reefs and the area. He is in charge of making sure our operations run smoothly both on land and underwater.

His mother tongue is Spanish and he speaks English fluently. He is the father of two lovely teenage children. He enjoys sharing his knowledge with those around him and spending time with his kids.