Simon ZornozaAssistant Instructor
- Highest Dive Rating Held: Assistant Instructor
- Affiliations:
Simon Zornoza's Gallery:
Background:
Simon’s dive story began in 1978 at the age of 17, back when training took place in frigid English quarries and “dive gear” didn’t include BCDs, octos, or computers. Despite the cold and the gear gaps, something clicked—and he’s been hooked ever since.
While he’s explored wrecks, depths, caves, and currents over the years, Simon will happily admit he’s a warm water diver at heart. Give him a coral wall and a long, slow, peaceful dive, and he’s in his element—soaking in the scale, the biodiversity, and the quiet wonder of the underwater world. He also finds deep satisfaction in conservation diving, especially spending hours tending coral nurseries and giving back to the reef.
Diving has become a full-on family affair, too. His sons got certified (with absolutely no pressure from Dad), and eventually his wife joined the fun—and now loves it just as much as the rest of them.
Simon’s favorite advice for new divers? Stay curious, stay calm, and don’t underestimate how much joy there is in simply being underwater and taking it all in.
Favorite Dive Site:
How do you choose a favorite when the list includes a pitch-black cenote in Mexico, a wreck dive in the Florida Keys greeted by a goliath grouper and her juvenile, a full-body bait ball encounter, a sea turtle resting ground in the Caribbean, and the sweeping beauty of Flynn Reef on the Great Barrier?
For Simon, one place quietly rises above the rest—an unmarked site just north of Red Slave in Bonaire.
It starts with a shore entry through towering ancient elkhorn coral, followed by a sandy expanse where stingrays and peacock flounder disappear into the sea floor. Midnight parrotfish feed in tight formation, palometa glide by in elegant schools, and as you reach the edge of the reef, turtles snorkel near the surface while cuttlefish perform their synchronized slow-dance. Even as some of the hard coral has struggled with warming and disease, the soft corals and sponges here are thriving.
It’s tranquil. It’s teeming. And for Simon, it’s a place that feels like a secret the ocean is quietly sharing with you—if you’re willing to slow down and listen.
Favorite Creature:
Sure, Simon is impressed by the big, charismatic residents—the eagle rays, the massive green morays, the reef sharks milling around like sentinels, the sleeping turtles tucked under coral shelves. Even the oddly captivating creatures like the foot-long bearded fireworm, the awkward slipper lobster, or the mesmerizingly bobbing juvenile trumpetfish all earn a nod.
But his true favorites? They’re tiny.
First, the hyperactive juvenile yellowtail damselfish—flashing like tiny neon LED lights as they dart around fire coral, impossible to ignore and somehow impossible to photograph.
And second, the ostracods. These minuscule shrimp-like creatures put on one of nature’s most astonishing light shows. Just after sunset following a full moon, they perform their bioluminescent mating ritual—lighting up the dark water with shimmering strings of glow-in-the-dark pearls. Blink and you’ll miss it. But if you’re lucky, and still, and paying attention—it’s unforgettable.
Favorite Certification Course:
Simon has a deep appetite for learning, and over time, he’s methodically worked his way through specialty courses, advanced certifications, and pro-level training. Every step has been fascinating, fun, and—most importantly—transformative. It’s made him not only a more capable diver, but a safer and more confident one, and it’s deepened his love for diving in the process.
His favorite courses? At the pro level, it’s been Divemaster and Assistant Instructor training—where he learned how to teach and share the diving experience with others in a meaningful, supportive way.
But before that, Rescue Diver and Self-Reliant Diver had a major impact. Those courses taught him how to think and plan ahead, not just for himself, but for the safety of others. It’s training that continues to shape how he dives—and how he helps others grow.
Goals In The Dive Industry:
After many years of diving for himself and alongside his family, Simon felt a pull to give back—to share his passion with newcomers of all ages and abilities, and to contribute meaningfully to the protection of the ocean he loves.
Becoming an Assistant Instructor gave him that opportunity. Whether he’s assisting in the pool, helping a student through a tricky skill, or watching someone light up as they take their first breath underwater, Simon brings care, patience, and encouragement to every interaction. He’s also a trained Adaptive Dive Buddy and finds deep joy in helping people with physical or cognitive challenges experience scuba firsthand.
His commitment doesn’t end with people—it extends to the ocean itself. Simon believes you don’t need to be a marine biologist to make a difference. He participates in dive site cleanups whenever he can (you never know what you’ll find!) and volunteers with a reef renewal organization in the Caribbean, where he helps maintain coral nurseries and stays up to date on cutting-edge restoration techniques.
For Simon, diving isn’t just about exploration—it’s about connection, stewardship, and making space for others to fall in love with the underwater world the way he did.