International Program Coordinators (IPCs)

Regional Program Coordinators (RPCs)

Michael Stafford

Chairman of the Board, Snuba International, Inc.
Founder
International Program Coordinator

Michael V. Stafford currently serves as president and CEO, of Sub Sea System, Inc., and Chairman of the Board of Snuba International, Inc. For four years he served in the United States Air Force and in 1970 received an honorable discharge. From 1970 through 1972 Mr. Stafford attended Sierra College and in 1973 through 1974 attended Sacramento State University. In 1975 Michael moved to Soda Springs, California where he founded and operated the High Sierra Ski Shop, Tinker’s Station and other successful businesses. It was during these ten years in Soda Springs that Mr. Stafford first imagined the idea of Snuba. As an avid diver since the age of 14, Michael never let go of his passion for the underwater world and aimed to share it with everyone––divers and non-divers alike. In 1987, Mr. Stafford moved to Placerville, California, where he joined his brother, Patrick Stafford and long time family friend, Jim Mayfield, to co-found Snuba International, Inc. Mr. Stafford served as President and CEO of Snuba International, Inc. from 1987 until 1994.

Jim Mayfield

President & C.E.O., Snuba International, Inc.
Founder
International Program Coordinator

Jim Mayfield founded Snuba International in 1987 with brothers Michael Stafford and Patrick Stafford (1940 – 2002). He serves as President and C.E.O. of Snuba International, Inc. (1996 – present) and founder and Chairman of Sub Sea Systems, Inc. Mayfield, Junior Certified diver at age 12, grew up in an avid diving and entrepreneurial surrounding. His father (1920-1982), an inventor and founder of a number of technical companies related to the power generation services industry, inspired Mayfield to follow in similar footsteps. Jokingly, he admits that the only time he was fired from a job was when he worked for someone else, as a lifeguard during his high school days. Mayfield attended California State University of Sacramento, majoring in Business. He worked with his family enterprise from his early teen years until 1985, when he set out on his own with Patrick Stafford to form Sub Sea Systems, Inc. When asked about his job and business Mayfield states, “You cannot describe what I do as a job, this is a pursuit of passion and to be a part of this ride in life is more fulfilling than imaginable. We are making a difference in peoples lives, from our worldwide staff of professionals to the guests experiencing their first breaths underwater. It simply does not get much better than this.”

Alex Edelmann

International Program Coordinator
Regional Director – Mexican Caribbean and Belize

As an International Program Coordinator (IPC), Alex Edelmann has been an invaluable liason between the Mexican Caribbean operations and the Snuba International corporate office. Beginning his career as a dolphin trainer at Xcaret Park in Riviera Maya, Mexico, Edelmann moved up the ranks and in 1998 was appointed Program Coordinator for the park. During his years at Xcaret, he began his Scuba training. In 1992, he received his Open Water Certification and in 1994 completed his Master Scuba Diver Trainer.

In 2002, Edelmann joined the Snuba family when he was appointed an International Program Coordinator (IPC). As a member of the corporate team, Edelmann actively works with numerous sites in Mexico including Xcaret, Xel-Ha, and Paamul, in Riviera Maya, Chankanaab and Jeannie’s Beach Club in Cozumel, Garrafon in Isla Mujeres, Mahahual in Costa Maya, Los Cabos, and Aculpulco.

Steve Foulger

International Program Coordinator
Regional Director Snuba Hawaii, Inc.

“…Whenever Steve Foulger gives a Snuba briefing, whether it be on one of our boat operations in Maui or when traveling the world to train new Snuba candidates, Steve always says the same thing: “Boy, I sure wish Snuba was around when I was a kid!!” Steve has been a certified diver since he was 14 years old. When he joined Snuba International’s corporate team in 2002, his boyhood dream of sharing the beauty and wonder of the underwater world with as many people as possible, became a reality. Previous to 2002, Steve was instrumental in building the Snuba program on the US island territory of Guam in the western pacific. With a background in broadcast communications, Steve has contributed significantly to the media and training aspects of Snuba International. He has aided in operational developments in a variety of locations, including: Aruba, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Grand Cayman. Steve currently staffs our Hawaii Regional Office and is developing new business in Japan.

Frank Cummings

Regional Program Coordinator
Owner/Operator of Virgin Island Snuba Excursions

As the longest running Snuba operator, Frank Cummings has hosted approximately 40,000 Snuba divers on St. John and St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. After completing his certification in California in 1988, he went on to complete his open water dive in Monterey, Ca and became a PADI Scuba Instructor in 1990. Over the years, Cummings has been a concessionaire for Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Norwegian cruise lines. Cummings relishes in the challenge of aiding beginners in their first Snuba adventure. When asked about his career as a Snuba operator Frank simply states, “I am the longest running Snuba operator and the last twenty years have gone by in the blink of an eye. I love what I do.”

Lynn Ekstrom

Regional Program Coordinator
Owner of Snuba Big Island

Lynn Ekstrom has been with Snuba for 20 years. Prior to joining Snuba International, Ekstrom worked in the real estate and the construction industry. In 1987, Ekstrom completed his Snuba certification with International Program Coordinator (IPC) Michael Stafford, in Placerville, CA and became Scuba certified in Lake Whiskeytown, Ca the same year. Ekstrom worked as a Snuba guide for two years at Key Largo, Florida and one year in Lahaina, Maui before settling down in Kona, Hawaii. For the past 18 years, Ekstrom has lived on the Big Island with his wife Carol and daughters Kira 10, Haley 10, and Kami 7.

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Bob Odell

Regional Program Coordinator
Real World Diving, Guam

In the early 70s at the age of 12, Bob Odell began diving the waters neighboring the US Territory of Guam. He spent most days studying the local spinner dolphin pods; writing many articles and even self-publishing a picture book called Sunsplash! A Spinner Dolphin’s Dream. In 1988, Odell opened his dive company Real World Diving, specifically catering to the large number of Japanese tourists that visit the island. After 13 years of providing Scuba services, Odell proudly launched Snuba, featuring this superior system as a way to introduce people of all ages to the wonders of diving. Especially satisfying for Odell is “the ability of Snuba and Snuba Doo to allow three generations of a single family to enjoy a sport together –– and to see the young ones come back and do it again and again.”

Larry Cohen

Regional Program Coordinator
Owner/Operator of Snuba Key West

After graduating from the University of Colorado with a BS in Commercial Recreation, Larry Cohen donned a suit and tie and found work in the corporate world. Cohen began his career in sales and eventually ended up as the Director of Marketing for a multi-million dollar financial institution. With his experience in marketing, a tourism based degree, and an overwhelming desire to wear flip-flops to work, Cohen quit his job and moved to Key West. He is now the proud owner/operator of Snuba Key West. In addition to training his own guides, Cohen has spent the past 5 years as a trainer and consultant for other Snuba Recreational Centers, including: Key Largo, Marathon, Turks and Caicos, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Vieques, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and St. Lucia.

For 9 years, Cohen has enjoyed building up his highly successful Snuba operation. He has personally guided thousands of people on Snuba tours, and although he no longer goes out on the boat every day, still enjoys introducing people to the incredible underwater world.

Marc Heffern

Regional Program Coordinator
Owner/Operator Snuba Honduras

Marc Heffern has been a proud member of the Snuba family for over 19 years. In 1980, Heffern received his PADI certification and continued on to be a dive instructor for Galaxy Scuba from 1983 to 1985. Tempted by the innovative Snuba system, Heffern became a Snuba guide in 1989 and worked for several years in Kona, Hawaii. During the following years Heffern accomplished the level of Regional Program Coordinator (RPC) and added a variety of Snuba locations to his resume, including: Houston, Texas, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, Mexico, and currently Roatan, Honduras. Heffern has also played an integral role in successfully training guides around the world.

Aside from Snuba, Heffern enjoys theology, philanthropy, cultures, travel, real estate, fitness and photography. His future aspirations range from a wife and many children, to more scuba, more Snuba, and more Sea Trek!

Sunny Kamiya

Regional Program Coordinator
Owner/Operator Snuba Japan

Currently residing in Maui, Hawaii, Sunny Kamiya has come a long way from his birthplace in Japan. Kamiya comically shares that his “story is too long to tell here, but if you buy [him] a couple of beers (Samuel Adams), [he] will tell you about [his] life as a firefighter in Japan…and an EMT in New York.” Kamiya moved to Hawaii when he saw a TV commercial and realized that he was “in the wrong place”. His Snuba career started soon after he realized “people weren’t setting that many fires on Maui” and the tourism industry needed him more than the fire department. Kamiya has worked as a Snuba guide for over 11 years and is the owner/operator of Snuba Japan. He also works as a Japanese translator and is a Snuba Regional Program Coordinator (RPC).

Brian Heustis

Regional Program Coordinator
Snuba Maui

Brian Heustis began his diving career as a Divemaster in Aruba. For several years he worked in the diving industry and also acted as a windsurfing instructor. In 1993, he converted to Snuba and soon realized that it would become a “big part” of his life. Heustis has been involved with Snuba for 16 years and is currently a Regional Program Coordinator. He works in Maui, Hawaii and says he is “stoked to share [his] love of the ocean with people…who were once resigned to only dreaming about it.” Heustis lives with his beautiful wife and sweet little girl, and continues to “turn people on to what Maui has to offer under the water.”

Matt Croft

Regional Program Coordinator
Snuba Thailand

Originally from Hawaii, Matt Croft has been Thailand’s Ambassador of Aloha since 2002. With a background in business, management, Open Water Scuba Instructor, and as a SNUBA Regional Program Coordinator, Matt is using his passion for the ocean to give visitors to Thailand their number one holiday memory – a Snuba Tour over a colorful tropical reef! As Matt says, “There is nothing more awesome than seeing that beaming ear to ear smile after a guest’s first Snuba Dive! It’s stellar to be able to create amazing memories and help fulfill many guests’ dreams of breathing underwater – ALOHA!!!”