Meet The Team
Tarek "T"
Owner
T might as well have gills, the man spends so much time underwater. Tarek grew up diving in the Red Sea in Egypt alongside his father, who made it clear early on that the ocean isn’t just water—it’s alive, intoxicating, and endlessly fascinating. By the time he was a teenager, T was working in dive shops, soaking in the stories every reef and wreck has to tell. At just 18, he became an instructor, guiding others into the world that had shaped him.
He also had a career as a professional handball player—Paris, Stockholm, the Egyptian National Team—moving through cities and arenas, learning the rhythm of life in motion, how people live and work and push themselves. Then, in a surprising turn, he shifted into finance and banking, working in Dubai, Egypt, England, and eventually the U.S., where he earned a PhD in finance and met his wife, Michaela.
Through it all, diving remained his constant. From running dive shops as a teen to co-running operations in North Carolina, to exploring reefs across the globe, the ocean always pulled him back. Eventually, that pull led him to Sail Fish Scuba in the Florida Keys, where experience, community, and curiosity converge.
As a PADI IDC Staff Instructor, T brings global perspective, confidence, and more stories than Hemingway. He doesn’t just teach diving—he shows you the ocean the way he knows it: layered, alive, and full of subtle surprises in every current, every wreck, and every reef.
Favorite Marine Pal: Sharks
Michaela
Owner
Michaela grew up with the mountains and wide deserts of Arizona—a completely different rhythm from the life she would later come to love in Key Largo.
After graduating from Smith College, she taught ESL across several countries. As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Salatiga, Indonesia, she connected with students, ran community programs, and learned to understand a place not from a guidebook, but from the people who live there.
Returning to the U.S., Michaela earned her nursing degree from Duke University and worked as a medical-surgical oncology nurse caring for Veterans. As a charge nurse, she learned to take charge in the middle of chaos, keeping things running smoothly and making it look effortless—skills she now brings to every corner of the dive shop.
At Sail Fish Scuba, Michaela brings that same steady, structured energy to every corner of the shop. She stepped out of the healthcare world to build a dive shop that runs on connection and adventure, where every day is shaped by the water, the people, and the stories they bring.
Favorite Marine Pal: Spotted eagle rays
Captain Kate
100 GT Master Captain
Captain Kate grew up in coastal Virginia and has been around water her entire life.
After graduating high school, she attended the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, commissioning as an officer in the Coast Guard as well as earning a Bachelor's in Marine Science. In the Coast Guard, she gained leadership expe
Captain Kate
100 GT Master Captain
Captain Kate grew up in coastal Virginia and has been around water her entire life.
After graduating high school, she attended the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, commissioning as an officer in the Coast Guard as well as earning a Bachelor's in Marine Science. In the Coast Guard, she gained leadership experience as a Department Head and Executive Officer, and garnered ever valuable ship handling skills on vessels ranging from 350 to 1800 tons.
Kate deployed mostly to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the Pacific performing maritime law enforcement duties.
While stationed in Key West, she found a real calling to explore underwater, and that calling quickly grew into part time work as a divemaster. After a couple years at that level, Kate earned her Master Scuba Diver Trainer certifications and Master Mariner Credentials, transitioning to working in the scuba industry full time.
In her free time, Kate enjoys spending time with her fiancé and their two dogs, whether at home relaxing, out adventuring, or of course, diving.
Kate brings fifteen years of experience on the water, including seven years as a dive professional and five years as a dive boat captain. Rest assured, with Kate at the helm, you’re in great hands aboard her boats.
Captain Kevin
100 GT Master Captain
Captain Kevin was born and raised in southern Florida, so these waters are in his blood.
He’s spent over twenty years working the coast—everything from recreational charters to commercial operations—and he knows every reef, every sandbar, every hidden corner better than any map could tell you. He gre
Captain Kevin
100 GT Master Captain
Captain Kevin was born and raised in southern Florida, so these waters are in his blood.
He’s spent over twenty years working the coast—everything from recreational charters to commercial operations—and he knows every reef, every sandbar, every hidden corner better than any map could tell you. He grew up exploring the coastal waters of Florida, learning to read the tides, the winds, and the quirks of the sea like a local knows the streets of their neighborhood.
Captain Kevin brings steady leadership, knowledge, and an instinctive understanding of the ocean to every trip. Calm, sharp, and effortlessly funny, he creates an atmosphere that’s welcoming and enjoyable for everyone on board. Safety is always a priority, and with Captain Kevin at the helm, you’re in truly capable hands.
Off the water, Kevin is all family—poolside with his kids and grilling up whatever he can throw on the barbecue.
Elara M.
PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI)
Elara hails from Memphis, Tennessee—a city where the streets hum with energy and Southern hospitality runs through everything.
Her love for the water started young, earning her Open Water certification in 2018 alongside her dad and sister—and it hasn’t let go since.
Elara has worked on s
Elara M.
PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI)
Elara hails from Memphis, Tennessee—a city where the streets hum with energy and Southern hospitality runs through everything.
Her love for the water started young, earning her Open Water certification in 2018 alongside her dad and sister—and it hasn’t let go since.
Elara has worked on sailboats, on the powdery slopes of ski resorts, and backpacked across the globe. Through it all, the ocean kept calling her back.
She earned her Divemaster in 2022 in Roatan, Honduras, and worked afterward in Tennessee and Newcastle, England, before stepping into her role as a newly certified PADI Open Water Instructor.
Off the water, Elara hikes, rolls dice in Dungeons & Dragons, sips coffee, or gets lost in a book. Elara is sweet, lively, and a teacher whose passion for the ocean inspires everyone she meets.
Zachary Y.
PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI)
Zach grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, but the desert never held him. The ocean did. After military service, he and a close friend dove into scuba certifications, and he never looked back. A trip to the Florida Keys changed everything—he fell for island life, coral reefs, and the work that t
Zachary Y.
PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI)
Zach grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, but the desert never held him. The ocean did. After military service, he and a close friend dove into scuba certifications, and he never looked back. A trip to the Florida Keys changed everything—he fell for island life, coral reefs, and the work that truly matters. That passion led him straight into coral reef restoration, helping bring Florida’s reefs back to life.
With an Associate's degree in Marine Science, Zach throws himself into local reef projects, diving every day with purpose and heart.
Off the clock, Zach is going to music concerts, traveling, or hanging with his pet rabbit, Porter Rabbitson .
Mohanad H.
PADI Divemaster
Originally from Cairo, Egypt, Mohanad discovered his passion for scuba diving in 2016 and hasn’t slowed down since. He especially enjoys deep dives and exploring large wrecks, with the legendary USS Spiegel Grove ranking among his favorite sites.
A technical diver since 2019, Mohanad became a Divemaster in 2024 a
Mohanad H.
PADI Divemaster
Originally from Cairo, Egypt, Mohanad discovered his passion for scuba diving in 2016 and hasn’t slowed down since. He especially enjoys deep dives and exploring large wrecks, with the legendary USS Spiegel Grove ranking among his favorite sites.
A technical diver since 2019, Mohanad became a Divemaster in 2024 and is currently a PADI Assistant Instructor candidate with the goal of becoming a PADI Instructor in 2026.
A self-proclaimed gear fanatic, he enjoys helping divers find equipment that truly fits their needs and makes their diving more comfortable and enjoyable.
He is also an avid underwater photographer, always looking for ways to contribute to ocean conservation while capturing the beauty of the underwater world.
Outside of diving, Mohanad works as an ICU Respiratory Therapist and enjoys off-roading in his free time.
Above all, Mohanad loves sharing diving with others and believes the sport brings people together in a unique way. As he often says, every diver needs a home—and Sail Fish SCUBA is his. ❤️.
Sasha H.
PADI Divemaster
Hailing from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Sasha discovered her love of the ocean at the age of 12 when she became scuba certified alongside her family. Since then, she’s had the opportunity to dive in many sites across Asia, Africa, and South and Central America.
Sasha earned a BA in Strategic Communications f
Sasha H.
PADI Divemaster
Hailing from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Sasha discovered her love of the ocean at the age of 12 when she became scuba certified alongside her family. Since then, she’s had the opportunity to dive in many sites across Asia, Africa, and South and Central America.
Sasha earned a BA in Strategic Communications from American University in Washington, D.C., and has spent her career working in nonprofit organizations in the queer justice and climate movements.
In her free time, you can find Sasha playing Ultimate Frisbee, battling monsters in a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, or curled up with a good book beside her two cats, Levi and Gandalf.
Eli B.
PADI Divemaster
Eli recently graduated high school from Sidwell Friends in Washington D.C. He will be attending Cornell University in the fall where he plans on majoring in Biology or an environmental science-related field.
Ever since a young age he has always loved the outdoors, particularly the ocean. Eli worked as an exhibit gu
Eli B.
PADI Divemaster
Eli recently graduated high school from Sidwell Friends in Washington D.C. He will be attending Cornell University in the fall where he plans on majoring in Biology or an environmental science-related field.
Ever since a young age he has always loved the outdoors, particularly the ocean. Eli worked as an exhibit guide at the National Aquarium in Baltimore and interned with Turtle Love where he learned about marine life conservation. He began diving last summer where he earned his PADI Open Water Diver and PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certifications.
Outside of the water, Eli enjoys playing baseball, watching sports, playing card games with friends and family, going to the gym, and spending time in nature.
Kevin B.
PADI Divemaster
Kevin is the Director of Design and Development for a medium sized food and beverage company operating in the US, Europe and Japan. In his free time, he loves adventuring with his wife Christina and dog Ollie.
He started his diving journey in Key West in 2012. He’s eager to continue his professional dive jour
Kevin B.
PADI Divemaster
Kevin is the Director of Design and Development for a medium sized food and beverage company operating in the US, Europe and Japan. In his free time, he loves adventuring with his wife Christina and dog Ollie.
He started his diving journey in Key West in 2012. He’s eager to continue his professional dive journey and plans to take the PADI Instructor Development Course next year to become a certified scuba instructor. .
Sarah B.
PADI Divemaster Trainee
Sarah is a Florida Keys native who decided to join the Army after high school at Coral Shores High School and went to West Point.
She has been around the water her whole life and got scuba certified when she was young as a hobby to do with her Dad. She got her Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver certif
Sarah B.
PADI Divemaster Trainee
Sarah is a Florida Keys native who decided to join the Army after high school at Coral Shores High School and went to West Point.
She has been around the water her whole life and got scuba certified when she was young as a hobby to do with her Dad. She got her Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver certifications with Sail Fish Scuba and now she's back for more in the dive master internship program!
On the side, Sarah has a variety of hobbies that include working out, graphic design, video games, and content creation.
Mike H.
PADI Divemaster Trainee
Mike hails from the great state of Oklahoma, where he says you’ll find the best BBQ around! He had a collegiate career as a stand-out pitcher before eventually finding his way to the ocean and settling in Florida.
Mike is currently working toward becoming a PADI Divemaster , continuing to grow his profess
Mike H.
PADI Divemaster Trainee
Mike hails from the great state of Oklahoma, where he says you’ll find the best BBQ around! He had a collegiate career as a stand-out pitcher before eventually finding his way to the ocean and settling in Florida.
Mike is currently working toward becoming a PADI Divemaster , continuing to grow his professional career and share his passion for diving with others. Mike's calm demeanor, strong work ethic, and passion for the underwater world make him a valued part of the team.
In his free time, Mike enjoys racing cars, scuba diving, and dabbling in photography. He also loves spending time with his lovely dog, Nala—stop by the shop and you might see her around!
Sam H.
PADI Divemaster Trainee
Sam is the newest member to join the Sail Fish Scuba team, and we are excited to have him aboard!
Sam is currently training to advance his professional diving career and plans to become a certified scuba instructor.
In his free time, Sam enjoys photography—and he is extremely talented. His eye for capturing
Sam H.
PADI Divemaster Trainee
Sam is the newest member to join the Sail Fish Scuba team, and we are excited to have him aboard!
Sam is currently training to advance his professional diving career and plans to become a certified scuba instructor.
In his free time, Sam enjoys photography—and he is extremely talented. His eye for capturing the beauty of the underwater world brings an extra level of artistry and appreciation to his diving.
Dave "Groovy" G.
PADI Divemaster Trainee
Dave’s interest in diving started with obtaining a commercial diving certification at the Diver’s Institute of Technology (Seattle, WA) in 1990 where he was educated in mostly service supplied underwater construction, but attained his Advanced Open Water Certification as part of the requisite course
Dave "Groovy" G.
PADI Divemaster Trainee
Dave’s interest in diving started with obtaining a commercial diving certification at the Diver’s Institute of Technology (Seattle, WA) in 1990 where he was educated in mostly service supplied underwater construction, but attained his Advanced Open Water Certification as part of the requisite course work. His classroom education & practical experience included, but was not limited to everything from underwater arc welding to hyperbaric chamber operation(s) & saturation theory.
Although he didn’t pursue a career at the time, he continued in the trades until going back to school to become a drug counselor in Humboldt County, CA and achieving his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science Management focused on Policy & Planning from Humboldt State University (now Cal-Poly Humboldt) which allowed him to ultimately serve as a city Councilor in Trinidad, CA (2019-2022).
Currently Dave has joined Sail Fish Scuba to achieve his credentials to become a proficient Divemaster/Instructor as well as use his construction background & formal education to engage with Sea Turtles, coral reef restoration and other global issues commonly associated with the sea & inland waterways.