We are proud to have an amazing dream team of professionals. Many of them have been with us for more than a decade. We love every one of them and our shop would not be the same without them! These are the people who make Spanish Dancer a great place to be.
David
PADI Instructor / INTD Tech Instructor / Manager
Nationality: Israeli
Speaks: Hebrew / English / Spanish / Swahili
David has been teaching diving since 2003. He co-manages the dive centre together with Shee. Happy team and happy customers is his number one goal. New gear, new boat or just improvements, he will always find something to invest in. As well, David is our webmaster. You might find him busy at all times but he manages to take 4 month vacation a year to travel the world.
Shee
PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer / Manager
Nationality: Kenyan
Speaks: Swahili / English / French / German / Spanish
Shee is our other co-manager at Spanish Dancer. He has been an Instructor since 2002. This great guy started as a freelance Instructor at our shop, and quickly moved up to be a manager and part owner. You will usually find him at the reception, always with a huge smile on his face, and he will put one on yours with one of his numerous cheesy jokes!
Beka
PADI Instructor
Nationality: Kenyan
Speaks: Swahili / English
Beka is the quiet strength of the team. He has spent more than 2 decades in the diving industry and became an instructor in 2011. Teaching diving in Zanzibar for many years, he has a perfect knowledge of our environment. Beka joined Spanish Dancer Divers in 2017. His years of experience and calm confidence will help you get relaxed and comfortable under water and above.
Laurie
PADI Instructor
Nationality : French
Speaks : French/English
Laurie studied literature and worked in the book industry in Paris for years. Looking for a change of life, she moved to Indonesia and became a diving instructor in 2014. She gained experience by teaching in challenging conditions, in one of the busiest diving spot in the world. She joined Spanish Dancer Divers in 2018. Nice and friendly, Laurie is always ready to share her passion about the ocean and marine conservation.
Gonzalo (Lalo)
PADI Instructor
Nationality : Spanish
Speaks : Spanish/English/French
Right after getting his marine biology degree in Spain, Lalo decided to start a career in diving. Familiar with Zanzibar since he was a kid, he naturally joined Spanish Dancer Divers to enroll our divemaster internship. He was so enthusiastic and attentive with guests that we decided to hire him, and he became a PADI instructor in May 2018. Passionate about sharks, he will always try to find one for you!
Tsuma
PADI Instructor
Nationality: Kenyan
Speaks: Swahili / English
Tsuma has been working as Divemaster since 2012 guiding divers around Zanzibar and Kenya. We originally contracted Tsuma as a boat captain. Showing his immense passion for diving and being the first one to jump in the water when needed, he left us no choice but changing his job description to Divemaster.
In 2018 Tsuma realized his dream and passion and became a PADI Instructor. He has been teaching courses with a big smile ever since.
Mohammed (Mwachala)
PADI Divemaster
Nationality: Tanzanian
Speaks: Swahili / Spanish / English
Mohammed has been working with Spanish Dancer since 2007 and became a Divemaster in 2013. He loves diving and is officially the slowest moving Divemaster we ever had (underwater that is). Perfect for any of you underwater photography enthusiasts. If there is any special creature in the area, Mohamed will be the first one to find it.
Abu
PADI Divemaster
Nationality : Tanzanian
Speaks : Swahili/English
Native of Zanzibar, Abu used to work in a small shop next to the dive shop. He was fascinated and staring at divers every day, until he found the courage to come and ask us about diving. Passionate about the ocean, he didn’t have any knowledge about diving when he joined Spanish Dancer Divers. He became a PADI divemaster in 2018, and will likely find amazing macro critters for you. You can think he is shy, but put on some Zanzibar music, and you will witness some amazing dancing skills.
Idi
Captain (Explorer) and Rescue diver
Nationality: Tanzanian
Speaks. Swahili / English
They say Captain Idi was born underwater. He can find almost anything in the ocean if you ask him nicely. He’s been a captain for over 30 years and knows every reef in North Zanzibar. He has been with us since 2008. Idi loves his boat Explorer and calls it his 3rd wife :) He will always make sure of your safe return and provide the most comfortable journey possible. If you sing him a song (in any language), he will be singing it right back at you in no time at all.
Haji
Captain (Kidude / Mazoweya)
Nationality: Tanzanian
Speaks: Swahili / English
Captain Haji has a natural GPS and can drop you at point on any reef regardless of the weather. And it’s a promise that he will take you to and from the dive sites as safely and as comfortably as possible. Haji has a great knowledge of the tides, sea conditions and dive sites, he is the first one we consult with if we are not sure about the dive plans. Haji has been with Spanish Dancer ever since the beginning.
Juma
Captain (Explorer)
Nationality: Tanzanian
Speaks. Swahili / Italian / English
Captain Juma has been a captain for over 15 years and knows every reef in North Zanzibar. He loves music and sings easily. He always makes sure everything is going nicely and takes security as a priority. He is a little shy but if you start joking with him, he is the first one to laugh.
Ali
Boat Crew / Compressor Operator / Advanced diver
Nationality: Tanzanian
Speaks: Swahili / English
Ali has been working for Spanish Dancers almost since the beginning. He has a natural smile and it’s almost impossible to get on his bad side. The clean pure air you breath at Spanish Dancer is due to his hard work and dedication.
Bilali
Boat Crew / Maintenance
Nationality: Tanzanian
Speaks: Swahili / English
Bilali is one of the most smiling persons in the dive center. He loves joking, playing and he is always happy to speak with customers and provide them with the best service possible. A very motivated young man and you will always find him fixing something at the dive center if he is not on the boat. Bilali recently discovered diving and he loves it. He is looking forward to get some certifications.
Simai
Boat Crew / Compressor Operator
Nationality: Tanzanian
Speaks: Swahili
Simai has been with Spanish Dancer ever since the beginning. He is another dedicated member of the compressor team. You will also find him on the boat and although he doesn’t say too much he will make sure your tank is changed before you even notice.
