Valerie Kevorkian grew up in Miami and has been diving since she was a young girl. She has always had a passion for the sea and diving and this made taking over the family business in 1988 a natural decision.

Valerie became a NAUI instructor in 1990 to teach and share her passion with others. Wanting to expand the original Tarpoon, and fulfilling a dream she and her sister Michele had, Valerie opened the PADI 5 star Tarpoon Lagoon Dive Center at the Miami Beach Marina in 1997.

The Tarpoon Lagoon Dive Center was, and remains, Miami Beach's only waterfront dive center with a 2004 Newton 46' custom built dive boat just feet from the store.

Valerie is also currently teaching scuba at Florida International University.

Stephanie Kevorkian is also 'one of Mike's girls' and, as one of the daughters, she too grew up in Miami with a love for diving.

After pursuing her education and career as a dental hygenist she decided to come back to Tarpoon and now runs our Hialeah location. On her days off from diving she still maintains her hygenist career. Stephanie is an expert repair technician and has even taught equipment repair classes. She is also a PADI instructor

Jake is a third generation Naui instructor and is the grandson of our founder Mike Kevorkian and Valerie's son. Jake is the manager of the store. He has also become a Padi instructor and is heavily involved in teaching and working with the Miami Beach High School scuba club. His immense experience gained from years spent growing up at the dive shop and spearfishing in South Florida and in the Keys is self evident.

Richard was born in England, grew up as a farm boy in Cornwall, received a Masters Degree from the University of Dundee and lived in Scotland's Outer Hebrides before going to sea as a crewman on privately owned yachts. Richard learnt to dive out of necessity to further his career opportunities and, making the most of those opportunities, he cruised from the Seychelles to Saba and Monaco to Massachusetts, diving when possible. Over time Richard obtained his British Master's license and became the Captain of a 192-ft (58-m) private yacht. But it was no way to live (!) and Richard has settled here in Miami to join the Tarpoon team. He should be finishing his PADI Divemaster certification soon ... but we've been saying that for a while now!

Alfred was born in Cuba coming to the states as a child. He began scuba as a hobby and has prusued his divemaster license and works at our Hialeah location.

Hilda was born in Cuba and came to Florida as a teenager. She took her first dive class at Tarpoon with Stephanie and she soon couldn't stop diving. She helps out with classes and is in the process of obtaining her divemaster license and also works in the store.

Emilio was born in Mexico He grew up around the water and in 1992 started working on dive boats in Mexico. Emilio came to the states with a friend and decided to stay, become a divemaster and worked in North Carolina. He then came to Florida, divemastered in Boynton Beach and became a PADI instructor in 2009. Emilio joined the Tarpoon team in April 2010. He works in the store but spends most of his time underwater.

Brazilian born, Ruy started diving as a teen and was a natural at surfing, freediving and scuba. These hobbies led him to Hawaii where he became a PADI instructor. In April 2010, his desire for new warm waters brought him to Tarpoon Lagoon where he can dive in a Speedo. Besides instructing, Ruy also works in the store.

Claudio was born in Italy and has come to the states, not only to work, but to dive in our warm waters. Claudio has a passion and love for the sea and is one of our divemasters. He has a tough work schedule but always finds time to dive with us and is always willing to lead others.

Jeffrey joined the Tarpoon team in November 2009. He was born in upstate New York and in college earned a bachelor degree in broadcasting/communication minoring in sports management.

Jeffrey came to the Keys to obtain his NAUI instructor license and to leave the cold, Before coming to Tarpoon, Jeff worked and taught underpriveledged children SCUBA. This year he has also become a PADI instructor

Juan was born in Cuba and has always loved the ocean. He took his first scuba class in 1999 and has been diving ever since. He works at the Hialeah store and is in the process of getting his divemaster license.