Meet the Team
Serious About Diving, Not Ourselves
Our Story
Neil and Jess first crossed paths in 2020 while working for another dive operation. It wasn’t exactly love at first dive - Neil was friendly enough, but wasn’t entirely convinced Jess (a shy Advanced diver with zero industry experience) would survive the madness. And to be fair, Neil, with his years of dive experience and confidence, was more than a little intimidating to approach.
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But over time, a friendship formed - built on equal parts sarcasm, saltwater, and shared ideas. Somewhere along the way, the catchphrase “we make it work” became part of the everyday vocabulary. Neil took Jess under his wing, sharing his endless knowledge of diving and the industry, while Jess kept asking far too many questions. Mostly the “obvious” ones - which Neil was kind enough to answer (at least after his morning coffees). Together, we learned how to laugh through chaos, turn challenges into lessons, and discovered that our different work styles somehow fit together perfectly. We shared the same values too: doing things properly, not just quickly, and caring deeply about the people and ocean around us.
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Neil had started dive centres before, but after nine years of exploring and working in Musandam previously, it was always his dream to come back. So when the opportunity came to create something of his own, it was an easy choice - and same for Jess. This was our destined home - roaming goats, crazy currents, and all.​
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This dive centre is the result of a shared dream - built on experience, determination, and a love for creating something truly special above and below the surface. And yes, we might be a little crazy… but that’s part of the fun, right?
Jess
Operations Manager & Marine Biologist
Born in the Bahamas and raised in the UK, Jess has always had a deep passion for the environment - especially anything under the waves. As Neptune’s Operation Manager and resident Marine Biologist, she keeps the operational side of things running smoothly while leading our conservation initiatives, courses, and projects. When she’s not tracking turtles or admiring nudibranchs, Jess is on the lookout for her first whale shark. Oh, and she’s also the one attempting to keep Neil in line - no small feat!
Neil
Managing Partner
South African by birth and nature, Neil has been diving and teaching for 25 years. Somehow, no country (except Musandam) has been able to keep him put - clearly, the world just can’t handle him. He loves teaching the technical side of diving that takes recreational divers to the next level. His favourite animal? The Great White Shark. He’s even dived with them outside a cage and is still in awe of their grace. Bonus skill: somehow surviving not only Jess’s attempts, but his wife's attempts too, at keeping him in line.
