Explore the world beneath the Sea with us
Our Crew
Buccaneer Barb
Crew Leader
RAID Instructor Certifier, RAIDaptive Instructor Trainer
Barbara Thompson has been diving since the late 1970’s and instructing since the late 1980’s. Her love of the ocean drove her to not only become a scuba diver but also to get an Ocean Engineering degree from Texas A&M. Along with Nettie Evans and Sophie Wimberley, she cofounded the Dive Pirates Foundation in 2005 to serve military wounded and civilians and has been dedicated to adaptive scuba ever since.
In addition to cofounding Dive Pirates, she is a coauthor for the SSI Classified Diving and RAIDaptive Diving programs. She and Sophie have traveled internationally to train instructors, buddies and students and are ready and available to teach and cross over any instructor from any agency.
Swashbuckling Sophie
Industry/Partner Liaison
SSI Instructor Trainer, SSI Classified Instructor Trainer
Sophie Wimberley has been diving since the early 1990’s and instructing for more than 25 years. As a cofounder of the Dive Pirates Foundation, she has advanced her passion for training family, friends and all adaptive divers for its 20-year history.
She is an Instructor Trainer for SSI and works to link up industry partners in the diving world to find travel locations, trainers, and like-minded buddies that want to pass along the love of the ocean to persons with disabilities. Her background with a PharmD and her MBA fuel the ability to lead Davy Jones Explorers in DAN training and all things medical.
Gangplank Gillian
Crew Member
RAID Open Water Instructor, RAIDaptive Instructor
Gillian Tilbury is a certified RAIDaptive Diving Instructor, ocean lover, and big believer in making the underwater world accessible to everyone. She has been diving for over 30 years and teaching for the last 10 years. What really fuels her is helping people of all abilities experience the freedom and peace that comes with being underwater. Gillian’s focus is always on safety, fun, and building real confidence in the water.
When not diving, you’ll find Gillian working as a Senior Director with Alvarez & Marsal’s U.S. Energy practice in Houston. She specializes in helping companies navigate complex change with a focus on operating model optimization and performance improvement.
Gillian also serves as the Treasurer for the Dive Pirates Foundation and holds an Instructor Certification with SSI.
Jollyman John O
Crew Member
RAID Open Water Instructor, RAIDaptive Instructor
JohnO was introduced to scuba in the mid to late 1980’s while serving in the US Navy. He was certified in recreational scuba in 1989 and went on to earn additional certifications, culminating in his Open Water Instructor Certification and his Adaptive Instructor certification as part of his commitment to the Dive Pirates Foundation.
Through sharing his love of the ocean and scuba with new divers, adaptive divers and their buddies, they have enriched his life and strengthened his belief in the resilience of the human spirit and body. JohnO is dedicated to inspiring people to be lifelong scuba divers and only certifies those whom he would trust to be his own buddy to save his life if circumstances required.
Scuba Teddy Bear Jean
Crew Member
RAID Open Water Instructor, RAIDaptive Instructor
Jean Jones, known by her students as Scuba Teddy Bear, was certified in 1983. She has been an instructor for over 20 years and has been certified as an SSI and PADI Instructor and is currently certified as a RAID Open Water and RAIDaptive Instructor.
She loves teaching and especially enjoys the new student’s reaction to their new and exciting world under the sea. When not teaching, she dives all over the world as much as she can and loves teaching as much as diving. You are always welcome to join her on any of her trips.