Slider 3
About Us
Dive Catalina was established in 2007 by Ron Moore and Connie Rae. While Dive Catalina is relatively new to the dive scene, Ron is not. Ron has been diving since 1972 and has been teaching for over 45 years and teaching some specialty classes before they formally existed. Ron does not just teach, he also works as an underwater cameraman and filmmaker. He is an award winning video photographer whose works have been seen on most major television networks. Ron has been diving Catalina since the early 1970′s and has lived on the island since 1993. He knows diving. Connie, a certified diver for over 10 years, enjoys diving both locally and abroad.
In January of 2021 Dive Catalina was purchased by Shawn Cape. A student of Ron’s going back to the late 1990s, Shawn is keeping Ron’s standard of excellence moving forward. Ron is still very much part of the shop and is offers a wealth of information and knowledge to the daily diving and snorkeling activities.
Our staff has been hand-picked and is experienced and knowledgeable. Dive Catalina is a full service dive shop and offers:
- Introductory Dives (No experience necessary!)
- Guided Dives
- Classes
- Boat Dives
- Rentals
We are dedicated to creating an exceptional diving experience for you. Stop by and see for yourself!
– Ron & Connie
Meet the Staff
Ron Moore
Ron started diving in 1972 from the mainland beaches of Zuma and Leo Carillo. He has made thousands of dives all over the world. He moved to Catalina Island in 1993 and in 2007 Ron and Connie Rae established Dive Catalina. Ron is a NAUI course director as well as a PADI instructor. His first PADI instructor number was 119OW. In addition to recreational ratings, Ron holds certifications in semi-closed, closed circuit rebreathers and cavern/cave. Ron is an award winning underwater videographer, the recipient of the Beneath the Sea Diver of the Year Award/Stan Waterman Award in 2006 and of the NAUI Service Award in 2010 and 2014.
Connie Rae Newport
Connie came to Catalina Island, along with one of her daughters, to celebrate her 50th birthday and explore under the Avalon waters. Having the good fortune to be introduced to this incredible underwater world by world renowned instructor Ron Moore, Connie quickly fell in love with scuba diving and with the unique “waterscape” of Catalina Island.
So moved by this experience, a few years later, Connie completely changed her life and returned to Catalina Island where she could live there and dive as often as possible. With the enthusiasm of her lifelong interest in the ocean, and keeping them vibrant and healthy, she also recognized that it would be thrill for her to introduce other people to this exciting new possibility: see the world underwater and dive!
Combined with Ron’s life-long experience as an exceptional dive professional with a sterling reputation for expertise in introduction dives, as well as working with the most experienced divers on the planet; the two decided to team up in 2007 to form Dive Catalina. The goal was to create a dive shop that caters to all levels of divers – new and experienced – giving them the most exciting experience underwater and the type of home-town valet service that makes their personal touch so memorable to those who visit Catalina, and their shop.
Frank Murgolo
Frank’s love affair with the ocean began at an early age. His father taught him to swim in the ocean when he was 4 years old. He began body surfing at age 5. It was no surprise that he became involved with scuba diving at an early age. Frank has more than 40 years diving experience. He is a NAUI and SDI Scuba Instructor and has trained hundreds of students. He has worked with both dive shops and the Cal State Long Beach Scuba Program. Frank is a diver for the American Association of Underwater Scientists, an instructor who introduces disabled veterans to diving, and a volunteer diver at the Aquarium of the Pacific (located in Long Beach, California). Along the way Frank has also earned an Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy and a PhD in Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine. His extensive teaching and diving experience in Southern California waters including Catalina Island, makes him an extraordinary instructor and dive guide for both Tandem (Introductory) Divers and Certified Divers who want a knowledgeable and highly skilled guide.
Shawn Cape
Shawn started diving in 1990 as a combatant diver in the Marine Corps. Thirty years and nearly a thousand dives later, with nearly a decade as a NAUI divemaster, Shawn is currently working on his instructor certification.
CHRIS HUFF
Chris is a NAUI Divemaster and has been diving since 1996. He is an Animal Care Volunteer at the Marine Mammal Care Center @ Ft. MacArthur in San Pedro and worked as a volunteer diver at the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, Texas, for 10 years. Chris has participated in research dives at the Flower Garden Banks NMS in the Gulf of Mexico. He has a M.S. degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University and worked on shark research projects in the Bahamas, the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Catalina.
Chris is in his twenty-first year of teaching. He has taught Aquatic Science, Marine Biology, Biology, Introduction to Marine Science Careers, and Anatomy & Physiology in high school. He is a former Lecturer/Science Education Master Teacher at UC Irvine. Chris is a native of San Pedro and especially enjoys introducing newcomers to the wonders of the ocean.