Dive Team

Jeroen van de Waal is a passionate advocate for marine conservation, an experienced leader, and the visionary founder of OrcaNation, an organisation dedicated to ocean literacy, sustainability, and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards. With a deep commitment to protecting marine ecosystems, Jeroen has dedicated his career to creating impactful, hands-on educational experiences that connect people to the beauty and importance of the ocean.

Jeroen continues to be a driving force for marine conservation and education, combining his passion, expertise, and leadership to build a movement that advocates for the protection of our oceans and the sustainability of our planet.

Barbara is an Oceanographer who has dedicated the last 15 years to studying Marine Sciences with a deep commitment to bringing the ocean and its wonders closer to people’s lives. Scuba diving, photography, and outdoor education are among the most powerful tools she uses to achieve this goal. Becoming a Scuba Instructor has enhanced her ability to spread ocean literacy, allowing her to share the immersive experience of diving and foster a greater appreciation for ocean conservation. Outside of work, Barbara is an enthusiastic traveller with a passion for exploring new places. She excels at connecting various factors to global events, often using maps to illustrate her insights. Through her lens and maps, Barbara offers a unique perspective on the world, sharing her love for the ocean and her extensive knowledge with those around her.

With 16 years of experience as a marine educator, Kaue has taught marine biology, environmental education, and ocean literacy worldwide. He uses scuba diving, photography, videography, and design to engage and inspire others. As a scuba instructor, he has introduced many to the ocean’s wonders, fostering a commitment to conservation and sustainable living. Outside of work, Kaue explores underwater ecosystems, capturing vibrant marine life through his lens. His curiosity for both the ocean and technology motivates him to seek innovative solutions for data management. After discovering a passion for coding during the COVID pandemic, Kaue now develops apps to make data management more intuitive while sharing his enthusiasm for the ocean and technology.

Nic is from Singapore and started diving 13 years ago. He began his instructor journey in 2018 on the beautiful island of Bali. Nic loves exploring the beautiful underwater world and hopes to share this splendid affinity with new divers. He believes that you will only cherish a place if you know how beautiful it is. By sharing this beautiful and mesmerising underwater world with more people from all walks of life, he hopes it will increase the awareness of its diversity and motivate more people to protect it. The journey as a Scuba Instructor is constantly evolving. His goal is to explore any body of water, being the open ocean, caves, or sunken wrecks. Soon, he will get to meet some of you and bring smiles to your underwater journey!

Ari has over a decade of experience in business operations and management, bringing a wealth of knowledge and skills to any team. His expertise is complemented by a creative flair, often showcased through his work with software such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and Procreate, where he brings artistic visions to life. Outside of his professional endeavors, Ari is an avid lover of water and the outdoors.

Equipped with maritime knowledge, he is passionate about swimming and water activities. He also enjoys solo adventures in and out of nature. His love for exploration extends to photography, where he captures beautiful scenes and moments.

Emerson Chua, a 26-year-old from Singapore, shares his birthday with the nation’s celebrations. His journey has been shaped by a love for exploration and discovery. In 2017, he tried scuba diving for the first time at Rawa Island and instantly fell in love with the ocean. When he’s indoors, Emerson enjoys building model kits and experimenting in the kitchen, crafting detailed miniatures and trying out new recipes. But it’s the outdoors that truly calls to him. He finds joy in fishing, cycling, swimming, and trekking, always ready for the next adventure. Whether casting a line, hitting a trail, or simply enjoying nature, Emerson’s passion for the outdoors is what drives him, inspiring others to appreciate life’s simple pleasures.

Sophie is currently studying Marine and Freshwater Biology at the University of Glasgow. She started diving when she was 8 and hasn’t stopped since. Sophie became a divemaster before starting her studies where she hopes to enhance her underwater knowledge further. Other than diving, she enjoys windsurfing and occasionally explores her creativity through pottery.

Hilde is originally from the Netherlands, but her journey has taken her around the world. For over 26 years, she has been settling into new countries with her family, and their latest stop is Singapore.

Travel is her passion, and when her oldest son reached the age to take the PADI Open Water diver course, the family embarked on a new adventure: exploring the underwater world. From North Sulawesi to Komodo, Bali, Thailand, Tioman, the Maldives, and even Rawa Island, each dive destination was eagerly added to the family’s bucket list. Weekend liveaboard trips from Singapore became a regular occurrence.

Hilde is always happy to share her insights about diving and will leave you inspired for your next dive adventure. As a shared service support expert, she’s ready to assist in any way she can!

Robert is a dedicated family man and accomplished financial executive. As a proud father of five, he combines his professional expertise with a strong sense of family. With a proven track record in international organisations, mergers & acquisitions, and complex integrations, Robert is well-versed in the dynamics of both private equity and family office environments. His strategic mindset and passion for process improvement enable him to translate (financial) strategies into tangible business results. Beyond his career, he actively contributes to his community as the chairman of a primary school board.

Committed to giving children life-changing experiences in nature and the ocean that shaped his own journey, Martim is on a mission with OrcaNation to inspire the new generation to care for our planet. From an early age, Martim found joy in surfing, kitesurfing, and sailing, making the ocean his playground. At 18, this deep connection to the sea led him to open a surf school, sharing the wonders of the ocean with others. Growing up, Martim participated in summer camps with an NGO whose mission was to foster social cohesion among children from diverse backgrounds. With a background in Industrial Engineering, Management, and Marketing, Martim joined OrcaNation in 2021 to contribute to business intelligence efforts. Today, he is spearheading the brand’s expansion from Southeast Asia to Europe.

Andrew joined the outdoor education industry in 2013, and brings a wealth of experience to the table. As a keen sportsman and outdoor adventurer from a young age, he understands the great importance of being outdoors and exploring the natural world around us – especially now that we’re in a society dominated by social media, technology and concrete. Andrew joined OrcaNation in 2020 as our Sales Director, and he is on a mission to help OrcaNation become the global leader in outdoor and environmental education, as well as the go-to central hub for protecting our planet and oceans. He is very passionate about getting students learning outside of the classroom and hopes to play a key role in driving the next generation of global thinkers.

Vanessa is OrcaNation’s ever-friendly and helpful Finance Manager at OrcaNation. In addition to her professional responsibilities, she is also a dedicated parent to three wonderful children—one boy and twin girls.

“Being a working parent is a learning experience, and my children are always teaching me new things. Their different perspectives help me grow, both at home and in my career.”

Born in Scotland, Kenny moved to England for his studies, graduating as a teacher from Leeds University in 2003. Over the past two decades, his teaching career has taken him across the UK, China, and Singapore, where he has held senior leadership roles at Dulwich College Beijing and SJI International. At SJI International (Singapore), he oversaw Enrichment Programmes, Outdoor Education, and CAS before spending five years as Head of the Senior School, leading initiatives that fostered vibrant, inclusive communities for IB staff, students, and parents. Now, Kenny combines his experience as an IB educator and safeguarding lead with his passion for the great outdoors, overseeing the development of programmes that provide students with outstanding experiential learning opportunities.

Passionate about the ocean and mountains, Kenny qualified as a Rescue Diver in Ko Tao in 2002 and has maintained a lifelong fascination with shipwrecks. One of his proudest moments was seeing his daughter qualify as a Junior Open Water diver. Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family and their Labrador, Brodie, collecting vinyl records, and playing football and golf. A lifelong Celtic FC supporter, he always tries to catch a match when back in Glasgow.