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Who We Are

We have a very large and committed dive team here at Diving Leisure with divemasters and instructors from all different sorts of backgrounds whose prime aim is to ensure that you have the best training and fun possible when doing a course with us. Have a look below and see who we are, why we got into diving and what we enjoy the most about training people and diving.

Alex Varnals - Course Director


Alex Varnals - PADI Course Director


Graham Carr - PADI IDC Staff Instructor


Graham Carr - PADI IDC Staff Instructor

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Vanessa Harker - PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor


Vanessa Harker - PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor


Katherine Clegg - PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer


Katherine Clegg (PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer)


Natalie Binks - PADI Specialty Instructor


Natalie Binks - PADI Specialty Instructor


Christopher Hartley - PADI IDC Staff Instructor


Christopher Hartley - PADI IDC Staff Instructor




Sebastian Chander - PADI IDC Staff Instructor




Lawrence Peet - PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer




Gerald Mason - PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer




Jason Wheeldon - PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer




Louise Granger - PADI Assistant Instructor


Peter Oakden - PADI Assistant Instructor


Peter Oakden - PADI Assistant Instructor


Andrew Lydon - PADI Assistant Instructor


Andrew Lydon - PADI Assistant Instructor


Luke Riddett - PADI Assistant Instructor


Luke Riddett - PADI Assistant Instructor


Steve Lewis - PADI Assistant Instructor


Steve Lewis - PADI Assistant Instructor




Ben Breakspear - PADI Specialty Instructor


Colin Hey (PADI Assistant Instructor)


Colin Hey - PADI Specialty Instructor




Marc Thompson - PADI Divemaster




Peter Graham - PADI Assistant Instructor


Tony Hession - PADI Assistant Instructor


Tony Hession
- PADI Assistant Instructor




Paul Styler
- PADI Divemaster



Matthew Norman
- PADI Assistant Instructor



James Huson
- Trainee PADI Divemaster



Mike Chatwood
- PADI Assistant Instructor



German Espino-Garcia
- Trainee PADI Divemaster



Gavin Lord
- Trainee PADI Divemaster

Alex Varnals - Master Instructor

Alex VarnalsAlex is the driving force behind Diving Leisure Leeds.  He began laying the foundations for DLL in April 2005 and is now very proud to invite you all into the friendliest dive centre in the Leeds area

Alex's dive credentials include:

  • PADI Master Instructor
  • PADI Specialty Instructor in the following areas:
    • Deep Diving
    • Wreck Diving
    • Enriched Air (Nitrox)
    • Boat Diving
    • Underwater Navigation
    • Equipment Specialist
    • Drysuits
    • Digital Underwater Photography
    • Diver Propulsion Vehicle
    • Night Diving
    • Search & Recovery Diver
    • Multi Level Diver
    • Peak Performance Bouyancy
    • Project AWARE
    • Coral Reef Conservartion
  • EFR Instructor Trainer
  • EFR First Aid at Work Instructor Trainer
  • EFR Care for Children Instructor Trainer
  • IANTD Advanced Recreational Trimix Instructor
  • TDI Gas Blender (Nitrox) Instructor
  • TDI Advanced (Trimix) Gas Blender Instructor
  • DSAT Nitrox & Trimix Gas Blender

Chris Dalby

Chris Dalby - Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Chris is a  PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. 

Chris’ dive credentials include:

  • PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
  • PADI Specialty Instructor in the following areas:
    • Deep Diver
    • Wreck Diver
    • Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver
    • Digital Underwater Photography Diver
    • Drysuit Diver
    • Peak Performance Bouyancy
    • Project AWARE
    • Coral Reef Conservartion
  • EFR Primary & Secondary Care Instructor
  • EFR Care for Children Instructor
  • IANTD Advanced Recreational Trimix Diver

Kat Clegg - Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Kat CleggKat used to work as the training co-ordinator but has now gone back to University to do a Masters. She is not forgotten however and is still busy helping with instructing our ever increasing number of students.

Kat's dive credentials include:

  • PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer
  • PADI Specialty Instructor in the following areas:
    • Deep Diver
    • Wreck Diver
    • Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver
    • Digital Underwater Photography Diver
    • Drysuit Diver
    • Underwater Navigation
    • Peak Perfomance Buoyancy
    • Project AWARE
    • Coral Reef Conservation
  • EFR Primary Care & Secondary Care Instructor
  • EFR Care for Children Instructor
  • IANTD Advanced Recreational Trimix Diver

Mike Fell - IDC Staff Instructor

Mike FellMike is one of our PADI IDC Staff Instructors and a very dedicated member of the team.  Mike travels all the way from Middle Earth to Bradford every Wednesday for our pool session.  Mike can usually be found anywhere in the world, whatever the weather, in his Drysuit and Arctic (and other thermals), even Egypt in July!

Mike's dive credentials include:

  • PADI IDC Staff Instructor
  • PADI Specialty Instructor in the following areas:
    • Deep Diving
    • Wreck Diving
    • Enriched Air (Nitrox)
    • Digital Underwater Photography
    • Drysuit Diving
    • Boat Diving
    • Search & Recovery
    • Diver Propulsion Vehicle
    • Underwater Navigation
    • Peak Performance Buoyancy
    • Project AWARE
    • Coral Reef Conservation
  • EFR Primary & Secondary Care Instructor
  • EFR Care for Children Instructor
  • IANTD Advanced Recreational Trimix Diver

Vanessa Harker - Open Water Scuba Instructor

Vanessa HarkerVanessa's in-water abilites are often utilised to help develop the Divemaster Skill Circuits.  Her attention to detail in this area means the feedback offered to DM candidates is not only thorough but positive and constructive.

Vanessa's dive credentials include:

  • PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor
  • PADI Specialty Instructor in the following areas:
    • Deep Diver
    • Wreck Diver
    • Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver
    • Digital Underwater Photography Diver
    • Drysuit Diver
    • Underwater Navigation
    • Peak Performance Buoyancy
    • Project AWARE
    • Coral Reef Conservation
  • EFR Primary Care & Secondary Care Instructor
  • EFR Care for Children Instructor
  • EFR First Aid at Work Instructor

Christopher Hartley - Master Scuba Diver Trainer

Christopher HartleyChristopher is one of our more experienced instructors having worked in a resort in Cyprus. Christopher is the Training Co-Ordinator and Centre Manager.  His main aim is to co-ordinate staff and students, ensuring that both are at the right place and right time for all the diver training and recreational diving that is happening through the centre.  He is your first port of call for any diver training.

Christopher's dive credentials include:

  • PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer 
  • PADI Specialty Instructor in the following areas:
    • Deep Diver
    • Wreck Diver
    • Boat Diving
    • Underwater Navigation
    • Equipment Specialist
    • Drysuits
    • Diver Propulsion Vehicle
    • Night Diving
    • Search & Recovery Diver
    • Multi Level Diver
    • Peak Performance Buoyancy
    • Project AWARE
    • Coral Reef Conservation
  • EFR Primary Care & Secondary Care Instructor
  • EFR Care for Children Instructor

Graham Carr - IDC Staff Instructor

Graham CarrGraham is one of our more recent instructors having worked in resort in Dahab, Egypt and with us here in Leeds. He is the main port of call for anything operations related within Diving Leisure and holds the role of Operations Manager. He helps to ensure the smooth running of the online store, orders and computer systems. He is also a dab hand at anything IT related after having worked in the IT industry for 10 years. 

Graham's dive credentials include:

  • PADI IDC Staff Instructor #648285
  • PADI Specialty Instructor in the following areas:
    • Deep Diver
    • Enriched Air (Nitrox)
    • Underwater Navigation
    • Digital Underwater Photography
    • Search & Recovery Diver
    • Wreck Diver
    • Dry Suit Diver
    • Peak Performance Buoyancy
    • Project AWARE
    • Coral Reef Conservation
  • EFR Primary Care & Secondary Care Instructor
  • EFR Care for Children Instructor
  • DSAT Nitrox and Trimix Gas Blender
  • IANTD Advanced Recreational Trimix Instructor

Natalie Binks - Divemaster

Natalie BinksNatalie Binks (a.k.a. Jar Jar) has recently joined the Diving Leisure team after having worked in resort in Menorca as a PADI Divemaster. She is soon to be an instructor and helps to ensure the smooth running of all aspects of the business from training through to customer enquiries. 

Natalies's dive credentials include:

  • PADI Divemaster #651245

Pete Clarke - Assistant Instructor

Pete ClarkePete is one of our Assistant Instructors who enjoys diving in any conditions anywhere in the world. His love for sharks is well known amongst the dive team.

Pete's dive credentials include:

  • PADI Assistant Instructor
  • EFR Primary & Secondary Care Provider
  • PADI Digital Underwater Photography Instructor

Luke Riddet - Divemaster

LukeLuke is one of oldest (long serving) members of the dive team. He has been with Diving Leisure Leeds from day one, as he completed a Discover Scuba Diving experience with us on our very first pool session back in April 2005.

Luke's dive credentials include:

  • PADI Divemaster
  • EFR Primary & Secondary Care provider
  • IANTD Advanced Recreational Trimix Diver
  • Megaladyson Project Manager

Russell Topping - Open Water Scuba Instructor

Russell ToppingRussell is one of Diving Leisure's newest additions to the instructor team.

Russell's dive credentials include:

  • PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor
  • PADI Specialty Instructor in the following areas:
    • Deep Diver
    • Dry Suit Diver
    • Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver
    • Multi-Level Diver
    • Search and Recovery
    • Peak Perfomance Buoyancy
    • Project AWARE
    • Coral Reef Conservation
  • EFR Primary Care & Secondary Care Instructor
  • EFR Care for Children Instructor

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