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About Us

Hi, I’m Danica—co-founder, DiveMara and Marine Biology student at Florida International University. I’m here to help make learning to explore the underwater world fun and easy for everyone.

Hi, I'm Walter — co-founder, DiveMara and SDI Scuba Instructor. I love my family and the ocean. Teaming up with them to create DiveMara, teach diving, and take people on aquatic adventures? It’s my perfect world.

Hi, I'm Daniel — Walter’s son/Danica’s brother. I love to travel with my family on adventures. I was so excited to start diving that I got certified as soon as I turned 10.

Hi, I'm Maricarmen — Walter’s wife/Danica and Daniel’s mom. I’m an island girl who raised my children to love and respect the ocean. I’m happiest when diving tropical reefs with my family.

The DiveMara Family Story

Our journey didn’t start in a dive shop. It started at Disney’s EPCOT Center. At The Seas With Nemo & Friends exhibit—a massive oceanarium.

Danica was five years old. She stood with her face pressed to the aquarium glass, mesmerized by the divers swimming with colorful fishes and sea turtles and rays. She turned to her dad Walter, and declared, “I want to do that.”

That spark grew into a lifelong dedication to the water. Both Danica and Daniel began swimming competitively at age seven, building a foundation of discipline and confidence. For her 10th birthday, the Abas (the family grandmothers) gave Danica her first scuba lessons—turning a childhood dream into a family passion.

As Danica grew, her interests evolved into a love for marine science and education. As a certified Water Safety Instructor (WSI), she fell in love with the teaching process, helping children and adults find their confidence in the water. Today, Walter, Maricarmen, Danica, and Daniel run DiveMara with a simple belief: Everyone should be able to explore the underwater world. Because the only way to love it is to experience it firsthand.

Diving. Done Differently.

We created the blueprint for DiveMara during DEMA 2025, when Danica suggested: “Let’s create our own dive business, but with a different vision. We can do more. And better.”

We wanted to move away from the "standard" dive shop model and create something more inviting to everyone. We founded DiveMara on the core pillars of:

Inclusivity: A safe, encouraging environment where everyone—from snorkelers to advanced divers—is welcome.
Community: We do more than just teach scuba classes. We’re creating an aquatic community that fosters education and adventure, and a sense of belonging.
Curiosity: We believe diving is an educational gateway. Marine science and environmental conservation are integrated into everything we do.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s going on beneath the surface and you’d like to learn more, welcome to DiveMara. We’re here for you.