Meet our crew, our greatest asset. Some of us stay here year-round, and there can be up to 60 of us here over the summer season.
Lots of our crew scuba in for a season, then find they simply can’t leave… We don’t do “goodbyes” round here; we just say “see you later”... and if you want to work for us, check out how we play, and send your cv to [email protected]
Jeroen Jongejans Owner and Director, Legend, Boss.
Jeroen is always going to be “Boss” and Mr Perpetual Positive Energy, Jeroen lived on the Tutukaka Coast, running dive operations, for nearly 40 years (almost a local!). Sinking the HMNZS Tui and Waikato just off the coast was Jeroen’s idea, and wreck divers have been thanking him ever since. A committed lobbyist for World Heritage Status for the Poor Knights and an advocate for Marine Reserves and National Parks around New Zealand. Sustainability was his passion; a bit of a hippy really, and an absolute Voice for the Ocean. He passed away suddenly in 2022. But he left a strong legacy and a love for the sea. Inā te Mahi he Rangatira - By his deeds, a Chief is known
Kate Malcolm Owner, Sales and Marketing/Instructor
After 23 years, Kate and Stan have sailed off on a new adventure - the Legacy of J2 and K8 is in good hands. Kate used to do everything.... the advertising, marketing and media relations (and this website!) as well as sales, bookings and handling general enquiries, the phone and the emails, and all those boring office-y things (like invoices, Health & Safety, Operations Manager, general administration) She was like Mum.
Kevin Delonge Operations Manager
Kevin has been a skipper for over 15 years and has been with us for 10 of those! He runs all three of our dive boats and whilst he no longer works as an active dive insturctor he is a qualified PADI Staff instructor with Technical diving experience as well.
Kaitlin Lawrence SBO 2iC
A Marine scientist, a Divemaster, underwater photographer, a whale guide in Niue, an absolute legend in the shore base, and a service technician. Kaitlin is our Shore Base Manager.
Steven Bowen Skipper, Staff Instructor
Originally from Wales, Steven spent a while teaching diving in the South Islands before travelling the world in his yacht and then settling here in Tutukaka. He has been an active dive instructor and skipper with us for over 10 years now and can run all of our dive boats and out Perfect Day snorkelling vessel.
Stephen Hemstalk Course Director / Skipper
Steve has been with us for over 15 years, as a dive instructor, a skipper and is our resident Course Director. He can run all of our dive boats, is in charge of our diving training and is also personal trainer and gym class instructor as well - so he keeps us fit!
Carole Robert Skipper / Instructor
Carole is a PADI Staff Instructor originally from France with over 10 years experience. She has worked in the Caribbean, Mozambique and Spain before settling in Aotearoa. She has since upskilled and is now a skipper with us as well!
Olly Perfect Day
Snorkel host, and Back Deck Techniciain, Olly has an AOW, and is here for a career and enjoyment, his favourite underwater critters are sharks, his secret talent is that he can surf, and he is excited for the future! Watch this space!
Jesse Erceg-Gray SBO
Our resident artist with a degree, coastal kid, and designer of our most recent awesome uniforms. Jesse runs the shop and knows the answer to almost anything.
Noah Edwards BDT and QDC
Noah does a bit of everything, is a Skipper in Training, and working through his DM.
2024-2025 Crew Photo All of us!
We take a photo every year of all the team. It's a thing.