Ioana is a NAUI Certified Scuba Instructor with a lifelong passion for the ocean and underwater exploration. With over 30 years of diving experience and nearly 600 dives across the United States, Central and South America, Africa, and Asia, she specializes in helping divers build confidence, skill, and a deeper connection to the underwater world.

Her approach to instruction is calm, safety focused, and highly personalized. Whether working with first time divers or those continuing their dive education, her focus is on giving students the time and space to truly learn key skills and develop deep proficiency. Ioana specializes in private training and custom instructional programs tailored to each individual, allowing them to meet their specific learning objectives.

She is a firm believer in NAUI’s Loved One philosophy. She treats each student with the same care and safety standards she would apply to a family member, and trains divers to a level she would trust with someone close to her. The goal is not simply certification, but confidence, capability, and control in the water.

Drawing on her background in marine biology, Ioana brings each dive to life by helping students understand the ecosystems they are exploring, from coral reef dynamics to the pressures facing temperate coastal environments. A core principle of her teaching is to do no harm to the underwater environments her students explore. Being a responsible ocean steward is woven into every class, whether standard or customized.

Ioana creates a structured yet relaxed learning environment where divers feel safe, supported, and inspired. She is known for developing thoughtful, practical solutions to common diving challenges, including breaking skills into smaller, manageable steps for those who may feel anxious, while also pushing more experienced divers to expand their capabilities.

She is especially passionate about making the underwater world accessible to those who are deeply drawn to diving but may be held back by anxiety, time constraints, or the need for one on one or specialized instruction not typically available through traditional dive shops.