Staff

Our team members have a singular focus paramount to all others.

Your Safety.

Our staff is:

Our staff receives regular training in:

Additionally, our staff is regularly challenged with unplanned drills simulating real world emergencies to maximize their readiness to keep you as safe as possible.

Nick Rakel

President

Becoming a SCUBA diver by chance in 2009, diving changed the course of his life.  What was planned as a hobby for vacation led to meeting his business partner & best friend, Robyn, buying SCAP in 2012 & owning a dive shop today.  With a passion for teaching diving, surface intervals are spent as a real estate professional & owner of a real estate brokerage.

Robyn Winegardner

Vice President

Wanting an activity for family vacations, signing up for SCUBA class in 2010 turned this former educator into a multiple business owner with SCAP as a first entry to the SCUBA industry to owning a dive shop now.  Surface intervals are spent with her 3 daughters, keeping Nick's crazy work ideas in check & working as a real estate broker & owner of a real estate brokerage.

Mike Vanoy

Chief of Staff

Mike started diving in 2011 while working on cruise lines, mainly in the Caribbean. Desiring to service his own equipment he found his way onto the staff,  quickly rising  to management in what would evolve into Cincy Scuba. In his off time, he is an active tech diver, typically on Great Lakes shipwrecks or in caves in Florida.

Rich Silbiger

Director of Gas Emissions

Rich watched Sea Hunt, Jacques Cousteau and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea with his dad growing up. This whet his interest in the underwater world. He learned to dive in Miami in 1970, diving mostly around the docks of the Belle Plaza on Belle Isle in Biscayne Bay. His family moved to Kansas and he didn't dive again until a resort dive while on a cruise to St. Thomas in the USVI. This reignited a passion for diving that persists to the present. When not diving he thinks deep thoughts (usually by Jack Handey).

Darrell Pelan

Strategic Counselor for Epipelagic Interaction

Darrell’s passion for diving was sparked when he and his son experienced a Boy Scout Seabase camp in Florida. Wanting to dive more, he became a Divemaster supporting the Wright State University SCUBA program. After retiring from the USAF and a civilian career as a project manager, he began traveling internationally to expand his diving horizons. As an Instructor,  Darrell finds introducing students to a lifelong sport exploring the underwater world is very rewarding. His other main interest is restoring and upgrading Heathkit computers from the early 1980’s.

Mo Sweeney

Undersecretary for Aquatic Life Outreach

In 2008, Mo started a love affair with scuba diving. It all began with a fascination of aquatic life and a passion ignited during countless snorkeling adventures. For her, it wasn't just about exploring the ocean depths; it was about the connection, the serenity, and the thrill of encountering marine life up close.  As an instructor, she enjoys introducing people to her love of the underwater realm.

Marty Oevermeyer

Deputy Secretary for Subsurface Respiration

Marty received his SCUBA certification in 1982 while serving in the military. His passion started at that time and he has been diving ever since.  He is currently retired after spending 39 years as a firefighter / paramedic. He also worked for FEMA as a Hazmat Team manager with Ohio Task Force One.  As for diving, Marty will rarely turn down an opportunity to dive.  His favorite?  Wreck Diving and hunting the invasive Lionfish! He enjoys assisting SCUBA instructors and working with new divers to help them develop their skills and confidence.

Kylee Lowe

Senior Advisor for Dihydrogen Monoxide Affairs

Kylee fell in love with diving on her honeymoon in the Philippines after a try scuba session, and became certified a few years later. Since then, it’s become one of her favorite things. When out of the water, she's spending time with her husband and two daughters, usually outside. Her oldest already loves the water as much as she does & she hopes she’ll become her dive buddy in a few years. Her youngest keeps them laughing & on their toes perfecting the art of cheerful chaos that only a toddler is capable of. Professionally, she's work a quality engineering consultant for the medical device industry, fulfilling a long-held career goal. Underwater or on land, she loves learning, growing & sharing her experience with others. 

David Schloemer

Deputy Director of Oceanic Filament & Foolery

Dave found diving with his father, Don, and his brother, Nick, in 2001.  After raising twin boys, Devin and Cole, and a long absence from the sport, he rekindled his love of diving thanks to his girlfriend Tiffany when she decided she wanted to learn how to dive.  Deep, cold, dark shipwrecks are his passion as well as teaching others to safely enjoy the sport he loves so much. 

John Wieland

Sargent At Arms for Equipment Longevity

John learned to SCUBA dive at Princeton High School in 1984, then took a 21-year hiatus from diving while serving in the U.S. Army. After retiring from the Army, he immediately returned to his passion for diving. He especially enjoys the cold, deep waters of the Great Lakes, home to thousands of shipwrecks—many remarkably well preserved after more than 100 years. John also enjoys working with new divers and helping them build the skills they need to explore everything beneath the waves.

Affiliated Instructors

We are also fortunate to have wonderful affiliated independent instructors available to our customers for various needs.

Rob Stanley

Ambassador Extraordinary and Pelagicpotentiary to Florida(man)

Scuba diving became a passion on try dive at Coki Beach. Diving has given many rewards friendships, travel, seeing an underwater world few have seen. Cincy Scuba let a passion for diving become a passion for teaching the sport. Love showing new divers the world beneath the waves.   Also an active technical diver mainly cave diving in Florida or Mexico he still loves diving the reefs to see the beauty.