This is the second of a series of instructor spotlights we will be running. We want you to get to know our instructor members and help you find the right person to continue your scuba journey.
Victoria Tubbs has loved scuba diving since she first picked up a regulator. She achieved her Open Water certification in 2022 here in Florida. “I bought a very cheap offer on the internet. It was $190 back then and I thought that is the price for a good dinner,” she recounted. “If it’s not for me, what can I lose? A dinner?”
“It was very exciting, and I was instantly hooked!” she continued. “Right after I got my certification, I got all of my gear and was ready to rumble.”
The Journey to Becoming an Instructor
“My instructor who brought me from Open Water Certification to Divemaster certification (entry-level professional), always pushed me to do more,” Tubbs said. “He pushed me to become an instructor because he saw potential in me.”
Tubbs isn’t alone in the fever she has for diving. She and her business partner, Francois, became instructors together shortly after meeting and eventually formed Florida Blue Divers. They went to Spain to take their IDC (Instructor Development Course) and became certified PADI Instructors in April 2024. While both are fluent in English, Victoria’s first language is German and Francois’ is French, they can also serve much of Florida’s international community as well as the local community.
Since her first certifications, Tubbs has become an expert guide on some of Florida’s top dive sites, centered often around Key Largo in the Florida Keys.
“I love diving, it is a big part of my life. I want to share this passion with others,” she mused. “I think that learning a new skill keeps your mind flexible and makes you more confident. I will open this door for you and you will learn the best practices and how to stay safe while having a blast.”
Since becoming an Instructor she has not stopped learning. “I am working on my first Tec certification, Extended Range (nitrox/trimix) with SSI,” she explained.
An LGBTQIA+ Ally
Tubbs recounts that she “dove with an LGBTQIA+ scuba group in South Florida before I became an instructor, and built a couple of friendships there.” She added that “Out Scuba brings all kind of people together. People who love diving. I like the idea of coming together for the same passion and building friendships and memories together.”
You can reach her by phone at 305-721-4753, email at floridabluedivers@gmail.com or by visiting the website Florida Blue Divers. She says that March is full with students, travel and her own training, but hopes to be able to join us up in the Fort Lauderdale area soon.
Or maybe we should all take a trip down to see her in the Keys? Stay tuned to the Out Scuba Events page for more information.
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