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About Advanced Diving Technologies  

Meet the ADT staff

Advanced Diving Technologies maintains the highest standards because the staff is focused on diving and equipment safety. We'd like you to meet the folks that work so hard to make sure your diving experience is safe and enjoyable.

Les Wilkinson
Les Wilkinson
Captain Les Wilkinson
 Owner / Training Director
Growing up on the southwest coast of Florida, Les spent a great deal of his leisure time in and on the water. He first got the scuba diving itch in 1969 at a neighborhood friend’s house. They had a pool and the friend’s father had left a set of cylinders on the pool deck. Les, known better then for his begging for forgiveness rather than asking for permission approach, “took the plunge.” No mask, fins or associated gear, he was breathing underwater and blurry as it was, his love affair with the aquatic environment began.

During a stint in the military he was able to dive in many exotic locals. Until recently only a few of which have become accessible to the recreational diving community. In the 90s he decided to start giving back to the diving community by teaching recreational and technical diving programs. A staunch advocate of ecological awareness and preservation, he supports environmentally sensitive research and exploratory conservation efforts.

“I believe in investing in our future through education and awareness, as there is so much left to be discovered."

Captain Les is a licensed USCG Master as well as an Instructor Trainer with credentials from SDI/TDI, PADI and a host of others, at levels ranging from beginning Open Water through Advanced Wreck and cave diving. Les also teaches blending and the utilization of breathing gases required for extreme environments.

“At every level, our customer’s education, safety, and ultimately their enjoyment of our sport, is job one!”

Sharon Eckroth
Sharon Eckroth
Sharon Eckroth
 Instructor/Comptroller
After college, Sharon decided to explore the tropical islands of the Caribbean. While enjoying the sun, surf, and all the islands have to offer, she couldn’t help but notice this scuba diving thing. Having been raised in Oklahoma, she had only a vague idea of what it was all about, thanks in large part to Sea Hunt reruns. Once her inquisitive nature overcame basic primal fears, she signed up for a snorkeling class. Sharon, always being one to error on the side of safety, dawned a full three-millimeter wetsuit in addition to the snorkel vest and “jumped in.” That was all it took for her to realize that “down there” was where she needed to be.

Shortly after obtaining her Open Water certification in 1998, Sharon discovered the spring systems of north central Florida. A two-day Cavern class exposed her to yet another realm of diving only enjoyed by a few. Now in the throws of the final level of cave diving certification, she continues to broaden her horizons with continuing education. In addition to her Instructor level certification, she is also a mixed gas diver.

Drawing on her twenty plus years of experience in the travel and transportation industry, she conducts live-aboard and land based dive trips to some of the most exotic dive destinations. She can be found in the Pacific northwest aboard the Nautilus Explorer, or possibly somewhere in the south Pacific or Caribbean rim when not diving her own back yard in California, the Monterey and Carmel peninsula.

Full of energy (put your sneakers on to keep up) and quick with smile, Sharon is always ready to assist or share her experiences and encounters in the aquatic environment.

“It’s difficult to put into mortal words the grandeur of the aquatic environment and truly do it justice. We as a populace must do everything possible to protect and preserve what has been loaned to us and the generations yet to come.”

Jim Capwell
Jim Capwell
Captain Jim Capwell
 Owner / Captain of the Escapade
With Mike Nelson as a childhood hero and glued to SeaHunt each week Jim had early aspirations for the sport. He left a longstanding corporate position and started a Dive Charter and Travel Company in 1996 which specialized in group trips to South East Asia, Micronesia, Mexico and Philippines. In an effort to share the adventures and beauty of Monterey Jim has owned and operated Dive charters along the Big Sur Coast.

The DV Escapade is the most recent vessel which is a stable 38ft craft custom designed to accommodate divers comfortably and reduce travel time to the dive sites.

Jim has worked on many local photo and documentary projects including National Geographic Television special “Shape of Life”. He has also been involved in product testing for Sport Diver in addition to segments for Jeff Corwin Animal Planet and a local broadcast of Bay Area Backroads.

A couple thousand dives later, his enthusiasm continues to grow when it comes to sharing his passion for the sport and promoting the wonders just off our doorstep.

Gary Callihan
Gary Callihan
Gary Callihan
 Divemaster
A short time after leaving the Coast Guard in 1975, Gary sought open water training and certification. With optimistic enthusiasm, he purchased all of his equipment up front, knowing full well this is what he wanted to do. The open water dives started in a murky 38-degree quarry in northern Virginia and progressed to a current-swept jetty at an ocean inlet in New Jersey, concluding in a dense jellyfish-infested jungle in lower Maryland. In spite of all the trials and tribulations, an NASDS C-card was awarded in the Spring of 1976. He only paused briefly thereafter carefully reconsidering his venturing further into the underwater realm. Fortunately better dive scenarios evolved with a variety of experience found in both fresh and salt water environments. Gary became an avid hunter enjoying the spoils of his efforts many an evening on the beach.

Since his return to California in 1988, Gary’s diving has ranged from the Pacific Northwest through the coasts of California south to the Caribbean across to West Africa and on to the waters of the southern Pacific.

Over a decade ago, Gary decided on continuing his education by obtaining training that would enhance the general safety of his diving. Team ADT responded to this need providing him with the most up to date information and training available. Gary is a certified Advanced Gas Blender and currently enrolled in the Technical Divemaster Program.

Gary’s organizational and people skills became obvious, so he was subsequently offered a position within Team ADT. He quickly picked up on and became intimately involved with the day to day operation of the facility. After which, he rapidly rose to the not so enviable position of store manager.

“I believe the old axiom of; take only pictures and leave only bubbles, is more apropos than ever. It is vital that we protect and preserve what we now enjoy.”

Joel Young
 Instructor
It all started while in the United States Marine Corps, Joel’s first duty station was the Marine Barracks located in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It was a year long hardship tour with a lot of work and very little time off. The little time off was plagued with boredom or trouble.
When a young PADI instructor stationed on the base inquired if anyone wanted to get Scuba certified, Joel jumped at the chance. He was certified in June 1991. Upon receipt of his C Card, he was off to the Base Exchange to purchase gear. He spent every dime he had getting scuba equipment. Joel went diving every chance he had. He was hooked!
When Joel returned to the states, his job changed and diving took a back seat for a while. Even though he had not been diving in a long time, not a moment passed when he didn’t itch to get back in the water. It wasn’t until he met his wife that opportunity presented itself. The first thing he asked her was if she had any interest in diving. When she said she had always wanted to scuba dive, Joel wasted no time getting her signed up.
Her first experience with the cold California water almost scared her away from the sport. Joel persisted and took her to Hawaii to try the warmer water. She took to it like a champ and signed them both up for the Advanced Open Water level. They completed that next level together. From there Joel continued his diving education by taking Nitrox, Rescue. He has completed many more to date - Dive Master, Instructor, Altitude, Triox, Decompression Procedures, Equipment Technician, O2 Provider, First Aid/CPR courses.
Joel loves diving and you will find him diving Monterey/Carmel, California; British Columbia; Cayman Islands; Florida springs and off shore; Hawaii, Cuba and Okinawa, Japan. There are many more seas to explore and Joel will be there.

Noelle Young
Noelle Young
Noelle Young
 Instructor
Growing up on the Southeast coast of Florida, Noelle spent every spare moment in the ocean. She joined the US Navy and spent 5 years on the ocean serving her country. She always wanted to learn to scuba dive, but never had any friends that shared her interest. When she met Joel, her now husband, one of the first things he asked was if she have any interest in diving. Well, she jumped at the chance and he got her certified for her birthday in 2000 and has been in the water every since.
Training is one of the most important things in diving and to Noelle, so every since her Open water certification she has continued her education, now hoping to train others that have a love for the ocean as much as she does.

Anthony Bastain
Anthony Bastain
Anthony Bastain
 Equipment Technician
Anthony has always had a fascination with water since childhood. All of his relatives were close to water, whether it is the ocean or a lake. Once he got a mask and could see what was below the barrier of the water it became a dream to SCUBA dive. In early August of 2001 he decided it was time to follow that dream.

With and Open water certification, the mystery of what was in the ocean was made clear. At that point it was time to further his underwater training and exploration of all body’s of water. Whether it is a lake, river or ocean, nothing could quench the thirst for diving. Anthony is currently enrolled in Dive Master training.

Anthony holds certifications in Advanced O/W, Advanced Nitrox, Altitude, Drysuit, Boat Diving, Rescue, Doubles, and Wreck Diving. Anthony’s near term goal is to become a Technical Dive Master and eventually Instructor. He is a certified technician for regulator service and repair on several major brands, currently performing those functions at Advanced Diving technologies.


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