Tony Fontes - Course Director

Tony Fontes has been involved in instructor training since receiving his Course Director certification in 1981. Under his guidance, this instructor training program has won numerous awards including the prestigious Outstanding Course Director award. In August 2000 Tony reached a rare milestone when he trained his 1000th instructor candidate.

Approximately every 6 months Tony runs an IDC at Tech Dive Academy. Many of Tech Dive's very own Divemasters progress through to their Instructor course with Tony.

Tony is a well-known figure in the Australian dive industry as his involvement goes well beyond instructor training. For 15 years he was owner/director of a PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Centre on the Great Barrier Reef. He has also been involved in setting up numerous dive operations in the South Pacific.

Tony is also very active when it comes to protecting the marine environment. For nine years he was a member of the Great Barrier Reef Consultative Committee, which oversees the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Currently, Tony is chairman of the Whitsunday Local Marine Advisory Committee. But his most fulfilling reef work is with the OUCH Volunteers (Order of Underwater Coral Heroes) of which he is a co-founder. OUCH is the most active volunteer group in Queensland when it comes to working to protect the Great Barrier Reef.