Meet the Crew of the Great Escape Southern California Dive Boat

Meet the Crew
of the Great Escape Southern California Live-Aboard Dive Boat

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Captain Tim Burke

"There's no need to fear...Koder Dog is here!"

Captain Tim Burke

Captain, divemaster, Owner of the Great Escape

     Tim began diving in 1973 when he got his L.A.County certification while in high school and is now a NAUI divemaster.
     Tim has logged over 4000 dives in California and has extensive personal knowledge of most dive sites. He has always been a avid lobster hunter and knows many great spots. He has made underwater videos and appreciates the needs of photographers.
     He met Captain Roy Kaiser the opening night of lobster season in 1977 on his first night dive and trip on the Rio Rita. Tim worked for Roy off and on until Roy sold the Rio Rita in 1980.
     In 1988 Tim and his brother bought their first boat, a 31' Trojan named "Bug Hunter." They kept Bug Hunter in a slip in San Pedro and extensively dove both Catalina Island and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
     In 1990 he and his brother bought a 32' 1979 Super Luhrs, named "Great Escape, Jr.". On Jr. they dove all eight of the Channel Islands, and most of the known Southern California wrecks
     Tim bought the Great Escape (formerly the Charisma) in October 1996. His improvements to the boat, dedication to maintenance, and record of running great dive trips and has turned the Great Escape it into one of Southern California's premiere live-aboard dive boats.

Kodi is a European, or "White" Golden Retriever. He will be 2 years old on the 23rd of July.

Steve Bagnall

Divemaster, deckhand and expert at spearing "low calorie" fish. Steve is always willing to share his calorie reduction secrets with you.

Captain Tom Binkley

Second Captain, hunter extrordinare, always willing to share his game hunting tips with customers.

Martina, Guest from Czech
Friendly part time crew and hostess

Chris Grossman

Divemaster, photographer, web consultant, and deckhand

Chris Grossman began diving in 1983 when he received his L.A. County certification while in engineering grad school at USC. He has additional certifications from IANTD, PADI, and NAUI and is a NAUI divemaster. Chris is our webmaster, photographer, and sometimes works on the boat as a divemaster or deckhand. Chris has over 1800 dives in California and loves lobster hunting. He also runs a web site, diver.net, dedicatied to California Scuba Diving.

Terry May

Part time crew and gourmet chef