Claudia Campos
Owner, Instructor
It all started with an ad for a $50 scuba class at the University of Minnesota in 1978. After twisting a friend's arm to take that beginning scuba class and surviving the Ditch and Don, Claudia quickly fell in love with diving. Later just so she would have a dive buddy, Claudia convinced her younger brother to take up diving. It was while diving with her brother, that she got to know his charming NAUI instructor Jim Campos. Quickly they fell in love, got married and decided to put his knowledge of the dive industry and her accounting degree to work with their own dive store. In preparation for their new store, Minnesota Divecenter, Inc., Claudia became a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor in 1984. Jim and Claudia opened Minnesota Divecenter, Inc. in Rochester in 1985, later renaming it MDC Sports. Later Claudia took the helm of the business allowing Jim to take the position of Hyperbaric Chamber Operator at the Mayo Clinic. Claudia continues to enjoy teaching both scuba and snorkeling and touring people of all ages on dive trips around the world. Her most recent trip had her people rescuing turtle hatchlings in addition to experiencing great Cozumel diving!
Professional Certifications:
PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer with specialties in
Boat Diver, Deep Diver, Dry Suit Diver, Enriched Air Diver,
Equipment Specialist, Marine Life Identification, Night Diver,
Search and Recovery Diver, Underwater Photographer, and Wreck Diver.
Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor and REEF Field Survey Leader.
Personal Scuba Certifications:
TDI Nitrox, TDI Advanced Nitrox, TDI Decompression Procedures,
and TDI Trimix Diver
Teaching Specialty:
Marine Life identification is truly my specialty. Come and dive with me on any of my dive trips and you will quickly learn how to find and identify marine life yourself. I especially love squid; I just can't get enough of them. In fact, I have even petted them! I also have great success teaching snorkeling, even to the most timid. When they come back from their vacations, my students often say the snorkeling was the best part!
What got you interested in scuba?
I can't remember a time when I wasn't interested in scuba. The University of Minnesota had an ad for a $50 class and my older brother had scuba gear, so I scrapped up the $50 and got certified used his gear. I dove virtually every week throughout the spring, summer and fall and even did some ice diving in winter except for one weekend off for my brother's wedding. Because of that, I promised myself I wouldn't get married on a weekend and ruin someone's weekend of diving. (I got married on a Wednesday.)
Why did you decide to teach scuba?
The dive store Jim was working for in the cities was switching owners, so Jim and I decided it was time to open our own dive store. It just made sense for both of us to be instructors. Since then I have discovered I have a passion for teaching scuba. I still get excited every time a new student gets turned on to scuba diving!
What is your favorite dive site?
Palancar Gardens, Cozumel (I love it when I hit the massive school of silversides there!)
What are your other hobbies or interests?
In addition to scuba, I enjoy home schooling my daughter. We are well on our way on our mission to geocache at every Minnesota State Park. I also co-host the local Bible Bee in Rochester during the summer, and serve as an Awana Leader during the school year.