Meet Our Crew

Douglas Bach

Owner of Waikoloa Coast Divers, has over 40 years experience in Hawaiian waters as a captain, dive instructor, sailor, fisherman, & surfer. Doug has been diving the Kohala coast for the last 20 years, which has provided him extensive knowledge and experience with the Kohala coast’s best dive sites, sea conditions, marine life, humpback whales, and a whole lot more! He has passed on this practical knowledge and experience to his son, Captain James, who runs our dive boat the Lani Kai.

James Bach

Doug’s son, is now captain of the Lani Kai. Born and raised in Hawaii, James grew up running the Lani Kai on the Kohala Coast. He has an exceptional knowledge of the boat, the ocean, and all things local on the Big Island. With a little luck he will catch and share some delicious Ahi or Ono while cruising in between dive sites. He loves the ocean and most days can be found either diving, fishing, or sailing off the Kohala coast.

Bob Andresen

Bob started diving around 1987 in the cold waters of California. While living in Sacramento, the good diving was more than four hours away. He was fortunate to have the opportunity to move to Kona in 1997 where he could enjoy diving in warmer water. Bob first upgraded to dive master, then instructor, and finally boat captain. Since 1997 Bob has been working on Lani Kai as DM, Instructor, Captain, and sometimes mechanic. Over the last few years, Bob has left for the summer to captain tour boats in Alaska and whether Bob is here or there, his greatest satisfaction is when all of his guests have had a great time. If you ask him what his favorite dive site is, he will tell you "all of them" and without hesitation can show you the dive of your life at all of our underwater play grounds. Bob enthusiastically shares, "We at WCD have made a lot of friends over the years and really enjoy seeing them year after year."

Gail French

Gail loves the ocean and grew up in Hawaii. Gail is a full time school teacher and dive instructor on the Lani Kai in the mornings. She loves people, diving and underwater photography. Gail is a mellow, wonderful person who will crawl into caves and crevices to find ocean life for you.

Big Bob Kurth

Big Bob brings over 32 years of diving experience to Waikoloa Coast Divers. Certified in 1978 while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Big Bob has dove throughout the Far East, Southern California, Florida, the Caribbean & the Great Lakes. Bob has spent the last 10 years diving off the Big Island of Hawaii. He achieved his certifications for PADI Divemaster in 1986, Open Water Instructor in 1988 & Master Diver Trainer in 2001. Bob has logged more than 12,000 dives. The last 2,000 have been off the Lani Kai. A dedicated dive professional, Big Bob is at home conducting Discover Scuba courses, training Dive Master candidates and guiding certified divers through the underwater realm. Known to be “slow and puttsy,” Big Bob enjoys poking around the nooks and crannies “because you never know what you’re going to find!”

Cameron Andresen

Cameron is a full time student at the University of Hawaii at Hilo studying Physics and Mathematics and is a member of the University Astrophysics Club. Cameron is a Dive Master for Waikoloa Coast Divers and really enjoys showing our guest divers his favorite spots! In his free time, this nineteen year old future naval officer likes to scuba dive, cliff dive and volunteer at the visitor center on Mauna Kea.