For Donovan van Staden, aviation and scuba diving have always gone hand in hand. As a professional airline pilot and PADI Master Instructor, he sees remarkable similarities between the two—both demand preparation, situational awareness, teamwork, discipline, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

These principles have shaped Donovan's approach to teaching and have made him one of the driving forces behind diver education at Divers Cove.

As Vice President of Training, Donovan oversees Divers Cove's training programs and leads the development of future dive professionals. Working alongside PADI IDC Staff Instructor Scott Simpson and our PADI Course Director, he mentors Divemaster candidates and Instructor Development Course (IDC) candidates, preparing the next generation of PADI Professionals for successful careers in the dive industry.

Donovan is passionate about developing dive leaders who are knowledgeable, confident, and prepared for any situation underwater. While he enjoys teaching every level of diver, his favorite course is the PADI Rescue Diver Course. He firmly believes that every diver should become a Rescue Diver, not because they expect an emergency, but because Rescue training develops awareness, confidence, leadership, and the ability to become a better dive buddy.

That same philosophy extends into his role as Co-Founder and Vice President of Training for Rescue Diver Ready, where he is helping build a global movement focused on improving diver preparedness through education, training, and practice.

Donovan is also a passionate advocate for Full Face Mask Diving and rarely dives without his favorite piece of equipment—his Ocean Reef Neptune Full Face Mask. He enjoys introducing divers to this growing specialty and the added comfort, communication, and confidence it provides underwater.

Originally from South Africa, Donovan's second language is Afrikaans, and he proudly embraces his South African roots. One of his favorite traditions is gathering family and friends around a braai—the South African tradition of cooking over an open fire. If there's a perfectly grilled steak on the menu, Donovan is happy. In fact, he'd eat steak every day if he could.

Outside of work, his greatest adventure is spending time with his wife, Natalee, and their two children, exploring new destinations both above and below the surface. Whether they're traveling to a new dive destination or making memories together, family is at the heart of everything he does.

Whether he's flying an aircraft, mentoring future instructors, teaching Rescue Diver, or exploring a new dive destination, Donovan is driven by one mission: to help every diver become safer, more confident, and better prepared every time they enter the water.

Donovan's Favorites

• Favorite Course: PADI Rescue Diver

• Favorite Dive Equipment: Ocean Reef Neptune Full Face Mask

• Favorite Food: Steak (especially on a South African braai!)

• Favorite Tradition: Hosting family and friends for a traditional South African braai

• Languages: English and Afrikaans

• Passion: Developing future PADI Professionals and improving diver preparedness

• Favorite Family Activity: Traveling and diving with his wife and two children

• Fun Fact: Donovan believes flying and scuba diving have more in common than most people realize—success in both starts with preparation, teamwork, and staying calm under pressure.

"The best divers aren't the ones who dive the deepest—they're the ones who are the most prepared."