Scuba Ventures Team

Darren Cook

Darren Cook is the owner and lead professional at ScubaVentures, bringing nearly 40 years of teaching experience and a lifelong passion for diving to every aspect of the shop. Based in Western Colorado, Darren founded the business with a clear mission: to provide divers of all levels with high-quality training grounded in real-world experience, safety, and personalized instruction.

Darren’s extensive background goes beyond recreational diving. He has spent decades in commercial diving as well as search and recovery operations. This experience has given him a deep understanding of underwater safety, precision, and problem-solving, which continues to shape his approach to instruction and mentoring.

As an instructor and mentor, Darren is committed to tailoring his teaching to each diver’s goals, experience, and comfort level. From first-time divers to those pursuing Divemaster or Instructor-level certifications, his focus is on building confidence, skill, and long-term success in the water.

He also is an expert at building a trusted dive community in Western Colorado, where divers can rely on professional instruction, gear service, and safe, enjoyable diving experiences. For Darren, diving is more than a profession, it’s a responsibility and one if not his biggest passion. He is dedicated to training divers well, supporting them long after certification, and sharing his love for the underwater world with every student who walks through the door.

Austin Rickard

Austin Rickard is ScubaVentures shop manager and professional repair technician. He is an avid hunter and spear fisher and will talk your ear off about all sorts of diving and game taking.

Austin has been a PADI certified diver for over a decade and has been an active instructor for 7 years. He has been a major part of the dive shop for many years and has worked for the dive shop full time since he became the shops manager in 2019. He is one of many instructors/professors involved with class instruction for Colorado Mesa University, as well as private classes offered through the dive shop. He has several specialties including, Dry Suit diving, Full Face Mask regulators, Public Safety Diving and Nitrox. He has professional experience in commercial diving and Search and Recovery throughout the Grand Valley of the Grand Junction area and beyond. He spends his off time in the mountains enjoying nature and what it holds while exploring all that he can.

Austin is one of many people associated with the dive shop that are world freshwater spearfishing competitors as well as several national freshwater and regional tournaments and is more than willing to answer any all questions about any type of diving and traveling that your heart can desire.