Staff & Crew

Jim Abernethy is an award-winning author, photographer, cinematographer and conservationist who pioneered shark encounters without a cage. Starting at a young age, scuba diving served as an inspiration for his life’s mission as a conservationist. For decades, he has been leading photography/videography expeditions to engage with the world’s largest predatory sharks – Abernethy hosts cage-free dive expeditions (day/night) with tiger, great hammerheads, oceanic white tips, bull, and lemon sharks - he is best known as an extremely passionate crusader for their protection and has received numerous awards for his lifelong dedication as a marine life conservationist. To Continue Reading...

USCG 100-Ton Captain / Liveaboard Coordinator: A USCG Captain, Divemaster and retired PADI Instructor, Susan has been diving in Palm Beach for over 20 years. Through JASA Susan shares her love of education by introducing divers to Palm Beach’s amazing reefs. ...

Ryan joined the JASA family in June of 2014. Currently, Ryan is a reservations specialist, who is more than happy to help you book your next dive trip in West Palm Beach, the Bahamas, or Mexico! In addition to his work with Jim Abernethy's Scuba Adventures, Ryan is a University Student studying Biology and Neuroscience at Florida Atlantic University. ...

I am the bookkeeper and have been doing books forever.  I am just your normal bookkeeper, other than currently I am living on a sailboat anchored in the intercoastal waterway.  Love working at JASA and hope you come see us and go diving!...

Emma is a 14 foot Tiger Shark.  She was born somewhere in the Atlantic, and started frequenting Tiger Beach in the early 2000's. Her BFF is Jim Abernethy who brings nature photographers to take pictures of sharks. He is her closest human friend, and she relies on him to tell her story to other humans in the hope that if enough people come to know her personally, they will be able to stop the killing of sharks in all of the world's oceans.  She is currently a resident at Tiger Beach in the Bahamas.  Continue Reading...