Susan Dearing was born in Branson, Missouri, where she grew up working in the tourist industry. At age 8 she’d show visitors to Branson where the best fishing holes were for crappie and bass, directed them to the best “mom and pop” cafes, and stood on the main street corner lecturing on the crotophytus collaris (collared lizard). Of course, the brave tourists were the ones who petted the 13-inch-long male, sleeping on her shoulder.
She paid her way through college by working for local weekly newspapers, and was graduated with a degree in English. She worked in print media for more than 17 years, starting as a journalist, artist, editor, finally general manager.
At the age of 37, she radically changed her lifestyle and career, became a scuba diving instructor, and moved to Pto. Vallarta. After 3 dissatisfying years, she relocated to Manzanillo, where she operates a dive shop, teaching all levels of scuba diving from beginner to instructor. She currently holds the highest level of certification attainable in the diving industry: Instructor Trainer with the YMCA and CMAS scuba diving organizations.
In November of 1998, she returned to school once again to become an instructor with PADI, and now also teaches all PADI courses, including Discover Scuba, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Divemaster and Medic First Aid. Underworld Scuba is a PADI Dive Center, a CMAS Dive Center, and a member of PIRA (PADI International Resort Association).
Susan currently lives in Las Brisas with her poodle, Sunny, and has a new addition to her family, Sammy, a Siamese kitten. Cher, her adopted street dog, lives at the scuba shop, and the trio is often seen playing on the Las Brisas beach. Susan teaches diving at the Hotel Sierra, or at the Hotel La Posada. Her dive center is located in the Plaza Pacifico, Peninsula de Santiago, Av. Audiencia (next to the Guadalajara Grill restaurant).
Susan is also the author of ” Facts, Tips & Day Trips, Guide to Manzanillo and Colima.” This book is being placed on the web site to give prospective visitors to Manzanillo information to make their stay more pleasurable. Susan and Vernon hope that, as the site continues to grow, the number of tourists coming to Manzanillo will increase, thereby helping the business and the town.