Tonya "Barbie" Merritt

Tonya has been diving since 1986, for 21 years, logging over 1000 dives around the world and became a PADI Assistant Instructor in 1999. She loves the thrill of seeing new divers in the ocean for the very first time. She has obtained many specialties, with Photography being the most intriguing to her. However, the best part of scuba diving is traveling! The Caribbean is her absolute favorite place to dive, given any free weekend. Her favorite dive destinations include Cozumel, Palau, Truk Lagoon and the Coral Sea in Australia. In September 2004, she also had the opportunity to dive with President of Mares Diving Corporation in Portofino, Italy.

She graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance. At SWTSU, she was the Captain of the Strutters Dance Team, performing abroad in Soeul, Korea and Hong Kong, member of the Chi Omega Sorority, voted by her peers as a Gallardian All-Campus Favorite and President of the Golden Key National Honor Society, launching a university wide program for high school students for the "Just Say No To Drugs" Campaign. She was selected in the top five females of the 1989 graduating class for the Sally Beretta Most Outstanding Female University Student. Upon graduation, at that time, she was the youngest member of the SWTSU Alumni Board to be selected. She tutored Math (Algebra, Geometry, Trig, ACT, SAT, TAAS Tests) for six years for high school and college students.

She is the President and Travel Coordinator for Gigglin' Marlin Divers. She has been an underwater model for postcards in the Virgin Islands and had two pictures published in Sport Diver Magazine in the September 2004 issue, while diving in Australia on the Yongola wreck. In 2005 at the National Vendors Show, DEMA, her life-size photo was on display in Las Vegas, advertising for Sport Diver Magazine. She has been employed by Delta Air Lines for 17 years, currently flying a few days a month.

She has been married to Bill for 18 years and they continue to enjoy as many dive trips as they can together. She is very involved in her children's activities in Pearland with Swim Team, Drill Team & Cheer, Scouting and at New Hope Church where she sings with the Praise Team. Her greatest joy lately is having their 10 year old son, Chase along with their daughter, Danielle, scuba diving along side them. She invites you to come by and meet Cookie and Casey, the official Dive Shop Dogs.