MEET OUR STAFF
Kraken’s Lair Diving is a passionate and professional dive operation committed to delivering high-quality instruction and unforgettable underwater experiences. With a focus on safety, personal attention, and fun, their team of dedicated instructors brings years of experience and continuous training to every course. From beginners to seasoned divers, they offer a supportive environment that builds confidence and skill. Known for their spacious training pool and stunning boat dives, each adventure is thoughtfully crafted to showcase the beauty of the ocean. At Kraken’s Lair Diving, every guest is treated like part of the crew, and every dive is a chance to grow, explore, and connect.
VICKY ROGERS-ZION
Vicky’s Journey to Course Director
Once upon a time in the not-so-distant past, Vicky was the diver who gripped the side of the boat like it was the last lifeboat off the Titanic. The thought of taking that giant stride into the unknown was equal parts thrilling and terrifying. But fear, as she discovered, can be one heck of a motivator. Through patience, persistence, and a whole lot of saltwater in her mask, she pushed past every obstacle, turned “I can’t” into “Watch me,” and found a deep love for guiding others through that same transformation.
Today, Vicky is not just a PADI Course Director—she’s a specialist in turning panic into passion. She has a soft spot (and a sharp wit) for teaching children, helping them become confident divers from their very first breath underwater. And now, she’s added another layer to her mission: training instructors to be the best versions of themselves—thoughtful, confident, and ready to pass on the magic of diving.
Detail-oriented to the core, Vicky thrives on the challenge of making a good diver great, and a great diver unforgettable. Together with her partner Scott, she co-founded Kraken’s Lair Diving—a space in the Florida Keys dedicated to supporting dive professionals not just in their skills, but in their financial stability and sense of belonging. They’re building a true dive family, where the community lifts each other up both in and out of the water.
When she’s not mentoring future pros, you can find Vicky at her favorite wreck sites, or swimming alongside sharks with the kind of grin that says, “Yes, this is exactly where I belong.” Those experiences only fuel her passion for ocean conservation and her determination to keep the seas as wild and wonderful as the day she first fell in love with them.
Vicky’s story is proof that fear doesn’t have to hold you back—it can be the first step toward the best adventure of your life. And if you’re lucky, she might just take you along for the ride.
Scott Riccon
Scott Riccon has been exploring the underwater world since 1984, building four decades of experience that spans teaching, technical skills, and expedition diving. A PADI IDC Staff Instructor, Scott is passionate about shaping confident, safety-minded divers—from brand-new Open Water students to pros on the instructor track. His happy places are equal parts rust and relics: he leads megalodon tooth hunts along the Atlantic seaboard and lives for purposeful wreck diving, where planning, buoyancy control, and respect for history turn every descent into a story worth telling. A former U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer decorated for heroism, Scott brings calm, mission-ready leadership to every class and charter.
At Kraken’s Lair Diving in the Florida Keys, Scott blends boutique service with rigorous training standards, active shark conservation, and a strong commitment to community. He supports veterans through mentorship and structured pathways into pro-level diving, and he champions adaptive diving with inclusive training plans and equipment solutions tailored to individual needs. He promotes science-based shark education, low-impact encounters, and partnerships with conservation groups for tagging, data collection, and public outreach. Whether you’re chasing your first certification, sharpening wreck skills, planning a meg-tooth hunt, or aiming for pro-level credentials, Scott’s mentorship and meticulous approach make the journey as rewarding as the destination.