The Kona Coast of Hawaii is home to Wendy Laros and her family. Island resident since 1991, she has created a meaningful life in this special place. She met Keller Laros on the island and the couple married at Ahuena Heiau in 1995. All three of their children were born in Kealakekua, Hawaii and raised in a community that values healthy living, humble contributions, and environmental stewardship.
Kona is located on the leeward side of the island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island. The underwater world along the Kona Coast is full of a myriad of marine life including reef fish, eels, octopus, sea turtles, dolphins, sharks, manta rays, and more.
As a certified scuba instructor with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors since 1990, Wendy's career has focused on sharing this underwater world with thousands of adults and children both visitors as well as island residents. She started scuba diving in Maui in 1986 and moved to Kona in 1991 where she started working at Jack's Diving Locker. With her current position as Director of Education, she manages programs such as Go Pro Hawaii - Professional Scuba Diving Career Development, Island Life - Local Adventures for Local Residents, Jack's Diving Locker Junior Programs as well as oversees all other recreational scuba courses offered to visitors to the island. With a team of over 35 scuba professionals, the company certified over 1500 students in 2012.
Wendy's passion is teaching children about marine life and how to safely explore the underwater world to observe the sea animals of Hawaii. As a certified Marine Educator, she has developed, designed, and delivered Hawaiian marine life instruction in both a camp program called Sea Camp Hawaii at Jack's Diving Locker as well as to school children in grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade.
In 2002, Wendy and Keller co-founded Manta Pacific Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the study and conservation of manta rays. The mission of the Foundation is to study manta rays in their natural habitat, conduct scientific research, provide education programs for the public about manta rays and the marine environment, and to establish and promote global manta ray conservation. Manta rays are now protected in the State of Hawaii due to the efforts of this organization.
Kona is located on the leeward side of the island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island. The underwater world along the Kona Coast is full of a myriad of marine life including reef fish, eels, octopus, sea turtles, dolphins, sharks, manta rays, and more.
As a certified scuba instructor with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors since 1990, Wendy's career has focused on sharing this underwater world with thousands of adults and children both visitors as well as island residents. She started scuba diving in Maui in 1986 and moved to Kona in 1991 where she started working at Jack's Diving Locker. With her current position as Director of Education, she manages programs such as Go Pro Hawaii - Professional Scuba Diving Career Development, Island Life - Local Adventures for Local Residents, Jack's Diving Locker Junior Programs as well as oversees all other recreational scuba courses offered to visitors to the island. With a team of over 35 scuba professionals, the company certified over 1500 students in 2012.
Wendy's passion is teaching children about marine life and how to safely explore the underwater world to observe the sea animals of Hawaii. As a certified Marine Educator, she has developed, designed, and delivered Hawaiian marine life instruction in both a camp program called Sea Camp Hawaii at Jack's Diving Locker as well as to school children in grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade.
In 2002, Wendy and Keller co-founded Manta Pacific Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the study and conservation of manta rays. The mission of the Foundation is to study manta rays in their natural habitat, conduct scientific research, provide education programs for the public about manta rays and the marine environment, and to establish and promote global manta ray conservation. Manta rays are now protected in the State of Hawaii due to the efforts of this organization.
Wendy is currently a masters candidate in the Educational Technology program through the College of Education at University of Hawaii, Manoa. She's hoping to use the skills and academic credentials in this program to elevate the educational endeavors that she has created or is involved with whether it's at Jack's Diving Locker, as a PADI professional, or with Manta Pacific Research Foundation.