In May 2006, Glen & Karen McKinnon purchased Helena Scuba and their lives were forever changed. Glen is busy teaching students and Karen runs the shop and puts together tropical dive vacations with a new one in the works at any given time. With the summer months in Montana being so short, they make the most out of the time they have at the lake. They generally are certifying new divers each weekend here and in the winter they travel to Seattle or Logan, Utah.

STORE MOTTO: Why do we dive? Cuz we can can can!

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY: There is always room for one more.

ABOUT THE OWNERS

Glen has been actively diving since he got certified in 2000, now he has over 2000 dives. In 2004, he became an instructor, enjoying the many dive experiences here in Montana and as always in the warm clear waters of the tropical dive vacations that he takes each year. After getting certified in Tahiti, he was hooked for life and now enjoys teaching the many students he has acquired through the years and sharing his love of the underwater world with them. Sometimes we have to look to make sure his “gills” haven’t dried up. Glen has the ability to calm even the most nervous of divers and see them transform into the most capable of divers, which gives him the most satisfaction.

Karen has been diving since 2003, with the intent to just please Glen. She actually started lessons in 2000, but due to some health problems, didn’t finish until 2003. After getting certified in Grand Cayman, she too was hooked. Now, some 200 dives later, she too is at home in the water and enjoys the tropical dives the most. She has also accomplished getting her Master Scuba Diving Certification and her Instructor rating for EFR (Emergency First Response.) Karen is constantly asked her favorite place to dive, and the answer is all of the places as they are all unique in their own special way – but ask her what her favorite fish is and that is the gray angelfish. She does love them all, especially the ones that interact with her.