Natalie Callanan

Owner | PADI Dive Instructor | Coxswain

Natalie Callanan is the owner and operator of Pilbara Dive and Tours and a dedicated PADI Dive Instructor with over 30 years of diving experience. She first discovered her passion for scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef near Mackay, Queensland in 1995. Just two years later, her love for the ocean led her to become a PADI Divemaster and begin working professionally with Mackay Adventure Divers.

After relocating to Karratha, Western Australia in early 2015, Natalie established Pilbara Dive and Tours. She has since built a reputation for high-quality diver training and offers a range of marine experiences in one of Australia’s most biodiverse marine environments. Her calm, professional approach and knowledge of the Dampier Archipelago make her one of the most respected dive professionals in the region.

When she’s not teaching, you’ll likely find Natalie exploring new dive sites, photographing marine life, or supporting local conservation initiatives. Her passion for the ocean is contagious and inspires divers of all ages to discover and protect the underwater world.

Natalie is a certified PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT), qualified to teach 21 specialty and distinctive courses. These include:

Ash Riddell

Coxswain | PADI Divemaster

Ash grew up in Adelaide and has been exploring the ocean for over 30 years. In his younger days, he spent countless hours diving and working on boats off the coast of Geraldton, developing a deep connection with Western Australia’s marine environment. Over the years, he has gained valuable seamanship skills and a strong understanding of marine operations.

In 2024, Ash became a PADI Divemaster, building on a lifetime of recreational diving and turning his passion into a professional role. He also holds a Coxswain Grade 1 qualification and is the primary skipper of our charter vessel, Sailfish. With many years of experience working on boats, Ash brings a calm and capable presence both above and below the surface.

Simon Mulvaney

PADI Open Water and Specialty Instructor

Originally from Canberra, Simon Mulvaney discovered a love for the ocean while learning to dive in the crystal-clear waters of Jervis Bay, NSW. Since that first breath underwater in 2008, diving has taken him across the globe from vibrant coral reefs in Malaysia and Fiji to volcanic seascapes in Hawaii and the iconic Great Barrier Reef.

A passionate marine educator, Simon is a PADI Open Water Instructor and qualified to teach 4 specialty courses. With a strong interest in marine conservation, he also completed a Coral Research Diver specialty in the Seychelles, contributing to reef monitoring and citizen science efforts.

Now part of the Pilbara Dive and Tours team, Simon brings a wealth of international experience, a calm and supportive teaching style, and a deep commitment to ocean stewardship. Whether guiding a new diver’s first descent or leading advanced training, he inspires others to explore, respect, and protect the underwater world.

Patricia Raulf

PADI Divemaster

Patricia’s journey into the underwater world began in Germany, where she grew up surrounded by aquariums and exotic fish species, thanks to her father’s work as a fish breeder. His passion for fish life sparked her own curiosity from a young age and planted the seed for what would become a lifelong love of the ocean.

Her early experiences as a holiday diver on the idyllic shores of Giglio Island, Italy, ignited her sense of adventure, and this casual pastime quickly evolved into a serious pursuit. After relocating to the UAE, Patricia completed her PADI Advanced and Rescue Diver certifications in 2007, setting the foundation for a global diving career.

Driven by a desire to explore and protect marine environments, Patricia moved to Australia and became a certified Divemaster, working and diving across the country’s diverse underwater sites. Her career has since taken her around the world, with extended Divemaster roles in Thailand and Greece, and a memorable chapter at the iconic Navy Pier in Exmouth. There, she fell in love with the marine-rich Pilbara region and soon joined the Pilbara Dive and Tours team, contributing her expertise to dive training, guiding divers throughout the Dampier Archipelago, clean-up dives, cruise boat operations and research missions at Lake Argyle.

A passionate dive educator, Patricia thrives on sharing the underwater world with others – especially the next generation. She plays a key role in youth diving programs such as the PADI Seal Team and Bubblemaker, bringing confidence and wonder to young divers. With her global experience and love for marine life, Patricia is a dedicated and inspiring force in every dive community she’s part of.