Some people chase adventure. Zac Araneta just kept diving until adventure became his everyday.
Born in the Philippines, Zac first discovered scuba in the most unexpected place — a resort pool in Mactan, Cebu. That first breath underwater changed everything. “The moment I started breathing underwater, I was hooked,” he says. “I told myself, I’m going to the highest level in this.” What began as a quick hotel activity soon became a lifelong pursuit — one that’s taken him from the coral reefs of Southeast Asia to the towering kelp forests off Catalina Island.
Today, Zac works as a professional dive instructor and guide, known around Catalina for his calm teaching style and his deep respect for the ocean. He’s not just helping people learn how to dive — he’s helping them see underwater differently.
Teaching With Intention
For Zac, diving is as much about mindset as it is about skill. He likes to remind students that “diving is all about being Zen,” and that a deep inhale and long exhale can be the difference between panic and peace. “The more relaxed you are, the easier it is to enjoy diving,” he says.
He’s guided hundreds of students through that transformation — from the nervous excitement of their first pool session to the confidence that comes with hovering weightlessly beneath a kelp canopy. One of his most memorable experiences wasn’t a record-breaking dive or an exotic destination, but watching one of his students conquer the fear of mask-clearing underwater. “He struggled at first,” Zac remembers, “but once he overcame it, he became a completely different diver. Confident. Calm. It changed him.”
Family, Community, and the Ocean That Connects Them
Zac’s most cherished dive memory, though, is deeply personal — his daughter Scout’s first open-water dive in Komodo, Indonesia. “She saw turtles and sharks,” he recalls, smiling. “But more than that, she was just so happy to be underwater with her dad.”
Moments like that remind Zac why he loves what he does. Diving, for him, is about connection — to the ocean, to family, and to the broader community of divers who share that same respect for the water. On Catalina, he’s surrounded by that spirit daily. “The beauty of the kelp forest and its habitats is incredible,” he says. “But it’s also the people — the diving community on the island, especially at Catalina Divers Supply. It’s like a family.”
Every Dive Should Be a Clean-Up Dive
Zac lives by a simple mantra: Every dive should be a clean-up dive.
“It gives us a sense of mission and responsibility,” he explains. “We’re not just exploring; we’re protecting.” He believes clean-up dives shouldn’t be limited to special events once or twice a year — it should be part of every diver’s routine. A stray plastic bag or a fishing line might not seem like much, but removing it adds up. “When you’re aware of the effects of pollution underwater,” he says, “you start realizing you need to act — not just watch.”
It’s an approach that’s both humble and powerful. Some of the most meaningful clean-up dives he’s done, Zac says, are the ones “no one sees” — quiet dives where he leaves the water knowing he’s made even a small difference.
The Future of Diving
Looking ahead, Zac is optimistic about where dive education and conservation are headed. “It’s just going to get better and better,” he says. “With the impact of awareness through social media, more and more people are getting educated and finding ways to help protect the environment.”
He’s seen firsthand how small changes — mindful buoyancy, picking up debris, choosing reef-safe products — can create ripple effects across the global dive community. And he believes that awareness will continue to grow as new generations fall in love with the ocean.
A Life Lived Below the Surface
Zac Araneta has built his life around the sea — not just exploring it, but protecting it. His story is a reminder that diving isn’t just a sport or a skill. It’s a way of being present, connected, and aware of the world beneath the waves.
When you dive with Zac, you don’t just learn to breathe underwater — you learn what it means to belong there.
At KOOK, we believe the ocean gives back what we give it. Zac’s approach — dive with intention, protect what you play in, and leave every reef better than you found it — captures that perfectly. His story is a reminder that ocean-proof beauty starts with ocean-proof values: awareness, respect, and care for the water that connects us all.
0 comments