The Sussex Diving & Leisure, our team is led by Dave Hunneyball, a highly experienced PADI IDC Staff Instructor dedicated to providing the best possable diving experience to each and every student.
We pride ourselves on fostering a family-like atmosphere where every customer feels welcomed, valued, and fully supported. Our award-winning team is known for being friendly, approachable, and deeply passionate about diving. With top-tier training and a genuine love for the underwater world, our team is committed to ensuring your safety, enjoyment, and continuous education. Whether you're a beginner or an Advanced Diver, you'll find a warm, professional environment that feels like a second family, making every dive with Sussex Diving & Leisure memorable and rewarding..
David Hunneyball
Director / PADI IDC Staff Instructor
I got into Scuba diving as a result of a flippant comment that resulted in a try dive and the rest is history so to speak. In 2000 I took my PADI Open Water Scuba Diving Course with Wittering Divers, quickly followed by my Advanced Open Water, over the following years I dived mainly with a BSAC club. After picking up some speciality courses along the way in 2010 I worked in a dive centre in Spain where I became a Divemaster and immediately developed a passion for teaching the next generation of scuba divers. At the end of the year when I returned to the UK, I signed into my instructor development course and worked at Wittering Divers whilst undertaking training and in 2011 passed my PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor exam and went on to become a duel agency instructor teaching scuba diving for both SSI & PADI. Since then, I have worked my way up to the respected position of Staff Instructor allowing me to assist in training and assessing PADI instructor candidate’s. During my career as scuba instructor I have worked at some of the south coasts biggest and most respected dive centres gaining a wealth of experience practical and knowledge that can only be acquired by working in busy high street dive centres.
Marc Sturch
PADI MSDT & TDI Technical Instructor
Marc began his diving journey at the age of 14 in 1989, diving with his father at their local BSAC club. Since then, he has explored diverse underwater environments in over 17 countries, engaging in both open and closed circuit diving. His adventures span from the warm reefs of Southeast Asia to the colder waters surrounding the British Isles, and even to remote locations like the volcanic Ascension Island located in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Throughout his career, Marc has trained with esteemed instructors, becoming a technical diving instructor and instructor trainer across multiple agencies, including BSAC, PADI, TDI, and SDI. His passion for the underwater world and deep-water exploration is evident, as he is equally adept at teaching beginner courses in swimming pools, advanced twin-set decompression procedures in the English Channel or deep rebreather diving on overseas expeditions.
In addition to his instructional roles, Marc is a qualified commercial diver and diving equipment technician. He holds certifications as an ASSET technician, IDEST-approved cylinder technician and a Diving Safety Management Systems auditor.
Marc’s extensive experience and dedication to diving have made him a respected figure in the diving community, inspiring many to explore and appreciate the underwater world.
John Makey
PADI Divemaster
My first experience of SCUBA was when I was fourteen and my dad took me to a local swimming pool to a Discover Scuba diving experience that a dive centre was holding there. It wasn’t until a few years later that I decided to take the plunge and qualify as a PADI Open Water Diver.
After taking the opportunity to do my PADI advanced open water qualification in the Red Sea and seeing the sheer diversity of marine life there I thought of turning pro because I wanted to introduce other people to the wonders of the underwater world and experience what I had seen.
Since becoming a PADI Pro I have worked in several dive centres in Sussex and Surrey and have dived predominately along the south coast, I’ve also gone on a couple of trips to the northern and southern parts of the Red Sea. My passion and main goal as a PADI Professional is to introduce people to Scuba Diving and encouraging them to experience the underwater world the way I have.
My future goals are to scuba dive more often and in as many places as possible. Also to become a PADI Master Scuba Diver trainer and expand my experience by becoming a technical diver.
Tim North
PADI Divemaster
(Warm Water).
Tim is a very accomplished PADI Scuba Diver having dived in many locations around the world. In 2010 he decided to take his love for scuba diving to the next level by learning with us to become a PADI Professional so that he can help the next generation to become scuba divers.
Ian Hunneyball
Director / PADI Rescue Diver
Ian Hunneyball is a passionate and experienced diver, known for his expertise and dedication to the underwater community. Having been diving since his 10th Birthday Ian brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to every dive.
His friendly and approachable nature makes him a favorite among students and fellow divers alike. With a strong commitment to safety and ongoing training, Ian continuously strives to enhance his skills and help others do the same.
Ian is currently undertaking his divemaster training so that he can take a more active role in helping new divers to reach their full potencial.
Outside of diving, Ian enjoys, cooking and anything mechanical particually motorbikes.
Sarah Hunneyball
Director / Saftey Officer
Although not a scuba diver herself Sarah is there in the background helping with kit preparation and after care, while the rest of us have moved on she is there washing and drying the diving equipment making sure it ready if its next outing. In addition she will often be seen with us at dive sites and at swimming pool sessions looking after paperwork and logistics.