Wess Tester - St. Croix Dive Director
Wess moved to St Croix, USVI in 2008 and brought his fervent stewardship and passion of the Caribbean with him. Along with assisting with C.R.A.B.B.S, Wess has been a great asset to the C.O.R.E. Foundation's programming.
Wess has been an active scuba diver since the late 1980’s, most recently completing his APD CCR (rebreather) certification while logging his 1475th dive. Wess’s Rebreather training will greatly assist deep dive research and extraction of the invasive lionfish past recreational dive limits.
Wess has been an active scuba diver since the late 1980’s, most recently completing his APD CCR (rebreather) certification while logging his 1475th dive. Wess’s Rebreather training will greatly assist deep dive research and extraction of the invasive lionfish past recreational dive limits.
Tommy Johnson - St. Croix Education & Outreach Director
Tommy and his wife moved to St Croix from Pittsburgh, PA in July 2014. He joined up with C.O.R.E. in February of 2015 eventually stepping into his new position when Nadija Packauskus moved off island. He is dedicated to preserving the reef and ecosystem around his new home. He aims to get the local community more involved and better educated on ways we can all make a difference.
He loves diving after being introduced to it on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. He and his wife were certified together while living back in Pittsburgh, PA. He had his first encounter with lionfish in the Bahamas and is excited that he has the opportunity to be a driving force in helping to keep that lionfish population under control here in the USVI.
He loves diving after being introduced to it on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. He and his wife were certified together while living back in Pittsburgh, PA. He had his first encounter with lionfish in the Bahamas and is excited that he has the opportunity to be a driving force in helping to keep that lionfish population under control here in the USVI.
Barb Crites - St. John Education & Outreach Director
A self-proclaimed marine life enthusiast and underwater photographer, Barb Crites has lived on St. John for almost seven years. In that time she has created and maintains one of the most extensive Caribbean marine life identification websites, www.snorkelstj.com
Since 2010 she has been an active, certified lionfish responder and more recently became an active participant in C.O.R.E.'s Education and Outreach Program on St. John spearheading the St. John Lionfish Shoreline Patrol Campaign.
Barb is a semi-retired bookkeeper and is a Wisconsin native.
