SSI Dive Instructor - Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
John "Johnny Utah" Bradshaw
Born in Utah. Raised on the reefs of Puerto Rico. This is the story of a kid who fell into the ocean and never came back up.
The Origin Story
From Utah to the Caribbean. No Looking Back.
John Bradshaw was born in Utah, about as landlocked as it gets. Then, at 13, his family moved to Puerto Rico, and the ocean crept in slowly, then all at once. The nickname "Johnny Utah" started as a nod to where he came from, but it stuck because John turned out to be someone who does not just dip his toes in. He goes all the way.
He earned his Open Water certification in 2021 and never looked back. One certification led to the next: Advanced Adventurer, Rescue, Divemaster, and then Instructor. In December 2023 he joined Aquatica full-time as a Dive Instructor with over 400 logged dives and a real obsession with sharing what he had found underwater.
He has been diving Puerto Rico's reefs long enough to know where sea turtles rest and which swim-throughs make a first-time visitor stop mid-kick. That local knowledge is what you get when you book with John.
Where You'll Find Him
Full-Time Instructor at Aquatica
John has been a full-time SSI Dive Instructor at Aquatica since December 2023. Aquatica is Aguadilla's premier dive center, and every Blue Island Diving request is coordinated with the shop's equipment, safety standards, and infrastructure behind it.
This site is John's personal space to share his story, his style, and his philosophy. The dives are real, the certifications are Aquatica-backed, and the experience is world-class.
Visit Aquatica's WebsiteSSI Dive Instructor
SSI Divemaster - Open Water - Advanced Adventurer
What Sets Him Apart
Not Your Average Instructor
John does not just teach diving. He lives it, films it, and keeps chasing the next unforgettable day underwater.
400+ Dives at 21
Most divers his age have a fraction of that experience. John has built those dives across Caribbean reefs, training environments, and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters.
Underwater Filmmaker
John shoots and edits his own underwater footage from dives around Puerto Rico. Follow his work on Instagram for a preview of what the ocean actually looks like down here.
Local Waterman Energy
When he is not teaching, John is scouting reefs, conditions, shore entries, and new angles for the next trip. Puerto Rico's coastline is his classroom.
A Defining Dive
Thresher Sharks in the Philippines
Most people never see a thresher shark in their lifetime. John has dived with them in the Philippines, one of the world's rarest and most sought-after underwater encounters. Long, whip-like tails. Eerie stillness. The kind of dive that reminds you why you started.
That hunger for the extraordinary drives how John guides every dive here in Puerto Rico. He knows what unforgettable feels like, and he wants every guest to leave with their own version of it.
Follow the Journey
See the Ocean Through His Lens
John documents dives, adventures, and coastal days on Instagram. It is the best preview of what you are getting into.
@jwb.dive on Instagram