Andrea Williams

IDC Staff Instructor

With over thirty years of experience as an educator, Andrea is a respected leader, citizen scientist, mentor, and advocate recognized across nonprofit and cross-cultural communities for exceptional relationship management. Andrea’s introduction to diving began more than three decades ago as part of graduate studies, leading her to Blue Planet and sparking a lifelong passion that has led to advanced credentials, including PADI Instructor Development Course Staff Instructor, DAN Instructor, and Coral Restoration Team Leader.

A dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion, Andrea serves as an executive board member of Reef Renewal USA and is the founder and chair of its Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee. Andrea is also a former executive board member of the Women’s Aquatic Network, a member of the Aquatic Voyagers Scuba Club (NYC), and the National Association of Black Scuba Divers (NABS), where Andrea is president emeritus (2023–2025). In recognition of outstanding contributions, Andrea was inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame in 2025, into NABS Divers Hall of Fame in 2023, and named NABS Diver of the Year in Cairo, Egypt, in 2019.

Andrea holds a wide range of certifications, including OWSI Instructor, DEMP Instructor, CPR, Rescue, Enriched Air, Dry Suit, Equipment Specialist, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation, Digital Photography, Archaeology Survey Diver, and Coral Restoration Team Leader. As a volunteer with the Coral Restoration Foundation, Andrea is passionate about teaching others to restore and protect ocean coral reefs and is an active contributor to Blue Planet Scuba.

An avid traveler, Andrea has dived extensively throughout the US, Caribbean, Dubai, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Belize, Maldives, Thailand, and the Philippines, always seeking new and exciting destinations. When not underwater, Andrea enjoys tennis, skiing, reading, golfing, ballroom dancing, and spending time with her family.