Jani Santala is the man behind Black Duck Diving. Started his diving career in 1988, his first interest in the underwater world came after reading numerous books by Jacques-Yves Cousteau in his early childhood.

Specialising in overhead diving Jani is also co-owner of the dive center Visit Plura, that is built up around Plura cave. Logging over 7000 dives (2000+ mixed gas dives, 2000+ decompression dives and 3000+ cave/mine dives), Jani holds the highest instructor ratings for both SSI and TDI.

Since teaching full-time in 2013, he certifying over 1000 students. The shared passion for diving and traveling has led him to some of the strangest - and most beautiful - places on the planet.

Community Involvement
Board of Directors Finnish Divers Federation, 2013-2017
Vice President of Finnish Divers Federation, 2013-2014
Member of diving accident analysis team 2013-2017
Member of Technical and Training advisors 2013-2018
Ojamo mine keyholder and responsible of divers certifications, up to 2018
Tuna-Hästberg mine keyholder, Sweden
Montola mine President and keyholder, Finland
Haveri mine keyholder, Finland
Member of Plura recovery operation 2014, Norway

rEvo Instructor Trainer
Mares Horizon Instructor Trainer
TDI & SSI XR Full Cave Instructor Trainer
TDI & SSI XR Hypoxic Trimix Instructor Trainer
TDI & SSI XR Rebreather Instructor Trainer
Triton & Poseidon Instructor

CMAS M*** Instructor Trainer
PADI MSDT Instructor active till 2017
NAUI Instructor Trainer active till 2017

JJ-CCR, Megalodon, Inspiration, T-Reb & Liberty Diver
NSS-CDS Cave recovery diver

10th of August 2019 he married his wife, Ina Santala Jordbru, and together with the cave diving community they set a new Guinness World Record: The largest water-locked wedding, dive accessible only, 69 attendees.

Together they travel the world for diving, teaching and discovering new places.