Andrea began teaching diving with Dr. Lee Somers and Karl Huggins at the University of Michigan's Scientific Diving Program. She served as a Diving Safety Officer for the American Museum of Natural History's Animal Behavior Research Department, and had three research papers published by the age of 22.

She took her first diving rescue course at age 16 with Walt Butch Hendrick. Since that time she has become Vice President of Lifeguard Systems Inc. and RIPTIDE Inc, a course director and instructor trainer, a well published author, a noted public speaker, an award winner, a program designer, and is one of the leading trainers in the international water rescue and recovery industries today.

Andrea teaches over hundreds of police, fire, EMS, military, and USCG personnel annually throughout the U.S., Canada, Asia, and Caribbean. As a NAUI & ACUC course director, and a PADI, DAN, and Red Cross Instructor, she teaches approximately 1,000 surface rescue and dive personnel annually.