Introduction to Diving with David

Even though I enjoy teaching all levels of divers my specific focus is Local Shipwreck exploration.  After teaching at Adventure Scuba for several years I am pleased to see that students and instructors have a great interest in diving in our own waters.  Diving in the NY, NJ, Long Island area is not only fun, but highly educational and adventuresome. The local wreck scene is rife with historical sites unlike anything you will find in the traditional vacation areas. It is also a great way to meet fellow dive enthusiasts and make friends in your own neighborhood.

Sure the water is colder, there is a bit more gear to consider and the visibility is not what you would expect in Cozumel but where else can you explore an actual WWI Armored Battle Cruiser or German U-Boat? How about a 19^th century merchant ship downed with its entire cargo intact? Or a prohibition-era rum-runner where you can still bring up whisky bottles destined for Al Capone’s speakeasy?

Please understand that BEGINNERS ARE WELCOME!

I hope to spend the season introducing many divers to the unique experiences that can be found in their own back yard and I tailor the course to the experience level of the students interested.

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Intro to local Wreck Diving

This will be an extensive course teaching the equipment, planning, and techniques used to dive shipwrecks. Student experience will concentrate on diving the local NY/NJ wreck scene. The knowledge gained through this course would be applicable to almost any wreck site that the recreational diver would encounter anywhere in the world.

 During the classroom session we will set up our gear for wreck diving conditions. We will go over much of the academic material at that time as well.

 After that workshop we would head to the quarry at Dutch Springs for a day of open water experience. www.dutchsprings.com We would do at least 2 dives on wrecks there to practice for our North Atlantic wreck dives. During the surface interval we will continue to practice skills, go over academics as well as meet other members of the local dive community. Plus the BBQ. Never forget the BBQ!

 A following Saturday or Sunday would be spent diving on a local wreck off one of the nearby dive boats. The wrecks we will visit are true natural shipwrecks. Unlike resort sites none of the wrecks we will dive were intentionally sunk. Most went down due to war, collision or weather conditions.

At the end of this course the student should be well versed in the planning, equipment and procedures necessary to safely dive both local shipwrecks as well as wreck sites in much of the world. Please understand this class will greatly exceed the typical PADI wreck course without violating the standards set for recreational divers. If you live in NY you deserve more.

Although this is an introductory course students must have an Advanced Open Water rating or higher. A drysuit class could easily be accomplished on the same weekend if you were interested in that.

click image to view a YOUTUBE video of me and my buddy Elliot diving the wreck of The Grecian.