HISTORY

In the summer of 1985 I enrolled in a PADI Open Water Diver Course. After completing the course I felt that there was far more to learn about scuba than was presented. I enrolled in a PADI Advanced Course. I read most of the book prior to the class and had several questions for my instructor. On the first night of class I was amazed to find out that the instructor was not required to lecture, answer questions or issue a written test about all the material in the textbook. I was going to be qualified as an “Advanced Diver” with only 5 more dives and no confirmation that I understood any additional academic knowledge. I then went to yet another dive store and met some truly awesome instructors. I purchased all my Scuba Pro equipment and continued my education there earning my Divemaster card by the end of 1985.

I enrolled in a PADI Instructor Class in 1988 with a true legend in scuba training, Course Director Commander Jim Williams. Now on his eternal dive Commander Williams was an inspirational leader who I will never forget. As the former Dean of the PADI College he had worldwide contacts and arranged an interview with the owner of a dive operation in Cozumel/Cancun. Hurricane Gilbert heavily damaged the Cayman and Cozumel/Cancun prior to my arrival.

In the fall of 1988 I decided to stay in the states and accepted a position at a large travel agency as Director of Adventure. I researched travel destinations around the globe focusing on Scuba trips with additional extensions to explore rainforests, volcanoes or even white water rafting.

In 1989 I opened a dive store.

While attending the DEMA convention in late 1989 we decided to discontinue PADI Instruction and become a NAUI Pro Facility.

Here were a few of my reasons to switch to NAUI:

	Higher course standards including fundamentals of rescue in every course.
	Safer dive tables and decompression rules that were consistent with dive computers.
	Realistic training progression with a true Advanced Course including in depth academic  knowledge.
	Ability to enhance the learning experience for gifted students.
	Worldwide recognition that NAUI is a better course.

From 1989 through 1992 I taught scuba at every level from Entry Level through Instructor. My scuba instruction experience includes Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, Master Scuba Diver, Specialty Courses, Dive Master and Assistant Instructor. I received my Instructor Trainer Certification in 1992 after 240 hours of continued education and staffing of multiple Instructor Courses. One of my students who went on to become a NAUI Divemaster and later a dive store owner, gave me the nickname “Captain Blackhart” and the name stuck.

A list of travel destinations that I have visited:

	Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman
	Cozumel and the Yucatan including Ceynotes and Holbox Island
	Bahama Islands including Andros, New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama
	Hawaii including Maui, Kawaii, Lanaii, Big Island and Oahu
	Fiji Northern Islands
	Micronesia – Chuuk (Truk Lagoon)
	California
	Florida Keys
	Sea of Cortez including Cabo San Lucas
	Land based and live aboard dive boats.

There is an entire world out there to dive…let’s go!


GETTING STARTED

Scuba Diver/Junior Scuba Diver Your underwater adventure begins! Imagine watching the water level move up your mask as you slowly go below the surface - and continue to breathe! It's the most exciting feeling imaginable and yours when you become a NAUI Scuba Diver! Scuba Diver is our entry level scuba certification course during which you will learn the fundamental knowledge and skills to safely scuba dive in open water. When you complete your class you and your buddy will be free to explore and discover the many wonders of the underwater world…and, you will have earned a NAUI Scuba Diver certification card – the most respected diver certification card in the world! Come on and dive in…a lifetime of fun, adventure, memories, experiences, and new friends awaits you!

What You Will Learn We will learn about about dive equipment, the science of diving, responsible diving practices and the environment. You will also learn many skills in confined pool water with practice time for your safety and comfort; and complete your training with a minimum of five open water dives in the ocean.

How Do You Get Started? Sign up for your class, grab your bathing suit and get ready to have FUN!

PRIVATE TRAINING FEE

	Academic and confined water training $499 per student with two student minimum.
	Use of scuba gear including cylinders, scuba regulator and buoyancy vest and weights included

MATERIALS-ACADEMIC TRAINING

Upon receipt of the PRIVATE TRAINING FEE, I will forward your NAUI Scuba Diver Education System including the following: Text Book, DVD, workbook, dive tables and logbook. I will include a study guide to get you started in the self study in textbook and answering workbook questions. Together we will watch the DVD and cover the textbook in greater detail. You must pass a written exam to confirm the knowledge gained.

EQUIPMENT – CONFINED WATER TRAINING

I will meet with you at a local dive store and assist in your selections of equipment. Prior to first confined water session student must own the following: scuba quality mask, snorkel, boots, scuba fins and a mesh gear backpack. This personal gear will stay with you throughout your future diving adventures

EQUIPMENT – OPEN WATER CERTIFICATION

You may chose to rent the same equipment I provided in confined water for your open water dive trip. Should you decide to purchase the equipment I will be happy to assist in selecting quality gear that meets your needs.

TRAVEL- OPEN WATER CERTIFICATION

After the final examination has been taken and passed and we have mastered the skills in the pool, we get to go diving!

You must complete 5 (five) checkout dives in open water to earn the NAUI Scuba Diver Certification. We do not encourage new divers to go to a local rock quarry, a murky lake or any destination that might make you feel uncomfortable. We strongly recommend a Caribbean vacation certification trip. You will be qualified to dive in conditions equal to or better than those experienced on your certification. Why not make that 82 degree water with 100 feet or more visibility?

A typical vacation certification trip would be from Wednesday-Sunday (5 days & 4 nights).. On our day of arrival we will experience diving from the shore as we complete our first two scuba certifications dives. You will receive a pre dive briefing from me. The excitement builds as we gear up and enter the water. We will all make our first descent and begin exploring the underwater world. We will simply stop for a second and I will ask you to perform a specific skill that you mastered in the pool. After two or three skills on each dive we make our ascent together and return to shore. We de-brief, log the dive and share the exciting things we saw and did. In between scuba dives we will experience a skin dive with snorkeling gear and you will perform the skills we mastered in the pool.

We will have 3 days of boat diving Thursday-Saturday. We will be taken by private small boat to an entry level site in shallow water on a beautiful reef on our first day. You will receive my pre-dive skill briefing and pre dive site briefing form our Captain/Divemaster. Your confidence will grow after each consecutive dive. After day one of boat diving you will have earned and receive your NAUI Scuba Diver Card.  The second and third days of boat diving will be strictly for fun and experience with your Divemaster and myself. Here is an example travel package.

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CONTINUED TRAINING

Welcome to the underwater world! You are now part of an internationally recognized brotherhood of divers. You have learned and traveled, seen and done what the vast majority will never even dream of. Congratulations!

Here is a word of advice. You need to be very conservative as you move forward in your diving experience. Dive in pristine conditions and take part in activities that approximately those you certified in. So go diving! Take another trip to a wonderful destination. We just returned from the Big Island of Hawaii and experienced the thrill of a lifetime on a night dive with majestic Manta Rays.

In order to truly grow as a diver you should take continuing education courses. Advanced Scuba Diver is your next step and then on to Master Scuba Diver. Those who are then pursuing a professional level in scuba diving would follow the Leadership Certification path.