PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor #174185
Joseph (Joe) T. Marcinko
My Diving carrier started in the summer of 1963.
Being heavily influenced by the popular television program Sea Hunt,
I knew the underwater world was someplace I was meant to be.
Living in Norfolk, on the water, boats, crabs, oysters and fishing were a
big part of my youth. The evolution
to SCUBA was natural for me. I took
a one-week vacation after graduating from Granby High School, and then went to
work. The first two paychecks went
for a regulator and a 72 cubic foot steel scuba cylinder and harness (no BCD).
The third week brought a weight belt, fins and mask.
Air fills were $1.00, and I would go through at least five per week, most
of that summer. Fall found me in a
wet suit until it just got too cold. This
continued until I moved to Charlottesville in 1973.
I sold my boat and all of my dive gear, thinking I would not have any
additional use of it. Boy was I
wrong.
1989,
while on vacation in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, I saw warm, clear water for
the first time. I went to rent
SCUBA gear and was asked for a “C” card.
Not having one, I resorted to snorkeling.
Arriving back in Charlottesville, I enrolled in my first Open Water
class. My Son, Tommy and I went
through it. My passion was reborn
and his started. I have progressed
up the training ladder, becoming a Divemaster in 1999.
My relationship with Chip and Dive Connections occurred a year earlier
(1998) when the concept was in its infancy.
I am very proud to have (at least tried) been instrumental in the success
of our store. I was sent to Oceanic's
Service School and have been servicing Regulators and other dive equipment
since. I am now certified to
service Oceanic, Sherwood, Aqua Lung, Sea Quest, Mares, Scuba Pro, and Poseidon.
I have also worked on most other regulators in the industry.
Fall
of 2001 I started my IDC. Starting with Tony Feldmesser, I completed my Assistant
Instructors Course and in the spring of 2002 completed the Open Water Instructor
Development Course with Nick Jenny. My
Exam was in June. I am now a PADI
Instructor No. 174185.
I
have organized several successful trips for Dive Connections and am looking
forward to sharing my love of the underwater world with others in the months and
years to come.
Specialty Instructor Designations
| PADI | ||
| Project AWARE | Peak Buoyancy | Coral Reef Conservation |
1754 Timberwood Blvd
Charlottesville, VA 22911
434-964-9200