Hi. I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Bob Wilson. I feel it's important for a perspective student to know as much about their instructor as the instructor knows about the student. In this arena of diving, there must be a bond of trust, which is based on information and mutual understanding.

I started diving in 1986. My first dive certification was with the now defunct training agency, NASDS. Realizing I was on to something great, I began my climb up the training ladder. I obtained my first professional level certification in 1988, when I became a PADI Divemaster. I worked extensively with students in this capacity and eventually enrolled in a PADI IDC. I successfully passed my I.E. in 1992 and was granted the rating of Open Water Scuba Instructor. Since then, I have continued with my training and have progressed to where I have achieved the certification of PADI Course Director.

Prior to becoming a PADI Course Director, I achieved instructor status with IANTD and TDI. These training agencies provided courses of instruction in various technical diving fields that did not yet exist within PADI. I further achieved an instructor rating from DAN in the use and theory of oxygen administration.

During my advancement with PADI, I pursued many Specialty Instructor ratings at several training sites throughout the country. This allows me to offer training in all of the popular PADI Specialties and have a background in varied environments as well. PADI’s affiliate, DSAT, began to offer their Tec Rec programs in 2000. Because of my extensive background in deep wreck diving, I immediately sought and obtained Instructor Trainer ratings in the DSAT Tec Deep Diver course, as well as the DSAT Gas Blender course.

In 1992, using trimix gas for very deep dives was just coming in to use. I found this fascinating and sought out training with Billy Deans of Key West Florida. I was one of the early few that went through this training and received my certification as a Trimix Diver from IAND (they were not using the additional "T" back then). Since then, DSAT has progressed to include the Tec Trimix Diver course in their line-up, where I have also achieved the rating of Instructor Trainer.

In the early 1990's, I realized once a diver achieved the PADI Wreck Diver rating, there was no other course they could advance to within that field, unless they pursued technical diver training, which may or may not have contained skills specific to wreck diving. With this in mind, I set out to create an Advanced Wreck Diver Course, which would encompass wreck diving techniques beyond the basic level, as well as advanced academics in physics, physiology, and methodology. In 1995, I submitted my Advanced Wreck Diver Course to PADI and shortly after, received approval to teach.

Apart from my significant commitment to and training with PADI/DSAT, I have also pursued other areas of diving. I have been trained in Closed Circuit Rebreather diving with IANTD. I have also received training and certification as a Full Cave Diver with TDI. This has allowed me to enjoy the spectacular cave dives of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. I have also been accepted as a member of "The Explorers Club". This prestigious organization is dedicated to the advancement of science and human achievement.

There are other disciplines I have been fortunate enough to involve myself with. I received my first Emergency Medical Technician rating in 1977. I was recommended for and was accepted as an Associate Member of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society in 1992. I currently hold a United States Coast Guard 100 Ton, Near Coastal Masters License. If you are considering instructor and/or technical training in the near future, feel free to contact me. We can set up a program that will allow you to achieve your goals with distinction.