Meet Your Instructor - Paul Wood

Today let's introduce you to Paul Wood, an instructor with the Ajax Scuba Club.

Paul was first certified in 1999, and became a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor in 2004.  He has been certifying all our Open Water Students since then!   In addition to the Open Water course, Paul is certified to teach through PADI up to and including Assistant Instructor. 

 

 

Paul has lived in Ajax for over 50 years.  He is a past Rotarian and has owned community-based businesses.   In 2007, Paul had a vision to help raise funds for the Ajax/Pickering hospital.  He chaired a committee which came up with an idea to do a fundraiser with the help of the Ajax Scuba Club and local sponsors.   This scuba diving marathon and silent auction successfully raised over $8,000 for the hospital.  The money  raised  bought equipment for the new maternity ward. 

During his time as a club member, Paul has served as Dive Coordinator, Training Director, Promotions Director and President.  He has volunteered his time for many Ajax Santa Claus parades and helped to represent the club at Home Week events.

 

It's not surprising to see Paul's wife Audrey helping out with the instruction of courses taught at the club, since she is a Divemaster.  Their youngest of two daughters is also a certified diver.  Home away from home and favourite place to dive is Roatan, Honduras, which they have now visited six times.  Paul's other dive travels have also taken him to the Florida Keys, Bahamas, North Carolina, Nova Scotia & Cape Breton Island, the eastern coast of the United States, and the Great Lakes.   All of these locations allow Paul to capture great memories as an underwater videographer. 

 

Anybody contemplating learning to dive should know that Paul loves teaching scuba diving because he gets to see the look on a student's face when they master a skill for the first time!   We hope you get a chance to meet him soon, and experience this for yourself :) 

Come and see the Ajax Scuba Club at the Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show!

Once again, the Outdoor Adventure Show is making an appearance in Toronto on February 22, 23 & 24th, 2013.  If you've never been to this show before, this is a perfect opportunity to check it out! 

 

Located at the International Centre in Mississauga, this is Canada's largest adventure show with over 300 exhibits, + free parking.    There is something for every outdoor enthusiast here, whether under water or on land, and there is a dedicated area known as Scuba World just for us divers :)

The Ontario Underwater Council will have a booth at the show, staffed by volunteers from various dive clubs around Ontario.  Why not plan to come out and  meet the Ajax Scuba Club at this booth on Friday February 22 between 2:00 - 4:00 pm or Saturday February 23 between 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm.  We can answer any questions you may have about the Club and about diving in general.   While you're there don't forget to watch the famous scuba diving demos in the tank! 

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about scuba diving and some of the world's best dive destinations.    Talk to the experts right at the show.  The Underwater Adventure Stage also hosts daily dive presentations (free with admission). 

 

Please visit the Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show's website for further information and don't forget to save yourself $2.00 per admission by purchasing your tickets online. 

 

 

  

Laura

Let's Get Wet! Learn To Dive Spring 2013

Have you always wondered what it would be like to scuba dive?  Like anything worth learning, this is definitely one skill worth learning well.  The Ajax Scuba Club has trained many men, women and children to learn to dive safely over the years.  Whether you yearn to dive the Great Lakes of Ontario, or the balmy waters of the Caribbean, we can get you started with our Spring 2013 Open Water Course.

 

The course consists of six weekly classroom and in-pool skill-building lessons, held at the Ajax Community Centre, 75 Centennial Road, Ajax ON  L1S 4S4.  Here are some important dates to keep in mind:

 

            Orientation Meeting - March 27th, 2013  7:00 pm

 

            Classes - April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5 & 12 - 6:30 pm

 

Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to schedule your open water checkout dives either here in Ontario (date TBA but most likely end of May/beginning of June 2013) or you may do what's called a referral check out at your destination if you have booked a trip down south, once you complete the classes. 

 

The Ajax Scuba Club is a non-profit club - we exist to serve our members.  To that end, we contain our costs as much as possible without sacrificing the quality of our programs.  Our classes are designed to provide students with total support from our Instructors, in real time, face to face.  We think you'll agree that what we have to offer our students is terrific value for the money.  

 

The cost of the 2013 Spring Open Water Course is $380 and includes all instruction (classroom and in-pool), manual, use of club equipment for the duration of the course, and one year membership to the Club (a $60 value).   Additional costs are $75 for the open water certification dives.  All students will require their own personal gear (mask, fins, boots and snorkel) by the first class.  There are several local dive shops that can accommodate your needs.    

 

A non-refundable deposit of $100 is necessary in order to reserve your spot in the class.  Maximum class size is limited to 12, and this is a very popular course, so if you're interested or require further information, please contact our Training Director at 905-619-2159 or email training@ajaxscubaclub.on.ca today!    The last day to register for this class is March 14th, 2013 but don't delay, it will fill up quickly! 

Our next blog post will introduce you to our PADI Instructor, Paul Wood.  Stay tuned!

Laura

 

    

                                          Photo courtesy of PADI. 

                                          Students learning to scuba dive in the pool.