Dive Truck

About the Truck: Would we be lost without it? Probably not, but this thing is amazing! It holds all of our gear and also has a tent that pops out of the back! We use it for going to the pool, the quarry, and just driving around town! Call the store when you see the truck, tell us the location you saw it, and receive a FREE Air Fill or Tank Rental.

Divers' Dream Boat

About the Boat: Purchased in 2010 as a fixer upper, the Dream is now being used to take divers to some of the best wrecks Lake Michigan has to offer! Join us and other divers as we dive all around the Southern End of Lake Michigan. You can see more by going to the WEBSITE

Rod Pedersen

Favorite Places to Dive: Lake Michigan, Florida Keys, Bahamas, South Carolina, & Turks and Caicos.

Why I became A Diver: Rod love's teaching new divers as he sees the look of enjoyment, excitement, curiousness, and adventure in the students saucer like eyes. He has taught in Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Turks & Caicos, Bahamas, Florida Keys. He enjoys just getting wet and relaxing watching the large pelagic as well as the micro life of the underwater world.

DRIS Responsibilities: Rod does a bit of everything around the shop. Overseeing the Training Department, accounting, and being the owner of Dive Right In Scuba, Rod is the hardest working DRIS Employee!

Mike Pedersen

Favorite thing to see:Anything underwater! There is so much life under the water, how can you go wrong.

DRIS Responsibilities:Mike oversees the general Day to Day of the store and online store. Managing DRIS is something he loves to do and has a passion for growing scuba in the area.

Why I became a Diver: To explore

Rich Padgett

Favorite thing to see: I just love being underwater!

DRIS Responsibilities:Rich is a master of the shop. He dabbles in a little bit of everthing. He is also in charge of the Visual Tank Inspections as well as the retail floor.

Why I became a Diver: I was in Boy Scouts and they were having a Discover Scuba. I decided to try it and was HOOKED!!! Game over, now I am a DM and want to stay on the path to Instructor.

James Lightbody

Favorite thing to see:Caves!!

DRIS Responsibilities:James works in the retail area of DRIS, both instore and online. James is in charge of the shipping area for the online store and loves playing with packing tape.

Why I became a Diver: I became a diver because I love water and it just seemed like an extension of FUN.

Frank Collette

Favorite thing to see:Anything underwater or in the ocean

DRIS Responsibilities:Frank is the Code Guru! He is in charge of everything web related with DRIS. He does a great job in the IT department and making sure the online store is up to date and better than any other site out there!

Why I became a Diver: I got into scuba because while on a snorkeling trip in Cozumel I saw several divers below me and I really wanted to be down there so, i decided to get certified. Now I'm a certified Rescue Diver

Mike Theobald

Favorite thing to see:Any shipwreck or cave system

DRIS Responsibilities:As well as helping out anywhere he is needed, Michael is in charge of the Drysuit Repairs. He has done almost any repair possible and your suit is in great hands if he is holding it.

Why I became a Diver: I have always wanted to dive and got certified in 1993...I haven't looked back since.

Gary Urbahn

Favorite thing to see:I started diving in the Marine Corp. in 1981 at US Navy Dive school Sub Base Pearl Harbor. fell in love with the sport and have been diving ever since. ERDI diver with a suburban Fire Dept. the things I love to see underwater are see life, new divers having the time of there lives, and anything that does not explode or shoot at you.

DRIS Responsibilities:Anything and everything around the shop. I also love to help out the Public Safety Dive Teams as much as possible.

Why I became a Diver: US NAVY!!!

Keith Flynn

Favorite thing to see: Shipwrecks in the Great Lakes.

DRIS Responsibilities:Overhauling regulators, BCD's, and Dry suit repairs.

Why I became a Diver: I was intrigued by the thought of being able to breathe under water and decided to become certified in 1993. My goal is to someday be a Dive Master helping other divers.

Debbie Schoiber

Favorite thing to see: Anything new underwater.

DRIS Responsibilities:Debbie works on our online store and helps out wherever she is needed. She ensures that all customers have the best experience possible with Dive Right In Scuba!

Why I became a Diver: To see the underwater world up close.

Jason Gajcak

Favorite thing to see: Caves, shipwrecks, and sharks!

DRIS Responsibilities:Jason takes on any task thrown at him at DRIS. Helping customers and staff at every step when he is at work.

Why I became a Diver: I love doing out of the ordinary activities. Seeing all of the different sea life and formations underwater. It's peaceful and exciting at the same time.

Jason Misenko

Favorite thing to see: Anything underwater!

DRIS Responsibilities:I embrace the challenge that dry suit repair presents. My goal is to fix your suit, make it look great, and most importantly make sure you stay dry. Staying dry is my business, so you can get out there and scuba.

Why I became a Diver: Nothing compares to being weightless and flying thru the warm waters with all the colorfull fish!

Mark Zuniga

Favorite thing to see: Water :)

DRIS Responsibilities: Intern from Illinois State University - pretty much do anything and everything from shipping orders to floor sales, and even taking Dante outside so he doesn't make a mess inside the store! (Not always a successful endeavor)

Why I became a Diver: It is so calm and relaxing underwater, like all that's happening on the surface is on Pause. And when diving, you're in a completely new environment experiencing new life.

Smokey

Favorite thing to see:Don the UPS guy because he brings me treats every day! Well, I actually like seeing everyone that walks in.

DRIS Responsibilities:Greeting everyone that walks into the store and making sure the floor doesn't run away! Very hard work!!

Why I became a Diver: NO diving for me, but I LOVE Swimming in the water!!! Check out my snorkel set. - Smokey passed away January 17, 2012 and is greatly missed by the rest of the DRIS Staff and the vast friends he made everyday at the dive shop! RIP to Mans best friend!

Rod Pedersen

Favorite Places to Dive: Lake Michigan, Florida Keys, Bahamas, South Carolina, & Turks and Caicos.

Why I became A Diver: Rod love's teaching new divers as he sees the look of enjoyment, excitement, curiousness, and adventure in the students saucer like eyes. He has taught in Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Turks & Caicos, Bahamas, Florida Keys. He enjoys just getting wet and relaxing watching the large pelagic as well as the micro life of the underwater world.

Experience: First Breath underwater was July 1960. Instructor Trainer, CPROX1st AED CPR trainer, Emergency First Response CPR, AED Trainer, Open Water Instructor Trainer, Advanced Open Water Instructor, Rescue Diver Instructor, Dive Master Trainer, Assistant Instructor Trainer, Solo Diver Trainer, Professional Cylinder / Scuba Inspector, Visual Tank Inspector, Valve Repair, Eddy Current Inspector.

Instructor for the Following Specialties:

Advanced Buoyancy, Boat, Computer Diver, Computer Nitrox, Deep, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Drift Diver, Dry Suit, Equipment Specilaty, Full Face Mask, Ice Diver, Marine Ecosystem, Night & Low Visibility, Search & Recovery, Underwater Navigation, Underwater Photographer, Underwater Video, Wreck Diver, Solo Diver, Visual Inspection, Cprox Administrator, Cpr1st, Cprox1stAed, Digital Photography, Project Aware, Fish ID, Aware Coral, Reef Conservation.

Gary Conaway

Favorite Thing to See: Anything that is underwater! The aquatic life and new students progressing through the dive lifestyle.

Why I became A Diver: Started out being a public safety diver with a fire dept and fell in love with diving and continued on with recreational diving.

Experience: I'm a Padi Master Instructor and also an SDI Instructor Trainer. I have been diving since May 1975,and logged over 2000 dives. I have dove extensively locally, the colder the better. My newest passion is creating new Instructors and helping them become something special.

Credentials: E.F.R. cpr/aed/first aid-Adult, Instructor Trainer, Openwater Instructor, Advance Openwater Instructor, Rescue Instructor, Dive Master Instructor, Assistant-Instructor Instructor. & NBSP Specialty: Ice, Tec Gas Blender Enriched Air, Underwater Navigator, Night, Wreck, Search & Recovery, Equipment spec. , buoyancy spec., computer spec., cprox, cpr1st,cpr1st-aed, marine ecosystems awareness, multi-level, full face mask, public safety diver, Dry Suit, Underwater Naturalist, Deep Water, Enriched Air, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, Multilevel, Oxgen First Aid, AED for Diver, Marine Life injury.

Jim Shapard

Favorite thing to see: My favorite thing to see, underwater, are wrecks. I am always fascinated, and even a little bit "spooked" by seeing a huge, man-made vessel, designed and built to float on top of the water, setting on the bottom. It's a bit humbling. There's also a sense of history with wrecks not intentionally sunk..

Why I became A Diver: I became a diver because I wanted a new adventure in my life. Scuba diving has never disappointed me in that area. Every dive is an adventure!

Experience:First breath underwater was July 15, 1997. Currently a PADI MSDT (Master Scuba Diver Trainer) and an SDI Open Water Instructor.

Credentials

Open Water Instructor, Advanced Open Water Instructor, Rescue Diver Instructor, and Divemaster Instructor.

Instructor for the Following Specialties.

Peak Performance Bouyancy, Wreck diver, Multi-level Diver, Underwater Navigation, Search and Recovery Diver, Underwater Photographer, Deep Diver, Night Diver, Boat Diver, and Enriched Air Diver

Favorite Places to Dive

Jim loves it all, from a mud hole to the crystal waters of the Cayman Islands. His very favorites are most of the Windward and Leeward Islands of the French, Dutch and British West Indies, especially Dominica. Jim also enjoys Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and the Florida Keys. Jim says the best midwest diving is right where we train, Haigh Quarry!

Jim says. "There's nothing like the magical moment when a student first breaths underwater. I can see the excitement in their eyes! It is such a kick to introduce people to the beautiful and thrilling underwater world!"

He has taught in Illinois and the Florida Keys.

Dan Strodtman

Favorite thing to see:In fresh water I like to see wrecks of any type, and in salt water I enjoy all aquatic life and coral reefs.

Why I became A Diver: A high school friend owned a dive shop. I always enjoyed the water, so it was a natural progression. Once becoming certified it's the new discoveries that keep me diving.

Experience:Dan became a certified diver in 1990, a Dive Master in 1996, an Assistant Instructor in 1997 and an instructor in 1998. He currently holds instructor certifications with PADI, SDI, and SSI. Dan has had the pleasure of working with hundreds of wide eyed students over his professional diving career.

Since becoming certified he has logged over a thousand dives in destinations like Palau, Honduras, Bahamas, Curacao, Hawaii, Jamaica, Cayman, Florida Keys, the western pacific. Lake Michigan and where he has logged most of his dives, our own local quarries.

When asked what he enjoys about diving and teaching students he said "What I enjoy most when I dive is neutral bouyancy, the feeling of weightlessness. What I enjoy about teaching is watching the sense of accomplishment students got as they master their skill."

"I am excited to have the opportunity to be a part of Dive Right in SCUBA, our philosophy about diving and teaching divers is similar, and I am having a great time working with the great staff."

Dave Wetherald (Public Safety Specialist)

Favorite thing to see: In the Great Lakes it would be an almost intact shipwreck with decent visibility (I have experienced in excess of 80' visibility). If I am in the Caribbean it would be the different forms of sea life but especially sharks, dolphins and turtles. On the West Coast it is pretty cool to swim through a kelp forest because you never know what you might find.

Why I became A Diver: It may sound trite but I, like many others around my age, became a diver because I was glued to the TV every time Sea Hunt was on (the good one starring Lloyd Bridges � not that the remake with Ron Ely). It was pretty cool when my wife and kids presented me with the boxed set of the entire series for Father's Day one year.

Experience: I started my first SCUBA course through the Chicago Park District in 1973; I only wish I could find that certification card. I started working with diver education around 1976 at Western Illinois University under the direction of Bob Clow (PADI Instructor #M-9 and one of the founders of PADI). I participated in a PADI Instructor Training Course in 1983 that was partially taught by Ralph Erickson (PADI President & Founder). Over the years I ascended through the PADI professional ranks of Divemaster, Instructor, Master Scuba Diver Trainer, Master Instructor and became a PADI Course Director in 1994 with the ability to teach about 30-35 specialties. I am an Emergency First Response (ERD) Instructor Trainer (formerly a PADI Medic First Aid Instructor Trainer) and previously held the rating of Instructor Trainer for the Divers Alert Network (DAN). I crossed over to ERDI/SDI/TDI in 2009 and now specialize in Public Safety Diving where I can combine my diving knowledge with over 30 years of law enforcement experience.

Jason Kijek

Favorite thing to see: Corals and saltwater marine life - Great Barrier Reef, Australia and Red Sea, Egypt.

Why I became A Diver: I was always fascinated with the underwater life. From having saltwater and reef aquariums at home to snorkeling as a kid, the underwater life always amazes me.

Experience: I've started diving just a couple of years back (2007) and got instantly hooked. Since then I've dived all over the world from local sites here in the Midwest to parts of North America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania. I love the abundance of life on reefs and enjoy both the large marine life, in addition to the micro life. I've also taken thousands of photos and hours of video underwater.

Marek Stankowski

Favorite thing to see: The amazing world underwater. Why watch the Discovery Channel when you can experience it yourself!

Why I became A Diver: I started diving for work and fell in love with it with my first breath underwater. It is so amazing to experience weightlessness.

Experience:SDI Instructor. Diving since 2008.

Dan Gibson

Favorite thing to see:I love teh old boats and everything to do with water

Why I became A Diver: I tried it once, and it was pure enjoyment! Now I can't get enough.

Experience:SDI Instructor, PADI DM, SDI DM, and I have been diving since 1988

James Lightbody

Favorite thing to see:Caves!!!

My Experience:I have been diving for 14 years, and have dives all over the US.

Why I became a Diver: I became a diver because I love water and it just seemed like an extension of FUN.

Paul Omohundro

Favorite thing to see:The same number of divers I started with at the end of the dive.

My Experience:YMCA Certified in 1985. 275+ Dives mostly in the British Virgin Islands

Why I became a Diver: Initially because it is cool! However, there are many reasons why I continue to dive including the peace, beauty, challenge, and naturally the people! (Especially my fantastic Dive Instructors at DRIS!)

Joe Bailey

Favorite thing to see:Everything from the vast colorful sea life to a wreck that emerges through the murky water as you swim towards it.

My Experience:Certified July 09, and haven't stopped. The first breath I took underwater, I knew it was going to change my life. I quickly got through Advanced Open Water and Rescue to get started with my Dive Master training. I have enjoyed working with and forming new friendships with the rest of the staff at DRIS. My specialties include UW Navigation, Night/Limited Vis, Deep, Limited Penetration Wreck, Boat, Search and Recovery, and TDI Nitrox. I also do regulator repairs at the shop in my spare time and spend as much time as possible around diving.

Why I became a Diver: I was on a vacation and I had an opportunity to go snorkeling with stingrays and was not content with being stuck at the surface. The rest is history!

Mike Pedersen

Favorite thing to see:Anything underwater! There is so much life under the water, how can you go wrong.

My Experience:I have been diving since 1992 and have been having fun underwater ever since! With a few hundred dives under my belt, I have been diving all over the world. I have learned so much over the years and enjoy helping new students learn to dive.

Why I became a Diver: To explore

Jon Sharp

Favorite thing to see:The underwater life. It's like a whole different world!

My Experience:I have been diving for 3 years, a Divemaster for 2. Have had dives locally, in the Caribbean, and in Hawaii.

Why I became a Diver: I have always loved water. I tried diving on a cruise excursion, I decided I belonged underwater. Have been learning and loving ever since.

Rich Padgett

Favorite thing to see: I just love being underwater!

My Experience:I have been diving since I was 15 and have numerous dives all over the world. I love traveling, and need to do more of it!

Why I became a Diver: I was in Boy Scouts and they were having a Discover Scuba. I decided to try it and was HOOKED!!! Game over, now I am a DM and want to stay on the path to Instructor.

Chris Principe

Favorite thing to see:I love seeing the aquatic life interacting with the environment, and shipwrecks that provide a fascinating glimpse into history.

My Experience:I became a certified diver in 2009. Since then I have dove in many locations worldwide and achieved a professional level of diving to fulfill my passion for the sport and pass my knowledge onto others.

Why I became a Diver: I became a diver because I have always been fascinated with nature, particularly underwater. I wanted to experience and observe it first hand in a weightless environment. My desire to experience diving has turned into a passion, bordering on obsession, for the sport.

Brian Wetherald.

Favorite thing to see:From the wildlife, to the wrecks and even the rocks are exciting to see in the amazing underwater world.

My Experience:I have been certified to dive since 2000, but have been around dive sites since I was a toddler.

Why I became a Diver: I would be lying if I didn't say my Dad's involvement in the sport had nothing to do with it, but I have been interested in diving and everything to be found underwater all my life.

Gary Urbahn

Favorite thing to see:I started diving in the Marine Corp. in 1981 at US Navy Dive school Sub Base Pearl Harbor. fell in love with the sport and have been diving ever since. ERDI diver with a suburban Fire Dept. the things I love to see underwater are see life, new divers having the time of there lives, and anything that does not explode or shoot at you.

DRIS Responsibilities:Anything and everything around the shop. I also love to help out the Public Safety Dive Teams as much as possible.

Why I became a Diver: US NAVY!!!

Mike Theobald

Favorite thing to see:Any shipwreck or cave system

My Experience:I am a PADI DM and Assistant Instructor. I have over 1200 dives with over half of them in Lake Michigan. I am also PADI Tec Certified.

Why I became a Diver: I have always wanted to dive and got certified in 1993...I haven't looked back since.