Created 12-Jun-11
Modified 12-Apr-21
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Malibu Divers was founded in 1969 by Mike Bright, a now legendary Southern California waterman and Olympic athlete. Mike nurtured the store through the 1970's when diving was still considered a "niche" recreational activity. Diving at that time was populated by ex-navy frogmen and serious underwater hunters and was neither considered nor promoted as an activity for anyone but the most rugged and athletic of ocean enthusiasts.
In 1974, Mike hired Lynn Freeman to teach scuba classes at Malibu Divers. Lynn was affiliated with a then fledgling training agency called PADI - having received his instructor training in one of the first PADI College Instructor Development Courses, taught by the college's legendary founder; Commander Jim Williams.
In 1992, Lynn sold Malibu Divers to its current owner (and then Director of Training) Carter Crary (a graduate of the final PADI College class in 1989). Still in its original location, the store's guiding philosophy also remains the same: to send our customers out the door with the best training possible and a smile on their faces. Working closely with PADI, we strive to stay on the leading edge of diver training (Carter, Barbara, Grant, Mason and Charles have all participated in the filming of PADI training videos). In 1995 we became a PADI 5-Star IDC (Instructor Development Center) and today we are the only PADI facility in the Los Angeles area to have two (Barbara and Grant) Course Directors (Instructor trainers) on staff.
In 1974, Mike hired Lynn Freeman to teach scuba classes at Malibu Divers. Lynn was affiliated with a then fledgling training agency called PADI - having received his instructor training in one of the first PADI College Instructor Development Courses, taught by the college's legendary founder; Commander Jim Williams.
In 1992, Lynn sold Malibu Divers to its current owner (and then Director of Training) Carter Crary (a graduate of the final PADI College class in 1989). Still in its original location, the store's guiding philosophy also remains the same: to send our customers out the door with the best training possible and a smile on their faces. Working closely with PADI, we strive to stay on the leading edge of diver training (Carter, Barbara, Grant, Mason and Charles have all participated in the filming of PADI training videos). In 1995 we became a PADI 5-Star IDC (Instructor Development Center) and today we are the only PADI facility in the Los Angeles area to have two (Barbara and Grant) Course Directors (Instructor trainers) on staff.
© Malibu Divers
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