James Lapenta

Now you are asking, "Why should I train with you? What are your qualifications?" These are questions you should ask of any instructor. I was first certified as an Open Water Diver through the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) in 2004 and over the next two years advanced to the rating of Divemaster with that agency. In addition I hold specialties in Nitrox, Deep, Wreck, Underwater Navigation, Drysuit, and Equipment Specialist. I am also a certified Rescue Diver.

 

In 2006 I began technical training with the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) and earned certifications for Intro to Tech and Helitrox (entry level Tri-Mix)  with technical dives taking place in Lake Erie and other freshwater locations. In the fall of 2007 it became clear that I again wanted to teach diving. I began crossover  training through the YMCA Scuba Program and received my Assistant Instructor certification, followed by Silver Instructor status in May of 2008.

 

The philosophy of that agency and comprehensive training methods are what drew me to seek Instructor status with them. Their ethical and moral standards were a perfect fit with my own. When the YMCA decided to close the program in the summer of 2008, a group of dedicated Instructors concluded that it had too rich of a history and tradition of skills and education based training to let it be lost. As a result Scuba Educators International Diving was formed and I made the transition to it in the fall of 2008. In 2009 I received my Ice Diving Certification with them. Following that I also became a CMAS - Confederation Mondiale des Activites Subaquatiques- 2 Star Instructor in 2010. Certifications from both agencies are available through UDM Aquatic Services.  Just recently I completed the SDI Solo Diver Course as I feel that your training should be based on your needs and interests and so look for quality training without regard for the agency it is through.

 

In addition to my formal training I have over 400 dives in conditions ranging from warm clear water in the Florida keys to the cold, dark depths of Lake Erie. I've dived the Florida Springs, reefs in the Keys and off of the Caribbean islands of Bonaire and Jamaica. In 2010 I traveled to Puerto Rico to complete a student's open water training. Wrecks in the St Lawrence River, Florida Keys, and Lake Erie are recorded in my logbook. Cold water diving in Monterey Bay in California with its 54 degree water temps and the aforementioned Lake Erie and under the ice in Indiana and Ohio with temps as low as 36 degrees are dives I have done. Many training and just plain fun dives have been conducted in lakes and quarries in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well as night and low visibility diving.  I have certified or assisted in the certification of over 125 students from Jr Open Water to Divemaster.

 

I have also authored a new course in Underwater Navigation for SEI Diving and developed a new Advanced Open Water course that contains skills and knowledge previously found only in some Technical Diving courses. In 2011 I was asked by SEI to contribute to the development of a new Search and Recovery course. Scuba is a dynamic activity; with new knowledge comes new opportunities to create new courses or update and revise current ones. Course development is a large part of UDM Aquatic Services and tailoring a course to the individual diver is always an option with me as your instructor. 

 

In 2010 I began work on a new book to address what I saw as deficiencies in Scuba training today and a lack of fundamental information being posessed by new Open Water divers.  SCUBA: A Practical Guide for the New Diver  is now available in three formats; Print, CD, and Pdf. Well reviewed by many dive industry leaders, it can be purchased by contacting me through this site.  More of my essays and reviews on equipment may be found at  www.dailyscubadiving.com .Feel free to visit and browse the excellent articles there by all the writers.

 

I specialize in working with younger people and those needing extra attention due to various conditions. I look forward to additional training that will allow me to teach individuals with disabilities such as amputees, paraplegics, the blind, and those with neuromuscular diseases.

 

As a Scuba Educators International and CMAS Instructor I'm required to continually increase my skills and knowledge through additional training and study of issues related to diving. I'm a factory authorized technician for HOG and Edge Gear as well as Oceanic and have serviced Sherwood, ScubaPro, MARES, and Aqualung.  I hold certifications in CPR/AED, First Aid, and Oxygen Provider for the Professional Rescuer.  My diverse experience and extensive training allow me to guarantee you a comprehensive education as a SCUBA diver.  I have recently completed a crossover to SDI/TDI/ERDI to offer my students courses that SEI and CMAS do not yet have in their catalog. These include but are not limited to SDI Deep, Computer Nitrox Diver, and Wreck Diver.  The TDI courses I am now authorized to teach are Edge/HOG Equipment Service Clinic, TDI Nitrox, and TDI Intro to Tech for those who are considering a technical diving path. Keep watching my course list as I update it to reflect these new offerings.

 

As an added service to my students and divers worldwide, I now also offer the full line of Edge Gear for recreational divers and HOG Equipment for the technical diver. These items are available through this site. Simply click on the "Shop" heading.

 

Finally as a service to the dive community, I have developed a number of presentations on Underwater Navigation, Buddy Skills, Diver Responsibility, and other topics that I would love to present to your group or club. Feel free to contact me to arrange a presentation. Normally all I ask in return are my actual travel expenses. 

615 McNary Ave. # 2 Canonsburg, PA  15317

Phone: 724-255-3765