For anyone driving through Courtenay, a bright red and white awning is the latest attraction at 2440 Cliffe Ave.
That awning marks the new location for UB Diving, relocated recently from downtown to across from Tim Hortons.
Sean and Shellie Smyrichinsky, co-owners of the 12-year old business, are excited about the move.
“This move makes it easier for customers to park (instead of a downtown location), gives us a back alley for easy pickups and dropoffs of tanks and other equipment, and it’s just better visibility,” says Sean.
UB Diving is a full-service dive centre with a lot going on in their new 1,100 square feet. They offer charters, instruction, drysuit and regulator repairs, retail sales, air fills and tank inspections.
They stock and special-order an array of the latest dive equipment— from fins and masks to drysuits and underwater cameras for sale and for rent.
As the Comox Valley’s only PADI dive centre (internationally-recognized SCUBA certification organization), they offer a comprehensive training program in their new classroom. Their PADI affiliation also allows them to provide students with high school credit for scuba courses.
“Many high school students do not realize that they can earn up to 10 credits by taking PADI courses in SCUBA," Sean says. "But the ones who do often realize what a great career opportunity commercial diving can offer."
UB Diving also works with Valley youth through the Work Experience program and by speaking at career days.
Since opening UB Diving, Smyrichinsky has trained many individuals in the Comox Valley, as well as island visitors to dive. The PADI certification offered by UB Diving starts with “open water” (the beginner course). UB Diving also offers many specialty dive courses, such as underwater photography and rescue diver, as well as through dive master and dive instructor.
All UB Diving courses include rental gear and the use of drysuits at no extra charge, or students may provide their own.
The new store is open Mondays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. UB Diving also offers a customer loyalty program.
In addition to the store, UB Diving owns two aluminum boats that have been customized for diving charters.
— UB Diving