Tom Leaird – Legendary Underwater Educator
In this episode of The League of Extraordinary Divers I chat with legendary diving educator Tom Leaird.
Well, today’s guest has been in my professional and personal life for 25 years. And today I’m delighted to introduce him to you. Why do I say introduce him to you? Well, because he’s one of the most humble and unassuming dive professionals in our industry, one who has done amazing things, and I’m proud to call him a mentor of mine. Well, this is Tom Leaird.
Bio
Tom Leaird had an occupation in photography with Prestige Portraits and Lifetouch from 1957 to 1988, 31 years in professional photography. Then in the US Army 1961 through 1964, he was a photo lab specialist. And then came diving. He has been a certified diver with the YMCA Scuba program since 1961.
He also became a YMCA Scuba instructor in June of 1969. He is charter president of Delaware. Dive scuba club did that in 1968 and continues to sponsor it today. He is the owner of Leaird’s Underwater Service in Muncie, Indiana. And that has been around since 1971. He was also the YMCA Scuba regional commissioner, which is also known as field coordinator from 1974 to 1986. He was a member of the YMCA Scuba advisory committee from 1980. And he was chair of the advisory committee from 1999 to 2003. Tom is also director of education and standards for Scuba Educators International. That was started after the YMCA of the USA retired its program. Tom continued that through SEI, Tom is also the CEO of PDIC international, which was purchased in 2010. Tom is also on the board of directors of the WRSTC.
That’s the World Recreational Scuba Training Council from 1996 to present and he’s been president. And he’s also member of the board of directors of DEMA, the Diving Equipment Market Association. And that’s from 2011 to present, he’s a member of the board of directors of the Muncie family YMCA, treasurer of the Muncie family YMCA, and has served as interim president C E O of Muncie Family YMCA Associations – six branches with over 125 employees. Tom has authored several books and manuals, including many of them for the YMCA the YMCA slam manual that scuba life saving and management also Institute director, manual leadership, preparation, manual crossover preparation, manual standards and procedures manual the YMCA Scuba sport diving tables, search and recovery manual. Let’s go ice diving Divemaster assistant instructor, manual diving fundamentals for leadership, and this thing called scuba diving comfort, advanced diver instructor guide learn scuba diving and learn advanced scuba diving.
He has also won the Bernard E. Empleton award for service to the YMCA of the USA. Tom has held YMCA Scuba leadership institutes at Ball State University, Oregon, Hawaii, Texas, Florida, Connecticut, Missouri, Germany, and Greece. As of December, 2021, Tom has completed over 3,750 dives that include 2000 hours underwater. And as of 2016, Tom’s local instructor group is working on class 1100. This has included over 5,000 certified student divers at the basic and advanced levels. Tom is CEO and president of Phillips Outdoor Center purchased April 1st, 2010 as a nonprofit environmental education center. That includes scuba diving scouting, public safety, and other water training. His son, Dan Leaird is a PhD in research scientist at Eglan Air Force base, and also has four grandchildren. His daughter Tamara is the store manager at Underwater Service and his wife, Bobbi, he’s been married to since 1963.
Items In This Podcast
- Early YMCA – no swimsuits allowed!
- Inspired by Sea Hunt – Zale Parry
- First YMCA Scuba Instructor course
- Volunteering for YMCA Scuba Program
- Writing training and standards manuals
- YMCA Scuba becomes Scuba Educators International
- Acquiring PDIC
- Favorite diving destinations
- The dark side of public safety diving
- Diving a Mark V diving helmet
- Tips for divers
- Leaird’s Underwater Service
Sponsor
Special thanks to our episode sponsor Aggressor Adventures
Thanks For Listening!
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