Burlington Scuba Offers Ticket to Underwater Adventure

Burlington Scuba is the place to learn a fun and interesting activity that can be done in places around the globe and allows one to see a whole new world.

The three owners of , located at 189 Cambridge St., are “Butch, Buck and Don.” Donald “Don” Tucci was a science teacher for 31 years and taught at Burlington High School. He is retired from teaching but is still active as part owner of Burlington Scuba.

Burlington Scuba offers training in Scuba diving as well as selling all the necessary gear. The classes are small, with a maximum of six students, so trainers can provide individual attention. A two-week basic course is given at the Cambridge Street location and classes run from 6 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Along with the classroom training, four open water dives are required for certification. The pool at Shawsheen Tech or The Boys and Girls Club of Woburn is used for the dive training. The scuba season starts in late April with two classes a month being offered and one a month offered in the winter months

The beginner classes are a specialty at Burlington Scuba but other classes are also available. They offer night diving, stress rescue, navigation, multi level diver, basic open water and advanced open water.  “No one goes in the water who is not comfortable,” Tucci said. “It’s all in the training and making sure a diver has the right gear that he or she is comfortable with.”

A combination of specialized instruction and the right scuba equipment equal success for a new diver. Anything that you could possibly need for scuba diving is available at Burlington Scuba. They sell and service all scuba equipment. It's not a purchase you need to make often because the gear lasts at least ten years.

Once a student has the basic skills and is certified, a new world of opportunity opens up. While water is, of course, a requisite for a successful dive, there are many places around the globe where one can find a place to go under. Tucci said people dive in many places, including spots that many people would consider, such as outside of Las Vegas, meaning Lake Mead.

Diving can also get you a free meal, especially in the waters of New England.

“You can get lunch here,” said Don. A lobster permit allows a diver to catch up to fifteen lobsters a day. A favorite spot for divers is Rockport, a spot that is very diver friendly.

While equipment can be pricey, Tucci said that once it is purchased the sport is less expensive than other activities, such as skiing. It can also be done year-round depending on where one dives or how willing they are to submerge into cold water.

Even through these lean economic times people are still drawn to this fascinating sport. What's not to love, Tucci asked, being in the water, observing interesting sea life, getting some exercise and having fun.  Tucci said that February vacation week will be a busy time for them at the Burlington Scuba.

There is also a dive club at Burlington Scuba. This is a club for the certified divers who gets together with other divers for weekly trips, including the New Years dive and other social events. Special discounts on equipment are offered to club members.

Every January first an annual New Year’s Day dive is organized. This year 25 people took part in it; 15 diving and 5 in dry suits, 10 in wet suits. It was was 51 degrees this past New Years day. When they dive in the winter months a heated truck is available for the divers to change and warm up in.

How did Tucci get started in scuba diving?  A friend got him to join a swim club when he was 16 years old and his love for the water got him involved with diving.  After high school he joined the military and was in the Navy Seals. His military experience combined with his teaching career makes Tucci a highly qualified person to be teaching scuba diving and selling scuba equipment. Tucci continues to live out his passion for scuba diving and the water by sharing his knowledge at Burlington Scuba, Inc.

For more information visit their Web site at www.burlingtonscuba.com