Diving Discovery -- in Colonie?
For your inner Cousteau
For years I've been driving past something called Diving Discovery Scuba Center on Central Avenue, but I've never really given it more than a passing glance. Sure I've wondered, "Scuba gear? In Colonie?" But that was about as far as it went.
But you never know when you'll want to go diving for sunken shipwrecks and stuff -- so the other day I decided to venture in and check it out.
It turns out this place is for divers and wannabees.
If you're in the market for say, a wet suit, this is where you'll find it -- but if you don't know how to use said wet suit and the gear that goes with it, they can help you with that, too. Since 1983 this place has been a retail shop/scuba training/certification center.
Granted, I'm not expert in what makes for good Scuba supplies, but it seemed impressive. The shop isn't huge but it has a decent-looking selection of suits, flippers, snorkel gear, diving magazines and more. They also do equipment rentals and repairs.
But the emphasis here is really on the training and certification. They offer a variety of courses, including a four-week certification program. And they've got an affiliate location in Marathon, Florida where they help arrange diving trips for New York clients.
The certification program includes academic training, confined water training and of course, open water dive training. And at the end of it, you wind up with what's called a PADI certification. They provide the wet suit and breathing equipment for the course, but you'll have to buy or rent the flippers, mask and fins.
If you're interested, there's a course starting September 16 that will be taught at the Ravena High School pool. The final part of the class meets at a real body of water. The whole thing will run you about $399 plus fees.
If you catch the scuba bug, you can sign up for some of their advanced training courses.
Discovery Diving also organizes diving and snorkeling trips around the area -- including Lake George wreck dives. They'll also arrange trips on the Atlantic Ocean, the Florida Keys, the Great Lakes and a variety of other spots.
Find It
Discovery Diving
1629 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12205
(518) 456-8146
Hours: Mon,Wed-Fri 11 a.m-7p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
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Comments
I got curious reading this ... did the writer go inside and tell them she was a reporter? Or did she just go inside, make a bunch of observations and then cobble together an article? I just wonder because I thought this was going to be a real story, but there were no quotes or anything. Thanks.
... said Copperpot on Sep 8, 2009 at 3:13 PM | link
So, your definition of a "real story" is something that has "quotes or anything?"
What would you have wanted to learn about Diving Discovery, Copperpot? If you did get that information, then the article succeeded, whether there were "quotes or anything." If you didn't, then make a judgment on that basis, not by some standard that's becoming less and less relevant these days.
... said Mark on Sep 8, 2009 at 10:57 PM | link
Here's a quote for you:
"Get me a small mans wet suit, please"
-Bret (Flight of the Conchords)
(I bet you could find a small size at Diving Discovery)
... said Bret on Sep 9, 2009 at 12:03 AM | link
There's no need to be snarky, Mark. I was seriously curious about this entry and whether the people at the dive store knew someone was "reporting" on them or if she just went in like a casual observer and turned it into a "story." I've seen this place myself and have been wondering about it, and this told me little I couldn't have figured out for myself: they sell dive gear, and they do training and stuff. I'd love to know who owns it, why he/she decided this was a good place for a dive shop, what kind of clients they get (young, old?), that sort of thing.
... said Copperpot on Sep 9, 2009 at 10:30 AM | link
I found this story to be very useful for two reasons:
A: I didn't know this place existed.
B: Now I do.
@Copperpot, you're going to get 'snarky' responses to your first comment because it was unnecessarily nasty. Your follow up comment was a bit more kind. If you had initially taken the constructive route instead of being combative, perhaps you would have better made your point.
... said Summer on Sep 9, 2009 at 2:45 PM | link
I certainly was not trying to be combative or nasty -- I had a sincere question (and still do) about how the story was approached and put together.
... said Copperpot on Sep 9, 2009 at 6:55 PM | link
This place has a new owner. It got a new face lift inside and out. the inventory is better and the owner is holding more classes than ever. Stop by and take a look.
... said steve on Dec 2, 2010 at 3:36 PM | link