Who Teaches You Matters.
Every diver and swimmer at Tom’s learns from a real person with real experience, not a rotating roster of strangers. Here is a sample of the instructors who teach here.
Learn to DiveTom’s has 30 or more active SSI-certified dive instructors on staff, plus a dedicated SSI Swim instruction team that has been teaching swim lessons since 1998. Each instructor brings their own specialties, teaching style, and reasons for being here. Below are some of our most active instructors, including our instructor trainers, Education Director, and swim team, so you can get a feel for who you might learn from.
Leadership & Senior Instructors
Carlos Garcia
“I teach at Tom’s because I am proud to be a member of such an exceptional group of instructors for a long established local business with a focus on serving its customers.”
Dives for fun: Carlos enjoys many kinds of diving but favors travel to remote locations and wrecks of historical significance.
Brian Barton
“The instructors I have had the privilege to learn from, teach with, and mentor are more than just dive buddies. They are my diverse and extended family sharing our passion for diving.”
Dives for fun: Brian and his wife are global travel divers, logging dives in over 20 countries, from Iceland to Australia to the Red Sea to Fiji. They consider the Caribbean their own personal swimming pool.
Jim Denton
“I teach with Tom’s because I wanted to work with a strong SSI shop that desires to do things the right way, so students develop as strong divers as safely as possible while having a lot of fun.”
Dives for fun: Jim loves traveling to blue water locations to observe corals, critters, fish, and sponges. Cozumel is a particular favorite.
Instructors You Might Learn From
Gary Leach
“The people, the interactions, the mindset, the support of customers and professionals, the positive attitudes. It felt like home when I walked through the front door for the first time, so many years ago.”
Dives for fun: Gary is a travel diver who especially loves the Caribbean, and he shoots and edits his own underwater videography for his YouTube scuba channel.
Curtis Giese
“I have the honor of teaching great students with the amazing staff at Tom’s.”
Dives for fun: Curtis especially enjoys viewing sea turtles.
Sylvester “Sly” Ruffin
“I enjoy the environment at Tom’s Dive & Swim, particularly the camaraderie, friendliness, and professionalism.”
Dives for fun: Sly is a travel diver, always looking for the next destination to explore.
Matt Mangum
“Tom’s Dive & Swim really does epitomize the friendly, welcoming dive culture Central Texas is known for, and that’s the main reason I love teaching here.”
Dives for fun: Matt loves exploring new dive sites in Texas and beyond.
Meet Our Swim Leadership
Marcus Litz
A born-and-raised Austinite, Marcus joins the Tom’s Dive & Swim family after building an incredible Swim & Lifeguarding program at Shalom Austin.
Outside the pool: When he is not helping swimmers build confidence in the water, you will probably find Marcus enjoying a sunny day at Deep Eddy Pool or spending time at Pease Park, two of his favorite Austin spots.
Ready to Learn From One of Them?
Every course and every swim lesson at Tom’s is taught by someone on this team. Find the class that fits where you are.
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