Editor’s Note: The following post is part of our ongoing #facesofdive series celebrating the international dive community, from Michigan to Maldives. Wanna get involved and have a shot at getting your own #facesofdive profile? Post your diving adventures to Instagram tagged #facesofdive. We look forward to hearing from you and sharing your story with divers and water-lovers everywhere!
Diving in warm conditions is relatively easy, but it takes a lot more gumption to dive cold, time after time. The truth is, we can’t all live in the tropics, but that doesn’t stop much of the international dive community from suiting up and getting after it, regardless of conditions.
That’s certainly the case for Dave Davison, owner and general manager of Barrie Scuba House, in Barrie, Canada, just outside of Toronto. Far up in the northern climes of North America, the fully accredited dive shop is a local epicenter for training, gear servicing, adventure and community.
Davison started his diving career 35 years ago as an assistant instructor in the Dominican Republic. Family eventually brought him back to Canada, where, at the time, the diving industry was relatively small. Over the ensuing three decades, Davison carried on his love affair with scuba, albeit at a distance.
From Passion to Business
A few years ago that, despite never having visited, he approached the then-owner of Barrie Scuba House seeking a job.
“I asked him if I could be an instructor for him,” he remembers. “I told him it wasn’t about the money, but just the pleasure of teaching people and getting out and having fun.”
The owner upped the ante and challenged Davison to buy the business outright. He was taken off guard, but it wasn’t long before he warmed to the idea, simultaneously jumping into an instructor training course to build up his credentials for running the dive center.
“I was looking for something fun to do in life because I had a serious construction business that demanded a ton of work,” he says. “So, when I bought it, I thought I was buying a fun, little recreational business for my retirement.”
Despite his modest aims for a relaxing work schedule, Davison’s deep-seeded love for diving inevitably led him on a different course. “The passion was too much for me. I was in here daily and found myself not wanting to go to my other business and only wanting to spend time on this one.”
Fast forward to the present day and Davison has largely stepped away from his construction business and has grown Barrie Scuba House by a factor of three.
Equipped with state of the art gear and a large heated saltwater pool, the once-humble shop is rapidly growing into the diving epicenter in the region. Amongst its services, it offers training, gear servicing and guided dives in the nearby lakes and waterways.
Speaking to the quality of the dive center’s educational opportunities, the shop facilitates all of the dive/rescue training for the local fire department, which keeps them very busy during the long winter months.
A Community-first Dive Center
At a core level, Davison views Barrie Scuba House as a means to support his community. No matter who walks through the door, Davison seeks to help them, not just as customers, but as people.
“When someone wants to become a better diver, I offer my services—and not just for selling dive courses,” he explains of his empathetic business approach. “You want to go for a dive? I’ll go diving with you. You want me to help you with your buoyancy? That’s what I’m here for. It’s my job.”
And Davison presses that the compassionate, community-first approach to running his business has paid big dividends over the past few years. “The return on our investment into people has been phenomenal! I’m not like an exclusive fee-based dive club. I tell people to come and be with us and I’ll earn your loyalty through being your friend and taking care of you.”
“If you love diving—and we dive together as a big family—that’s what it’s all about.”
Gearing Up For the Cold
As Barrie Scuba House is based near Toronto amongst the huge freshwater bodies of the Great Lakes, Davison and his students are no strangers to frigid temps and suiting up for the conditions.
What’s his favorite gear for tackling cold water? “I love the X-Mission Drysuit! For diving, I use my PRISM 2 or my Hollis wing, and 99% of the time I’ve got a Hollis M1 on.”
“But, the winters are brutal,” he confirms.
As for what connects divers around the world, Davison says that, while there are many factors, he believes it’s the community aspect that keeps people hungry for the sport and the bonds that it creates.
“You’re all trying to achieve the same goal. We’re there as a community, as friends, to help and protect each other.”
