Spencer Slate

Born 29 Dec 47 and grew up in Winston-Salem, N.C. Learned to dive on his own without certification, inspired by watching Mike Nelson (Lloyd Bridges) in Sea Hunt on TV. At that time there were no dive stores around so Spencer carried newspapers to earn money to pay for his scuba gear, and dove mostly in rock quarries and lakes.

Graduated from East Carolina University Greenville N.C. with a degree in business administration 1972, after graduation from college he moved to Jacksonville, Florida to teach high school. Finally earned his certification card in Jacksonville as no one would give him air without a c-card. After a couple of years working under William ‘Crawdaddy’ Crawford, became a YMCA Scuba instructor in 1977. Taught high school for 6 years in the business department at Paxon Sr. High School in Jacksonville, FLA - Was the Jacksonville YMCA SCUBA Training director for two years before moving to Key Largo - Started Capt. Slate’s Atlantis Dive Center Inc. in 1978, today the keys largest dive operator -Certified YMCA dive instructor since 1977 - Certified PADI instructor 1978 - NAUI Instructor since 1980 - Founding member in 1983 and President for 15 years of the Keys Association of Dive Operators - Co-founder 1985 and President of the Florida Assn. of Dive Operators - SSI Instructor since 1996 - IANTD Instructor since 1996 - Chairman of National Committee of the YMCA Scuba Program for 17 years - YMCA Instructor Trainer since 1982 - NAUI Course Director since 2000 -Over 10,000 logged dives -Over 1,000 logged night dives - Has taught most specialties offered for over 20 years - Authored many SCUBA diving training manuals -Was the project manager for 8 years securing the release of the Spiegel Grove LSD 32 from governmental agencies.

http://www.spencerslate.com