ANDY SILVERMAN
FOUNDER & OWNER
Andy started Columbus Scuba in 1999 as a small business that he ran out of his garage. Through hard work, and a passion for Scuba diving, he and the team have grown Columbus Scuba into the extensive dive family that it is today. Andy is an extremely accomplished diver, instructor, PADI Course Director, and sits on the board of directors for IANTD. He has has certified thousands of divers and scuba instructors in all levels of training and personally has around 10,000 dives in his log book. What really sets Andy apart though, is his generosity and willingness to help other people. Through Columbus Scuba, Andy has created a community where people from all different backgrounds can come together and enjoy the underwater world that Andy loves so much, and that is something really special.
Dear Visitor,
It’s been said, “Scuba Divers are the only true explorers left on earth”. While the vast majority of earth is covered with water, we have only tapped into a small percentage of all available to be explored. The ocean has a very similar mineral composition to that of man, yet we know so little about what really lies beneath the surface. The fact is, that just about every living land organism has originated over time from the ocean. The ocean is constantly moving and changing both over long and short periods of time. There are depths that have not yet been reached and there may be life that has not yet been found and identified. There are shipwrecks, rich in history that have disappeared and are waiting to be uncovered and caves riddle many of the land masses we walk on and some appear to never end.
Underwater exploration dates back thousands of years and has evolved into a giant industry. Many men and woman have devoted their lives to the exploration of the sea and some of their lives have even been lost as a result of their perseverance.
What we do know is this…. The ocean is beautiful, the ocean is magical, and the ocean is spectacular. Diving can be the catalyst to exploring the variety of aquatic environments that are right at our finger tips and Columbus Scuba welcomes you to continue your journey visiting the mysterious underwater world.
Columbus Scuba’s diving programs will assist you in making your goals a reality by training you through the worlds largest SCUBA training organization, PADI (Professional Association of Diving Intsructors). Our network of dive centers, quarries, and resorts worldwide will make it possible for you to become fully prepared to enter the professional diving arena. I wish you the best in all your endeavors and welcome you to Columbus Scuba.
Best regards and Safe Diving!
Andy Silverman
Andrew G. Silverman
27-Year Diving Educator
Past and Present Instructor, Instructor Trainer and ITT ratings:
International Association of Nitrox and Technical Diving – Instructor Trainer-Trainer (2004-Present)
Technical Diving International – Instructor (2011-Present)
Scuba Educators International – Instructor Trainer (2008-Present)
Professional Association of Diving Instructors – Master Instructor / Course Director (2001-Present)
YMCA SCUBA Program – Instructor Trainer-Trainer (1999-2008)
Scuba Schools International – Instructor (1996-2000)
Public Safety Diving Association – Instructor (2001-Present)
International Diving Educators Association – Instructor Trainer (2001-2007)
Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques – 3 Star Instructor Trainer (1999-Present)
Divers Alert Network- Instructor (1999-Present)
National Underwater Rescue and Recovery Institute – Instructor (2001-Present)
Ancillary
American Heart Association CPR/First Aid Instructor
PADI Emergency First Response Instructor
IANTD First Aid and Oxygen Instructor Trainer
DAN Basic Life Support and Oxygen First Aid Instructor
American Red Cross Lifeguard/CPR/First Aid Instructor
American Health and Safety Institute Instructor
Awards
SSI Platinum Pro 5000 Award 2012
PADI Elite 300 Award 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Related Positions Held
Columbus Scuba Inc. – Founder, Owner and Operator
IANTD – Open Water Instructor Trainer Trainer (ITT)
IANTD – Board of Advisors
PADI – Instructor Development Staff
YMCA Scuba- Open Water Development Team
YMCA Scuba- Staff Faculty/Instructor Trainer
YMCA Scuba- East Region Technical Advisor
YMCA Scuba- International Advisory Committee
Mid Ohio Divers – Founder and Past President
Ohio State University – Lead SCUBA Instructor Recreational Sports Division
University of Findlay – Lead Scuba Instructor
International Field Studies, Andros, Bahamas – Technical Advisor
International Field Studies – Board of Advisors, Board President (2012)
International Association of Nitrox and Technical Diving – Midwest Training Director (2010-Present)
Contributions
Technical Editor and Contributions, Open Water Manual, IANTD
Technical Editor and Contributions, Nitrox Program, IANTD
Technical Editor, YMCA Rescue manual
Contributions, YMCA Open Water Design
Founder – Mid Ohio Divers, Adaptive Diver Program and Fundraising Benefit
Course Director – Professional Association of Diving Instructors
Equipment Maintenance Certifications
Professional Cylinder Inspector – PSI (2003, 2006, 2009, 2012)
CTS Cylinder Inspection Instructor
CTS Oxygen Service Instructor
Scubapro Equipment Service and Repair Technician
Dive Rite Service and Repair Technician
Zeagle Equipment Service and Repair Technician
Cressi-Sub Equipment Service and Repair Technician
Oxycheq Equipment Service and Repair Technician
Oceanic/Hollis Equipment Service and Technician
Aqualung Equipment Service and Repair Technician
Apeks Equipment Service and Repair Technician
Seaquest Equipment Service and Repair Technician
Oxygen Cleaning Service Certified – PSI
Ocean Reef Service and Repair Technician
Specialty Instructor Trainer Certifications
TDI G.E.M. Rebreather Instructor
TDI Sidekick Rebreather Instructor
Night Diver Instructor Trainer
Drift Diver Instructor Trainer
Boat Diver Instructor Trainer
EANx Instructor Trainer
IANTD Trimix Instructor Trainer
Advanced Rec Trimix Instructor Trainer
Advanced EANx Instructor Trainer
Computer Assisted Diver Instructor Trainer
Cavern Diver Instructor Trainer
Altitude Diver Instructor Trainer
Oxygen First Aid Instructor Trainer
Technical Wreck Diving Instructor Trainer
Reef Ecology Instructor Trainer
Peak Performance Buoyancy Instructor Trainer
Ice Diver Instructor Trainer
Deep Diver Instructor Trainer
Technical Side Mount Instructor Trainer
Limited Mine Diver Instructor Trainer
Self-sufficient Diver Instructor Trainer
Dry Suit Diver Instructor Trainer
Equipment Service Instructor Trainer
Search and Recovery Instructor Trainer
Public Safety Diver Instructor Trainer
Navigation Diver Instructor Trainer
Underwater Photography Instructor Trainer
Rescue Diver Instructor Trainer
Full Face Mask Instructor Trainer
Decompression Procedures Instructor Trainer
Dive Medic Instructor I&II
Hazardous Marine Life First Aid Instructor
AED Instructor Trainer
DAN R.E.M.O. Instructor
Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer
NSS-CDS and IANTD Full Cave Diver
THE TEAM
Store staff
GABE WALSH
"Assistant to the Regional Manager"
PADI Master Instructor
PADI EFR Instructor Trainer
PADI Advanced Public Safety Diving Instructor
SDI & TDI Instructor
gabe@columbusscuba.com
RICHARD JOHNSON
IDC Staff Instructor
richard@columbusscuba.com
HERMAN SCURLOCK
Divemaster
herman@columbusscuba.com
BRAD CROUSE
Open Water Scuba Instructor
brad@columbusscuba.com
Teaching Staff
BOB BOLDS
BARRY BOWEN
JODY BROOKS
Emergency First Response Instructor
TIM BROWN
IDC Staff Instructor
AARON BURKETT
JAROD CALLANDER
NICK CARROLL
ALLISON DAWSON
MARK FILIPPI
MIKE FLOWERS
JON HEIDENREICH
SCOTT HEIDRICH
MIKE HICKS
CHAD HILL
MATT HOLBROOK
RICK KRUZEL
RICH LAUER
JOE MAZIK
DOUG MULLET
CHARLES NUTT
SCOTT PANSING
LYNDSEY PARANZINO
PAUL SHERRY
MIKE STAHLMAN
MARISSA STOPSKI
SCOTT THOMAS
GARY WILGUS
Technical Diving Instructor
Public Safety Diving Instructor