El Mar Diving Centers History

We are proud of our accomplishments, here are just a few

• 1963 ... Started El Mar Diving Center on Country Cub in Mesa
• 1967 ... Gene Foster becomes a PADI Instructor #406, Founding member
• 1970 ... 1st Phoenix U/W Film Festival at ASU Gammage Auditorium Co-produced with Al Giddings.
• 1970 ... El Mar became a PADI Training Facility #S802.
• 1972 ... Tempe store opens. 1974 ... Moved to our present location.
• 1981 ... Launched the "Piesquita" boat
• 1982 ... Russ Dick joins the staff
• 1985 ... Started Tierra Mar Travel.
• 1986 ... Tonia Foster joins the staff.
• 1988 ... Opened El Mar Diving center in San Carlos, Mexico.
• 1988 ... Jim Williams joins Staff/PADI 5 Star Facility.
• 1992 ... Started International Instructor Academy (IIA).
• 1992 ... David Hayes joins the staff.
• 1993 ... Celebrated our 30th Year in business.
• 1994 ... Expansion! We doubled our floor space.
• 1994 ... Started Kayak Business.
• 1995 ... Computerized our business.
• 1995 ... Anthony Hayes joins the staff
• 1996 ... Became a PADI CDC (Career Development Center)
• 1996 ... Finished remodeling the store.
• 1997 ... Started our Nitrox and Rebreather programs.
• 1999 ... Started Pacifico Buceo E-commerce Divers Supply.
• 2000 ... Launched our Panga Fleet of Dive Boats in Mexico.
• 2003 ... Celebrated our 40th Year in business.
• 2004 ... Mike Fjell joins the staff
• 2007 ... Certified as a DOT Retest Facility (H120), cylinder hydrostatic tests done on-site
• 2008 ... Launched the NEW "Piesquita" Boat

El Mar Diving Center
2245 West Broadway
Mesa, Arizona 85202
Phone (480) 833-2971
Fax (480) 898-0194
elmar@elmar.com

Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Saturdays 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Closed Sundays

For questions regarding scuba instruction, diving activities,
scuba diving equipment, equipment repair, gear rental, etc.
E-mail to: elmar@elmar.com
For Travel related questions E-mail: tierramar@elmar.com