About Columbus Scuba
 What started in a residential garage in 1999 has grown into one of the most active and respected dive centers in the country.
Our Story
A Community of Passionate Divers
Andy first donned a tank and reg in 1987, but it was during a post-college adventure to Australia that diving truly took hold. Working aboard the Trinity, a liveaboard dive boat out of the Whitsunday Islands, Andy earned his Divemaster rating and discovered something that would shape the rest of his life.
Returning to Ohio, Andy channeled that passion into a career. He joined the YMCA of Central Ohio as an Executive Director and became an Instructor Trainer with the YMCA Scuba program—the first recreational diving training agency in the world, founded in 1959. His expertise and passion led to an invitation to join the YMCA Scuba Advisory Committee in Chicago. Here he would spend years training instructors from across the country and would play an instrumental role in developing the YMCA Open Water training curriculum.
But diving was never just a recreational sport for Andy; it was an avenue to support community. During this same period he served as a commissioned sheriff in Highland County and was an active member of the Pickaway Water Rescue team, dedicating more than a decade serving on public safety diving teams…
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In 1999, operating out of his garage, Andy founded Decostop Inc. Utilizing the YMCA pools across central Ohio, a residential garage filled with 40 scuba cylinders, and a 4 horsepower compressor, Andy launched what would eventually become Columbus Scuba. Before long, the cul-de-sac of his neighborhood was packed every Friday with students and divers picking up rental equipment for the dive weekend ahead. Word continued to spread. Students kept coming back. In 2008, what started in a garage in Upper Arlington found its first storefront in Columbus.
What followed was nothing short of remarkable. Columbus Scuba grew from a one-person operation into a team of more than 70 passionate dive professionals. Divemasters and Instructors from every background joined the team. The mission Andy carried from the beginning—to make diving accessible, safe, and life-changing—was now shared by a growing team and reaching more people than ever before.
Today Columbus Scuba is one of the most active and respected dive centers in the country. We have trained more than 60 public safety diving teams and counting, operate one of the most robust dive travel programs in the nation, and certify approximately 1,500 divers every year. From Open Water certifications to technical diving, public safety diving to instructor training at every level, if it happens underwater, it happens at Columbus Scuba.
What started as one man’s passion has become a community. And that community continues to grow, one dive at a time.
Meet Our Team
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 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.
Instructor Certifications
PADI – Master Instructor / Course Director (2001-Present)
IANTD – Instructor Trainer-Trainer (2004-Present)
TDI– Instructor (2011-Present)
SEI – Instructor Trainer (2008-Present)
YMCA SCUBA Program – Instructor Trainer-Trainer (1999-2008)
Scuba Schools International – Instructor (1996-2000)
Public Safety Diving Association – Instructor (2001-Present)
IDEA – Instructor Trainer (2001-2007)
CMAS – 3 Star Instructor Trainer (1999-Present)
DAN – Instructor  (1999-Present)
National Underwater Rescue and Recovery Institute – Instructor (2001-Present)
Ancillary Certifications
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
Related Positions
Columbus Scuba Inc. – Founder, Owner and Operator
Cylindex –Â Owner, Chief Visionary Officer
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 Certifications
Cylindex ITT
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
Awards
SSI Platinum Pro 5000 Award 2012
PADI Elite 300 Award 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Specialty Instructor Trainer Certifications
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
Navigation Diver Instructor Trainer
Underwater Photography Instructor Trainer
Full Face Mask Instructor Trainer
Decompression Procedures Instructor Trainer
Hazardous Marine Life First Aid Instructor
AED Instructor Trainer
Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer
Shop Staff
Richard Johnson
Assisstant Manager & Training Coordinator
IDC Staff Instructor, Tech Diver
Herman Scurlock
Lead Service Technician
Divemaster, Tech Diver
Valerie Marburger
Travel Coordinator
Divemaster
Jammer Hiltner
Creative & Marketing Director
Divemaster, Freediver, Underwater Photographer
Our Instructors
Columbus Scuba’s instructor team brings decades of combined dive experience and a passion for teaching. Our instructors hold certifications ranging from Open Water Scuba Instructor to IDC Staff Instructor, Master Scuba Diver Trainer, and technical diving specialties.
Rich Lauer
Master Instructor
Carlton Allen
IDC Staff Instructor
Jon Heidenreich
IDC Staff Instructor
Tom Woodruff
IDC Staff Instructor
Gary Wilgus
PSD Instructor, MSDT
Bob Bolds
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Aaron Burkett
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Jarod Callander
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Mark Filippi
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Bryan Griffith
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Mike Hicks
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Charles Nutt
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Ari Rabkin
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Abra Williams-Witzky
Master Scuba Diver Trainer
Nick Carroll
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Bethany Gibson
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Rockendra Gupta
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Chad Hill
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Matt Holbrook
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Justin Kraus
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Mitch Mazaher
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Joe Mazik
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Doug Mullet
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Fred Nicklaus
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Linda Pansing
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Scott Pansing
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Charles "Skid" Rhoades
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Paul Sherry
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Marissa Stopski
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Lee Talley
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Scott Thomas
Open Water Scuba Instructor
Shane Taylor
Assistant Instructor
Our Divemasters
Mathew Austin
Divemaster
Bob Bence
Divemaster
Shawn Boyd
Divemaster
Linda Cooper
Divemaster
Brody Crain
Divemaster
Eric Cramer
Divemaster
Kevin Cuthbertson
Divemaster
Jim Davis
Divemaster
Corey Davoll
Divemaster
Mike Fenster
Divemaster
John Frazier
Divemaster
Dan Hingston
Divemaster
Tyler Holbrook
Divemaster
Chad Holcomb
Divemaster
Devin Howard
Divemaster
Elizabeth Ingraham
Divemaster
Todd Kelleher
Divemaster
Kurt Lehmkuhl
Divemaster
Mike Lewellen
Divemaster
Chris Lexow
Divemaster
Chris Medved
Divemaster
Robin Murray
Divemaster
Jen Pietrykowski
Divemaster
Joe Pietrykowski
Divemaster
Kaitlyn Smith
Divemaster
Luke Streng
Divemaster
Tyler Stutes
Divemaster
David Tangeman
Divemaster
Todd Toussant
Divemaster
Don White
Divemaster
Why Get Your Scuba Certification with Columbus Scuba
Columbus Scuba has been training divers in Ohio since 1999. We’re not just a dive shop, we’re a dive community built on safety, experience, and a genuine passion for the underwater world. Our PADI 5-Star IDC Center designation means we meet the highest standards for dive training, equipment, and customer service. With more than 70 dive professionals on our team, you’ll learn from instructors with thousands of dives, real-world experience, and a commitment to making you a confident, capable diver. Whether you’re taking your first breath underwater or pursuing technical certifications, you’re joining a team that’s been doing this for over two decades. Columbus Scuba isn’t just where you learn to dive, it’s where you become part of something bigger.