Sea D Sea Dive Shop, a local icon of the diving community for the last 44 years will officially close today.

With an average of 85% of new students quitting diving within their first year, diving shops have never really been a great investment idea; and even with the enticement of reduced rent to keep it a dive shop, nobody bought it.

So today is the last day before it turns into some kind of a boutique or gift shop, as rumor has it.

Over the last 10 years, I’ve always gone in for a quick air fill or a deal on gear.

Crazy Ivan used to teach out of the shop, and had yours truly help with some of his classes.

I stopped in a couple of weeks ago, when I heard the news of Sea D Sea closing – there wasn’t much inventory left, but I did walk away with a $110 light for $60.

Barry and Sea D Sea will truly be missed.

Enjoy your retirement Barry, and thank you for the many great years of service!

There is a interesting article by the Daily Breeze on Barry and Sea D Sea: Sea change: Redondo Beach scuba shop to close after 44 years

This month’s issue of Adventure Diving Magazine features my Diving In Albania article – 12 full color pages, never before seen photographs and four videos of my trip to dive in the small, 70% Muslim country in Europe that does not legally recognized SCUBA diving as a recreational sport.

Now, in one sitting, you can relive what it took to dive, travel and survive in one of the poorest parts of the former Eastern bloc.

There’s some other cool stuff in there, too.

Available on:

– Android

– Any Device

– Apple ITunes

Buy now, while digital supplies last!