Finger Lakes Scuba
Phone: (315) 252-8683
Fax: (315) 252-2454
11 Dill Street
Auburn NY 13021
Hours of Operation: Hours: Tues. 12-8 Wed. & Thurs. 12-6
Fri. 12-8 Sat. 10-2 Sun. & Mon. Closed
also... Open by Appointment, and on Saturdays 8-2 between Memorial Day & Labor Day
Finger Lakes Scuba is a Scuba Schools International Platinum Training Facility offering all levels of scuba certification and specialties. Additionally, training certifications can be issued through the YMCA Scuba program or Technical Diving certifications through TDI/SDI. Programs range from Scuba Ranger to entry level Open Water Diver, Technical (Deep Extended Range or Mixed Gas) Diver, and Re-breather Diver to Instructor. Instruction is available at several locations throughout Central New York including YMCA's in Auburn, Geneva, Cortland and the YWCA of Cortland as well as the Cato Recreation Center, W. Genesee High School in Camillus and the Skaneateles Community Recreation Center. Private classes and special time classes are offered as needed.
The dive facility is a full service snorkeling and dive equipment retail store, which offers several lines by various manufacture's. One of the oldest and most well known worldwide is US Divers-Aqualung made famous by Diving pioneer Jacques Cousteau who helped to develop the Aqua-Lung, Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. The store is open Tuesday noon to 8pm, Wednesday and Thursday Noon to 6pm, Friday from noon to 8pm and Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Summer hours change Saturday to 8am-5pm. Other times are available by appointment.
In addition to providing local diving opportunities on the Dive~Deck, a 24 ft. Pontoon boat retrofitted for diving on Finger Lakes, the Dive~Deck II, a 26’ Penn Yan 269 Legacy Fly Bridge is available for Charters on the St. Lawrence River. Coral Reef Dive Adventures (the travel piece of the business), schedules and leads international dive trips to such places as the Florida Keys, the Caribbean, the Galapagos Islands, Australia and the Red Sea.
Two local couples began the Dive operation. Warren Miller and Karla Lauenstein of Lafayette along with Henry and Joan MacDonald of Union Springs. Henry and Warren run the daily operations of the facility full time. To bring their dream to life, Warren left his job with Kemper Insurance after 21 years as a Risk Management Training Specialist. While Henry left the world of human services by retiring from the Auburn YMCA where he was the Outreach Director for over 16 years providing programs for "at risk" youth and families.
The scuba store has been located on Dill St. in Auburn since opening in January of 1998. Some of the exciting things, which have occurred over the past four years, include the sponsorship of a Scuba Venture Crew. A youth development program for youth ages 14-21. The introduction of the "Scuba Ranger" kids club for youth 8-12 years old and the age change for Junior Open Water Diver certification to 10 years old. Another pleasant surprise has been the number of families who have discovered diving as a fun activity, which has incredible bonding opportunities.
Since opening, Finger Lakes Scuba has fostered a policy of being Customer Driven and community oriented. Providing free presentations to schools, including scuba experiences, and offering free lessons as prizes for fund raising efforts by local groups as well as sponsoring a water hole at the Auburn Holiday Inn pool for the United Way Annual Indoor Golf Tournament.