Nick FazahManaging Partner
Nick Fazah's Gallery:
Background:
Nick’s diving story isn’t just long—it’s deep. Starting at age 13, he’s spent more than two decades shaping New England’s dive community, blending grit, humor, and an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way. As Managing Partner at East Coast Divers and the Director of Freediving and Professional Training Programs, he’s helped build one of the most respected training teams in the region—and he’s just getting started.
Nick co-leads the Cape Ann Diver II charter operation, where you’ll find him behind the helm or under the surface, rain or shine, no excuses. He’s spent the last five years transforming a dive boat into a community platform—equal parts serious training ground, floating classroom, and salt-soaked gathering place for divers who want more than just a bubble tour.
With a freediving resume that spans international leadership, record-setting safety team management, and the kind of coaching that keeps people alive when the margins get tight, Nick brings intensity where it counts—and calm everywhere else. He’s worked alongside the best in the world, helped shape the future of freedive education across the Americas, and continues to mentor divers through some of the most complex and personal challenges they’ll ever face.
But beyond the credentials and deep experience, what really sets Nick apart is his perspective. He’s not in this for volume. He’s in it for impact—building divers, not just certifying them. Teaching people how to move in water like they belong there. Challenging the industry to stop selling and start listening. And making damn sure every diver that comes through ECD leaves better prepared for their own version of adventure.
He’s been called everything from “the reason I still dive” to “the guy who made me care about buoyancy” to “hey, are you the one from the podcast?” (He is.) Whether he’s running professional development, planning logistics for a record dive in Truk, or just talking someone through their first breath in a pool—Nick brings clarity, presence, and an unshakable belief that the ocean gives back what you put in.
And yes, he probably has a cup of coffee in hand while doing it.
Favorite Dive Site:
Ask Nick to name a favorite dive site and you’ll get a long pause, a deep breath, and then a list. Truk Lagoon, Bikini Atoll, Dean’s Blue Hole. The Galápagos. Socorro. Egypt. The cenotes of Mexico. Raja Ampat. It’s not just about the location—it’s the energy of the dive, the history in the wrecks, the silence of a deep sinkhole, the pulse of big animal water, and the quiet awe of untouched reefs.
They’re all different. He loves them all. And if you ask him again tomorrow, the list might grow.
Favorite Creature:
Nick’s favorite? The oceanic whitetip shark. Bold, curious, and constantly circling with purpose—they command respect without needing to show off. They’re not the flashiest sharks, but they’re one of the most iconic if you know what you’re looking at. And yeah, they’ve definitely given him a few moments he'll never forget.
Favorite Certification Course:
Nick’s favorite course? Depends on the day. Freediving Instructor training is up there—watching someone go from student to leader with nothing but breath and technique is always a win. Trimix diving on the CCR is another favorite, especially when the dive plan includes 300 feet and a ton of logistics. But honestly? It might just be teaching a Try Scuba. That moment when someone takes their first breath underwater and their eyes light up—that’s still the magic.
Goals In The Dive Industry:
Nick’s goal in the dive industry isn’t about filling quotas or chasing numbers—it’s about raising the standard. He’s here to build divers, not just certify them. To train instructors who care more about quality than convenience. To replace gear-pushing sales pitches with honest guidance. And to create a community where every diver—whether they’re just taking their first breath or planning a record-setting dive—feels seen, supported, and challenged.
He wants the next generation of divers to be better than the last. More self-aware. More competent. More connected to the water. And he wants the dive industry to stop settling—for mediocrity, for shortcuts, or for the outdated mindset that beginners don’t deserve excellent training from day one.
Nick dives because the ocean gave him purpose. He teaches because it lets him pass that on. And he leads because someone has to hold the line on what good diving actually looks like.