Tom began diving at age 8 when he unwisely connected a garden hose to his hobby air brush compressor so he could lay on the bottom of his family pool and sleep. Surviving that dangerous little bit of stupidity, he received his official open water diver certification in 1985 and became an Instructor for ECD in 1989. Today, along with teaching, one of Tom’s great passions is photography. He is an incredibly talented photographer both above and below the water. You can see more of his photography at thomasgaitley.com
Tom grew up in Michigan where he took advantage of the 6000 Great Lakes shipwrecks and became an avid wreck diver. He loves cold water diving and you’ll often see him crossing snow to get into the water or doing whatever it takes to get to the dive site (including biking to it in full gear). He has been a teacher/trainer for most of his professional life and loves working with people – sharing his joy of scuba diving with others. He has never been accused of being reticent or shy – so be prepared for a boisterous, fun, safe diving experience with him.