William SkellyDivemaster
William Skelly's Gallery:
Background:
William got certified at East Coast Divers in 2019 after trying scuba for the first time at a Boston Sea Rovers event—and he’s been hooked ever since. Not long after, he joined the MetroWest Dive Club, where weekly “Date@8” dives with experienced members helped kickstart his development as a diver. That routine built both his skills and his confidence, motivating him to pursue further training in drysuit diving, enriched air, advanced certifications, and beyond.
Today, William can often be found diving off the Gauntlet with North Atlantic Dive Expeditions, steadily making his way deeper into the world of technical diving. Whether he’s scanning for nudibranchs in icy winter water or hitting New England wrecks in the warmer months, he’s always diving with intention, curiosity, and respect for the community that helped shape his path.
Favorite Dive Site:
William’s favorite dive site is the Chester Poling—a legendary New England wreck with an incredible mix of history, structure, and mystery. The mostly intact hull still offers the chance to see massive steelwork up close, and for now, even discover a few artifacts tucked away beneath the silt.
He still remembers his first dive there vividly: swimming along the catwalk on the upper deck, shining his light into a hole in the structure—and getting nothing back. Not a single photon. Just perfect, all-consuming blackness. It was eerie, beautiful, and unforgettable. He’s already counting down the days until next season.
Favorite Creature:
To William, nothing says “New England diving” quite like Flabellina verrucosa—the alien-like Aeolus nudibranch. With their spiky cerata and glowing translucence, they look like something from deep space rather than just off the coast.
What really blows his mind, though, is their biology. These nudibranchs eat hydroids—essentially the larval stage of jellyfish—and somehow pass the hydroid’s nematocyst stinging cells through their own digestive systems without firing them. Those cells are then transported to the nudibranch’s cerata, where they become a defense mechanism. It’s like getting an organ transplant from your food. Totally bizarre, totally badass.
Favorite Certification Course:
William’s favorite course so far has been Intro to Technical Diving. It pushed him harder than any other class—not just physically, but mentally. The course placed a strong emphasis on personal responsibility, problem-solving, and self-directed learning, which he found both humbling and incredibly motivating.
It wasn’t a quick win either. William spent six months doing practice dives to build the skills and confidence he needed to pass. When he finally did, it felt like a real accomplishment—one that deepened his respect for the technical side of diving and set the stage for everything that’s come after
Goals In The Dive Industry:
For William, diving isn’t just about depth—it’s about connection. He’s passionate about building community among young divers in New England, and he loves nothing more than helping someone find their next dive buddy, boost their confidence in the water, or discover a new favorite site. His goal is simple: get more people out there diving, learning, and growing together.