Tom Leaird became a diver in 1960 and an instructor in 1969. He opened a dive store part-time in 1970. He retired from business life in 1988 and took on scuba full-time. Tom has written nine books for the former YMCA Scuba program and has continued with three for SEI and more for PDIC. He continues his passion for writing materials to teach scuba students at all levels. His instructor group has taught over 4500 divers in the Indiana and Ohio area and more than 250 new instructors throughout the USA and Europe.