Damon Chango

 Open Water Scuba Instructor / Master Scuba Diver 

Damon is Parks & Golf Course Superintendent for the City Of Yuma, Arizona and has been diving since 1989 when he obtained his Open Water certification.  He got into it sort of by accident.  While working at the municipal golf course he was attending college.   While seeking his degree he saw diving class offered for P.E. credits.  Thinking it sounded interesting he decided to take the course.  Not being acquainted with any local divers he dropped out of diving for a number of years.

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In 1999 his brother decided to get certified so Damon got back into diving.  In February 2001 he got his PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification followed by a few specialties.  In April of 2002 he and several friends enrolled in the PADI Rescue Diver course "the course from hell" it was at times physically draining but well worth it.  In 2003 he and a few friends that survived the PADI Rescue Diver course completed the PADI Divemaster course and became Divemasters.  In 2003 and 2004 he earned several more specialties and received his rating as a Master Scuba Diver, the highest recreational diver level in the PADI System of diver education.   Wanting to continue with his diving education in May of 2005 he and two close diving buddies Shawn and Charlie decided to enroll in the PADI Instructor Development Course which the made the rescue diver course seem like a walk in the park but none the less it got them prepared for the PADI Instructors Examination. Passing the IE in June of 2005  he then became a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.   He is currently working towards his PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and Emergency First Response Trainer certifications.

Certification Levels: PADI Open Water, PADI Advanced Open Water, PADI Rescue Diver, PADI Master Scuba Diver, PADI Dive Master, PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor

Specialties: Emergency First Response, Night Diver, Boat Diver, Enriched Air Diver, Equipment Specialist, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Photographer, Underwater Videographer, Drift Diver, Deep Diver, AWARE - Fish Identification Diver, Underwater Naturalist

Date Open Water Certified: October, 1989

Favorite Dive Sites: Cozumel, Mexico. Oahu, Hawaii