Meet Frank Pages | Scuba Diving Instructor & First Responder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Frank Pages and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Frank, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted to focus on Quality over Quantity. Many scuba instructors and dive shops certify students with 12 to 16 hours. My basic scuba certification training is 32+ hours long and I incorporate some of the rescue and advance training within my basic training.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business is GET TANKED SOUTH FLORIDA. I teach Scuba Diving from the basic certification level all the way up to DiveMaster (an assistant instructor); in addition I teach several other specialty certifications (such as Night, Deep, Wreck, Full FaceMask, etc.). I teach under two certification agencies: NAUI and SDI. I first became a Scuba Diving In’s in April 2000 when I became an Adjunct Professor at Florida International University (FIU) teaching for the Department of Education in the Academic Dive Program. In the FIU Scuba Diving Program myself and the other instructors taught hundreds of students to dive. Teaching scuba diving in an academic setting for an entire semester really allowed me to take the time to teach our students the right way and further develop their skills. This also influenced how I teach my scuba students today and why I rather teach less students a year, but produce quality students. Dive safety through education is a motto I take to heart with all my students. My scuba diving business is about taking the time to make sure the student feels comfortable and safe, hence why my lessons are Private/semi-private with no more than 4 students at once per Instructor. My scuba business is not my primary source of income; it’s more of my hobby on steroids. LoL so I can take the time to teach my students the right way. My scuba students become not just clients but Family. This is why my students continue to seek additional trainings with me after they complete their first certification. My goal is to make my next lesson my best lesson. I’m always trying to learn and improve and my students value that. When I went into the realm of teaching Adaptive Scuba Diving I can honestly say that was the hardest thing I’ve done with scuba. When I was learning to be an adaptive instructor and I was in the pool with the instructors and a bunch of Disabled veterans suffering from all kinds of conditions: MS, PTSD, TBI, amputees, paralyzed, etc. I was very nervous. I thought to myself this will not be easy and asked the instructors “are you going to be with me the entire time?” They said, “Yes.” I replied, “ well then let’s Go big or Go Home; who’s the hardest person you got?” The instructors presented me with a veteran who was there for only a try scuba experience. This veteran was a quadriplegic, fully paralyzed from the next down. I instantly thought of my sister Sandra and said to myself you got this. A year and four month later this veteran is now a scuba diver:

I not only trained him, but the support divers needed to get him scuba certified who were composed of other diving professionals and first responders.

Training him was the hardest but most rewarding thing I have ever done scuba diving related. I tell you not one person had a dry eye when we complete this Veteran’s scuba certification as we all had tears of joy on making his wish come true.

I’ve had other adaptive students come up to me saying do you think you can train me, I’m missing a leg. I just show them this video

and they reply “when do we start.?”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When it comes to Scuba Diving in South Florida I would take them to the Florida Keys, the reefs out there are part of the third largest barrier reef in the world. Plenty of shipwrecks can be found all along our coast. In addition an advanced/Nitrox dive to the Spiegel Grove shipwreck would have to me a must in Key Largo, FL. For those who are interested in Shark Diving I’d take them up to Jupiter, FL. If fresh water diving is more their style, we could take a trip up to central /northern Florida and Dive the fresh water springs, caverns and cave systems (proper certifications required depending on the environment/depth/conditions)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

🔝 This video is what my sister suffered from

People always ask me, “Why do you always want to help people?”

My response, “Sandra, my sister!”

“Everyone struggles with something, everyone goes through something; We all have to overcome and adapt to conquer. Just because you know someone doesn’t mean you know someone. People who you might think are ok might be struggling with something unimaginable.

Try to be kind to each other Every Day.

Impact Someone,
Inspire Someone,
Empower Someone,

Every Day!

Because some days you might need them to do it for you.” Unknown author

My sister passed away from her condition, RETT Syndrome, last year, but she goes diving with me everywhere as I wear her name “Sandra” proudly on my dive gear.

She was a major influence throughout my life to push me to want to help people. Not only as a First Responder but influenced my decision to become an Adaptive Scuba Diving instructor to teach those with Disabilities.

Hence why I have pair up my scuba Business: GET TANKED SOUTH FLORIDA with LifeWaters, a not for profit organization working with those with disabilities, as well as the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Miami to teach scuba to disabled veterans (amputees, Paralyzed, PTSD, anxiety, etc.).
I’m Also currently working on teaching scuba to children with developmental and sensory disorders such as autism.

Website: https://www.gettankedsfl.com/

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/GetTankedSFL

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetTankedSouthFL/

Yelp: https://yelp.to/XNWFreN2Ugb

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC_ye7Gp2s2Z_MZPIMEwdh5w

Other: Scuba Diving Group for All Divers on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/115365835721566/