It all started with a simple introduction—but it turned into something that changed the way I see diving forever.
Christine Tamburri first approached our homeschool dive group with curiosity, wanting to learn more about what we were doing. What began as a casual meeting quickly turned into something far more meaningful. After seeing our activities and learning about my own diving journey, Christine offered to coach me. I was stunned—excited, nervous, and incredibly honored. Dive911 is no ordinary dive group. They’re a team of experienced SDI/TDI divers (with some ERDI professionals in the mix), known for their work in salvage diving and public safety diving training. And now, they were offering to take me under their wing.
Getting to work with legends like Buck Buchanan and Wally Endres—divers respected throughout the community for their knowledge and accomplishments—was surreal. But it wasn’t handed to me. Before they agreed to coach me, I had to prove I was ready. That meant a dive at Hudson Grotto. I was nervous—more than I’d ever been in the water. But that day, I showed them more than just my dive skills. They saw my dedication, my willingness to grow, and most importantly my comfort and respect for diving and the water.
What followed has been over a year of coaching, learning, laughing, and a lot of diving. Dive911 introduced me to the world of technical diving, and I’ve worked hard every step of the way—refining buoyancy and trim, mastering different fin kicks, improving navigation, learning my air consumption rate, building my save a dive kit, understanding the importance of emergency procedures and so much more.
One of the most unique classes I’ve ever taken was with Buck, where I got to see firsthand how critical emergency training is. His experience and approach left a lasting impact. Christine has been there every step of the way too—whether we were skill-building or simply enjoying a fun dive, every session with her left me learning something new. Her belief in me never wavered, and that support helped me believe in myself too.
Wally brought in the challenge. the fun, and sarcasm—one of my favorite memories is him pushing me to see how many mask clears I could do in a minute. (I think I did pretty well—but Wally, if you’re reading this, I’d love a rematch!)
And then there was Manatee Springs. Christine introduced me to that magical place, and it’s become one of my absolute favorite dive locations. Pretty much every time she asks me where I want to go next my answer is generally Manatee. Exploring new sites, gaining new certifications, and just spending time with this team—whether underwater or on land—has become a core part of my diving life and in actuality mine and my family’s life all together.
My mom has always held a firm rule when it comes to diving: I can only dive with those we know and fully trust. That’s why it means so much that she connected with Dive911, took the time to talk with them, and saw eye to eye with their values and dedication. Their professionalism, care, and passion earned more than just our trust—they earned our respect and appreciation. I’m incredibly grateful that this connection was made, and even more thankful that it has grown into a thriving relationship. Because of that, I get to continue doing what I love, with a team that feels like family.
They took a chance on me—and it’s become one of the most meaningful opportunities I’ve ever had. The journey is far from over, and I’m beyond excited to keep diving, learning, and growing with this incredible team.
