Phoenix SCUBA of Buffalo welcomes you to our full-service dive center and headquarters for SSI and DAN diver training at all levels from our “try scuba” introduction through Instructor certification, equipment sales, air fills, repairs, equipment counseling, swim and beach apparel, dive charters, world dive travel. We feature Zeagle Equipment and other products MADE IN AMERICA!
We invite you to tour our website to learn more about our facilities, let us introduce you to our rich local diving history and prepare you for the fun and excitement of scuba diving that can start today and last well into your future. Stop in and say hello!
We offer programs for youth, adults, families and groups along with Certified Scuba Certification for the physically challenged.
Phoenix SCUBA is proud to partner with the Wounded Warrior Project, The Battle Within Foundation, WNY Heroes and other organizations to train military and first responder personnel with assorted issues, including therapeutic programs.
Phoenix SCUBA of Buffalo is only 10 minutes from the Peace Bridge to Canada and close to I-90 making it convenient to both Canadian divers from the Niagara Peninsula and divers from all over Western New York.
Come see us for other diving programs as well as CPR, AED and First Aid classes.
Phoenix SCUBA has participated as a consultant to the Greater Niagara Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America Powder Horn High Adventure Training Program, co-sponsor of Sea Scout Ship 1, and as merit badge councilors for the BSA Scuba Merit Badge for over 15 years.
The Phoenix Difference
Our mission is to share our passion for the underwater world in everything we do.
Our Dive Center
We treat our clients like family not a number.
We feature products “MADE IN AMERICA” whenever available.
We counsel our clients so they only make purchases that fit their needs.
Our “Dealer Prep” on equipment exceeds the manufacturer's guidelines.
We provide reduced pricing incentives for Veterans, AAA members, Boy Scout
and Sea Scout programs and several other groups.
Our Goals
Provide our customers the Proper Knowledge, Proper Skills, Proper Equipment,
and Proper Experience for our clients to Safely Enjoy the Sport of
Scuba Diving as a Life-Long Activity.
Exceed our customer's expectations through our commitment to
Integrity and Quality in Everything that we endeavor to do.
Provide only quality life support and related equipment for sale and rental in our
facility to support youth, adaptive, and family programs that help our clients
build self-esteem and personal growth through our training programs and activities.
Promote the Personal and Professional Growth of our staff.
Our Community
We support our community with a school, scout, and youth programs as well as charities such as
Dive Pirates Foundation, WNY Adaptive Water Sports, Disabled Sports USA, the Wounded Warrior Project
and the OPAF First Dive Program.
Our Training Programs
We tailor your training program to your schedule and needs.
We make sure you are confident and comfortable with your skills
knowledge in the pool BEFORE you go for your open water training dives.
We meet with you and thoroughly explain what the total cost of your training
program is and what is included BEFORE you sign up. NO SURPRISES!
We are the ONLY diver training facility in Western New York that includes the
training manual which is yours to keep as a reference along with a professional grade Dive Log.
We provide the use of ALL of the equipment you need for our Open Water diver Program.
We include the open water SCUBA Dives as a part of the program, not an extra.
We do more than just teach a class, we create comfortable confident divers.
We believe you come to us to become a diver, to enjoy the beauty of the underwater
world safely and have fun while you learn not just to take a class and buy equipment.
For specialty programs the cost of the training manual is included and yours to keep as a permanent reference.
Our SSI programs are ISO Certified World Wide.
We not only teach SCUBA we teach CPR, First Aid and the Divers Alert Network (DAN) safety programs.
With his wife Carole, they co-foundered Phoenix Scuba of Buffalo located in Lackawanna, NY. This facility is an SSI Diamond Diver Training facility, a Divers Alert Network (DAN) training center and an ERDI Public Safety diver training facility.
Tony started diving in the mid 60's was a founding member of the Town of Evans Auxiliary Police Underwater Rescue and Recovery Team and achieved the rating of Scuba Instructor in 1971. Since then, he has taught scuba diving courses for the YMCA, Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), NASDS, British Sub-Aqua Club, and SSI. Tony is currently holding the rating of instructor trainer for both SSI and DAN. In addition to teaching regular dive training, he has specialized training for divers with special needs including paraplegics, quadriplegics, amputees, PTSD and other disabilities. All the programs he teaches focuses on creating a comfortable competent diver as opposed to just teaching a class.
Over the past half-century he has made thousands of dives in numerous locations around the world and has stories to tell that make any program he is involved with more interesting. He served as the director of engineering and special projects for a commercial diving and construction company for over 10 years.
Tony is a manufacturer trained regulator repair technician for several manufacturers breathing apparatus. In 2011, Tony received the prestigious “Platinum Pro 5000 Diver” and the “Platinum Pro 5000 instructor” awards for significant contributions to the dive industry and significant contributions to diver training.
Industry contributions have included the updating of the SSI Classified Scuba instructor and diver training programs, contributing to DAN on some of their training programs and helping to develop the Archeological protocols for underwater research projects. Additionally Mr. Anderson has a Merchant Marine 100 ton master's license. In addition, Tony is a licensed professional engineer, allowing him to provide expertise in the design of several marina projects along with commercial/Research and recreational projects, including their environmental impacts.
Both Tony and his wife Carole initiated the national “First Dive” Program for the Orthotic and Prosthetic Assistance Fund. They both operate the local chapter of Dive Pirates Foundation a national charity organization that provides Scuba opportunities to Disabled Military and other physically disabled individuals. The focus of his charitable endeavors is “quality of life” programs for the physically disabled.
Carol Anderson
Owner / Instructor
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Meet Carole Anderson
Co-founder of the Phoenix Scuba of Buffalo Diver training facility, Carole has been diving since 1999, teaching Scuba since 2005 and Diver Alert Network (DAN) First Aid programs since 2008. Carole is also an Adaptive/Classified diver instructor. Carole is the person you will see at the dive training center and shares a unique ability to create comfortable competent divers in every program she teaches. With experience in diving all over the world, Carole has a talent for helping individuals achieve their dive travel needs where ever the want to dive.
Recently, Carole has assisted in creating Research Diver training protocols for local educational facilities and currently is the Dive Safety Officer (DSO) for the Aquarium of Niagara.
Carole's contributions to the diving community includes the updating of the SSI Classified Scuba instructor and diver training programs and contributing support to DAN on consulting on some of their training programs while under development.
Both Carole and her husband Tony initiated the national “First Dive” Program for the Orthotic and Prosthetic Assistance Fund. They both operate the local chapter of Dive Pirates Foundation, a national charity organization that provides Scuba opportunities to Disabled Military and other physically disabled individuals. The focus of her charitable endeavors is “quality of life” programs for the physically disabled. In addition Carole and Tony are BSA Merit Badge councilors and the Leaders of Sea Scout Ship 1.
Buck Buchanan
Instructor
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Meet Buck Buchanan
Buck brings a passion for Public Safety Diving providing the knowledge and skills necessary for their mission.
28 years dive experience
Public Safety Diving Instructor Trainer
Veteran of over 80 recovery operations
20 years in Public Safety Diving
Multi agency instructor
Board of advisors- Diving for Heroes (wounded warriors)
Product development (training agencies, books and equipment)
Technical Instructor Trainer
Combat diver/tactical swimmer trainer
Over 6000 Safe dives
Safety officer on two world record teams (worlds longest dive)
Longest personal dive 47 hours
CNN- Contract consultant for Dive Operation/Conducted the first ever live worldwide broadcast interview while under water (gulf oil spill)
Waterborne training officer for Cherokee County Dive Rescue
Training and Technical consultant state of Georgia Dive Team
