The son of a charter fishing boat captain, Les Wilkerson grew up on and near the water in Boca Grande, FL. He started diving in 1969 after an illicit foray into a swimming pool with gear "borrowed" from a friend’s father. Entranced by the experience, he talked his parents into allowing him to take a course and become a certified SCUBA diver. After serving in both the Army and Marine Corps., which gave him the opportunity to dive in exotic locations around the world, he settled in Contra Costa County and began operating a freelance open-water and technical dive training company out of his home.
By Scott Hargis
Published: February, 2006
The son of a charter fishing boat captain, Les Wilkerson grew up on and near the water in Boca Grande, FL. He started diving in 1969 after an illicit foray into a swimming pool with gear borrowed from a friend’s father. Entranced by the experience, he talked his parents into allowing him to take a course and become a certified SCUBA diver. After serving in both the Army and Marine Corps., which gave him the opportunity to dive in exotic locations around the world, he settled in Contra Costa County and began operating a freelance open-water and technical dive training company out of his home.
We were mixing gases in a shed behind the house, because local SCUBA shops did not provide that service, he says, and performing or teaching technical diving around the Monterey/Carmel peninsula. We were doing pretty well, and my partner Isaac said one day, ‘Let’s open a dive shop.’ That was the day I decided to give something back to the sport I enjoy so much.
For years I’d been enjoying this sport, Wilkerson says, And now, [as owner of Advanced Diving Technologies] I can share that enthusiasm with other people.
On the subject of safety, Les becomes more animated. We always put safety and the environment first. When we’re working with new students in the pool, we have three dive professionals supervising. That’s one supervisor for every buddy team in the water. Other dive operators keep telling me I’m leaving money on the table with that much supervision. But you know what? I’m working within my comfort zone. My divers’ safety is job number one.
Photo by Scott Hargis
