Meet the Passion Behind Skelly Scuba

At Skelly Scuba, we provide a range of private training courses and specialties through PADI and SDI. Our expert instructors have a personalized approach, tailoring your diving needs, whether you’re a beginner or looking to enhance your skills. We also specialize in meticulous VIP (Visual Inspection Plus) services for scuba cylinders, ensuring your gear is always safe and ready for the depths.

Our Story & Passion: The Journey

My journey into the underwater world began back in 2018, shortly after moving from Florida to California. Growing up, the beach was my second home, and annual trips to the Florida Keys meant countless hours spent snorkeling, trying my best to “free dive” and glimpse the hidden wonders below. Once I had the opportunity to truly dive, I was all in.

That first breath underwater was absolutely unreal. Seeing things from the surface was nothing compared to the immersive experience of breathing among the aquatic life. It was like finally having the gills I’d always dreamed of as a kid. Witnessing the vibrant wildlife and the gentle sway of the kelp forests felt like a dream come true. From a young age, I’ve always been drawn to the ocean, initially thinking I’d become a marine biologist. While those ambitions shifted, my desire to remain connected to the ocean never faded. Scuba diving wasn’t just a spontaneous adventure; it was a lifelong dream. I remember begging my mom for scuba lessons when I was just 10 or 11, but it wasn’t until I was financially independent and living in California that I finally had the ability to make that dream a reality.

That initial spark quickly ignited into a fervent passion. I started my journey as an Open Water Diver, and quickly fell in love, wanting to explore more. After just a few dives, I went straight for my Advanced Open Water certification. It wasn’t long before I felt a strong desire to contribute meaningfully. My active involvement in beach clean-ups led me to discover the volunteer diver program at the Aquarium of the Pacific. I realized I needed more advanced training before I could even consider joining, which fueled my drive. From there, I rapidly increased my dive counts, gained my Rescue certification, and the progression snowballed. I kept diving, kept training, and eventually completed my Divemaster program, ultimately becoming a PADI Instructor. This dedication even led me to become a proud volunteer diver at the Aquarium of the Pacific! My love for diving deepened as I explored various specialties like deep diving, wreck diving, and side-mount. Now, I’m eagerly taking on my next challenge: progressing into the world of technical diving.

My passion for diving naturally extended to teaching. I’ve always enjoyed helping people in and out of the water, so guiding the next generation of divers felt like the most natural next step. There’s immense joy in seeing students conquer their fears, take their very first breath underwater, or experience the magic of California’s kelp forests for the first time. However, throughout my diving and teaching career, I observed critical gaps. There was a clear need for modernity in service offerings and a greater emphasis on transparency. I wanted to provide divers with clear, science and evidence-based reasons why their equipment was (or wasn’t) up to par, rather than just having them blindly trust a recommendation. Many facilities, unfortunately, power through inspections or cut corners. At Skelly Scuba, we simply don’t do that. Everything is meticulously inspected and documented to ensure absolute diver safety and satisfaction. As a software engineer by day and a tinkerer by night, I love understanding the ‘ins and outs’ of things and doing things myself. Specializing in inspections and servicing was a natural progression for me to truly facilitate maximum safety and understanding for divers.

At Skelly Scuba, LLC, our ultimate purpose is to provide world-class service and courses to every member of our dive community. My personal passion translates directly into the quality you’ll experience; I obsess over details and quality in all aspects of my life. Why would I ever settle for mediocrity when I can strive to be the very best? I want every Skelly Scuba customer to feel confident, safe, empowered, and truly ready for adventure, knowing that their equipment and training will be there for them when they need it, allowing them to continue their journey in the safest and most positive manner possible.

Our Guiding Principles

To empower divers with the confidence that comes from impeccably maintained equipment and world-class, personalized training, fostering a community of safe, knowledgeable, and adventurous underwater explorers.

Certified Excellence: Your Trusted Dive Safety & Training Professional

At Skelly Scuba, LLC, our commitment to safety and excellence is built upon a foundation of rigorous training and deep expertise. We continuously invest in our professional development to ensure you receive the highest standard of service in both equipment inspection and dive education.

Expertise in Scuba Cylinder Inspections

Your dive cylinders are critical life support equipment, and we treat their inspection with the utmost seriousness and precision. Brian Valdes holds the following key certifications, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of cylinder integrity and maintenance:

• PSI-PCI Cylinder Visual Inspector: Certified to perform thorough visual inspections of high-pressure cylinders.
• Oxygen Cylinder Cleaning Technician: Qualified to meticulously clean cylinders for oxygen service and enriched air nitrox (EANx) use.
• Valve Repair Technician: Trained in the proper service and repair of cylinder valves to ensure optimal function and safety.

All inspections conducted by Skelly Scuba, LLC are performed in strict adherence to the latest guidelines set by:

• PSI-PCI (Professional Scuba Inspectors, Inc.)

• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

• CGA (Compressed Gas Association)

• UN ISO (United Nations International Organization for Standardization)

Expertise in Scuba Diver Training

As a dedicated dive educator, Brian Valdes is passionate about fostering confident, skilled, and safe divers. His extensive instructor qualifications from leading agencies ensure a robust and personalized learning experience:

• PADI Instructor
• SDI Instructor

Beyond fundamental instruction, Brian holds a breadth of specialty instructor ratings, allowing him to guide divers through advanced skills and unique environments. For more on these specialties, check out our Courses.

These certifications are not just badges; they represent a deep commitment to providing safe, effective, and empowering dive education. They signify a dedication to continuous learning and upholding the highest standards in diver training.

The Skelly Scuba Advantage