From Student to Instructor: How ASI’s Dive Center Produces Ocean Ambassadors 

Housed inside the  Bronco Recreation and Intramural Complex (BRIC, Bldg. 42) at Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) is the  Associated Students, Incorporated (ASI) Dive Center. It serves as an oasis to the endless possibilities of the underwater world. With the mission to make diving more accessible and affordable, the center has partnered with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) to offer a comprehensive range of certification courses at discounted rates compared to other diving centers.   

What truly sets this dive center apart is the exceptional caliber of its staff and instructors. Many participants have worked their way up through the program’s various certifications. Brenda Calderon and Maggie Fischer embody the center’s impact. Their firsthand insight into the student experience coupled with their student-centered learning approach allows them to provide unparalleled mentorship and support to ASI Dive Center Students.   

Initially drawn by her interests in ecological studies, Calderon, now a PADI Instructor and ASI Data and Assessment Coordinator, first discovered her passion for diving in 2019. The Dive Center gave Calderon the boost she needed by surrounding herself with like-minded people she could relate to. “As a student starting out, seeing other people that looked like me who had advanced that far was so inspirational and motivating,” Calderon said. 

She progressively earned certifications like Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and Scientific Diver Authorization before becoming a Divemaster in 2022—all through the ASI Dive Center’s programs. 

In 2023 Calderon became a Dive Center instructor and continues to build the tight-knit community that was vital to her own success.  

“One of the cool things is we’ve created this supportive diving community,” she mentions.  

Maggie Fischer, the Dive Center Supervisor and graduate student in biology with an emphasis in marine ecology, found her passion for diving at a young age. Acquiring certifications like Open Water and Advanced outside the ASI Dive Center, Fisher sought to continue her progress at CPP.  She joined the center while in grad school and obtained both Divemaster and Instructor certifications. 

“I definitely don’t think I would have had the opportunity to pursue my instructor if it wasn’t for the ASI Dive Center and the way the courses are designed to help students,” Fisher explained. 

Both instructors highlight the center’s unique benefits compared to outside dive shops. With pricing subsidized up to 60% off, it makes diving far more accessible. The student-centered approach also allows for self-paced, individualized learning, with no rush to move through skills. 

“The instructors instill that sense of safety and responsibility, but also make space for the fun and sense of wonder that diving is awesome,” Calderon said. 

The comprehensive curriculum starts with a $10 Discover Scuba Diving session to try breathing underwater at the BRIC pool. It then progresses to Open Water Diver certification, which allows renting gear and diving at recreational depths. From there, students can pursue specialties like Rescue Diver, Wreck Diver, marine conservation, and more. 

“I highly recommend checking out Discover Scuba,” Fischer said. “If you do that and you’re like ‘heck yeah,’ sign up for one of our Open Water certification trips. It’s a really awesome opportunity at a student’s pace,” she adds. 

Those trips range from local California excursions to faraway domestic and international destinations. Past trips included exploring the sea caves around California’s Channel Islands, diving among marine life in the warm waters of Florida, and even venturing to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia to experience one of the natural wonders of the world.   

For both Fisher and Calderon seeing their students succeed and practicing good diving practices has been one of the most rewarding parts of their job. The center regularly hosts its Divers Against Debris program to help clean local communities and add to the ongoing conservation efforts made by the diving community. “Seeing a student gain the confidence to accomplish their goals and be able to go out and feel ready, that’s such a rewarding feeling,” Fischer said about the teaching experience.  

Calderon echoed this sentiment, stating, “We know we’re training very good divers who are spreading good diving practices out into the world.”  Their student-centered approach has paid off as each novice diver overcomes fears, builds vital skills, and embraces the underwater world they’ve opened.  

The ASI Dive Center provides an invaluable opportunity for students to discover the wonders of the underwater world. With affordable pricing, self-paced courses, and exceptional staff, the Dive Center opens scuba diving to all. The impact goes beyond recreation—the Dive Center also provides career-building opportunities. Staff members such as Calderon and Fischer, who have gained certifications and hands-on experience, are equipped to further their careers in marine biology research and conservation efforts in the future. The Dive Center continues to create a supportive community where students gain confidence, overcome fears, and develop critical skills. Its positive impact will continue rippling out, as students become ocean ambassadors and eventually professionals that spread the center’s mission of spreading responsible diving practices. 

 

Have you tried one of the courses at the ASI Dive Center? Let us know your experience on our social media and keep up to date on more upcoming events @ASICPP on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok!