Don Alan Ruschak, a certified diver for about fourteen years and a YMCA Certified SCUBA Instructor.  "When I was a Master SCUBA diver,  I looked at many different Certifying Organizations.  I chose YMCA because it is an organization known for water safety and its principles of developing the mind, spirit and body.   I believe in its principle and I grew up in our local Y.  Also, their criteria was the most difficult of the many organizations reviewed.  We put the training first - not equipment.  We want to help a person develop to be the best - safest, most competent - diver possible."

        Some of the things that make Don a better instructor is his patience and his desire for the students to be safe and enjoy the underwater world.  With diving experiences from the cold water off Maine to the Tropical water of the Caribbean Islands with 100 foot visibility to Local rivers and Quarries of Pennsylvania that range from 12 ft or 0 ft vis. and temp. that range 36 deg. to 83 deg. in summer.  He is a Certified Cave Diver and is a charter member and active with the Mon Valley Divers SAR Team, having held numerous offices both command and executive and is currently Treasurer and a Senior Diver.

        Don is certified to Instruct Coral Reef Ecology, Dry Suit Diver,  Wreck, SLAM(Rescue Diver- similar to some agencies advanced rescue or rescue plus ratings), Search & Recovery, Nitrox, Full Face Mask Diving, Public Safety Diver and Dive Team Training and more.