One of our hero’s when we first got started was from the “diving center of the Universe“, Missouri. Don gave us a lot of advice and support and rthis month he became the first scuba diver to be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame! The following article was recently published in the Dive News Wire.
Diveventures… Don Peterson, former owner of Aquasports in Springfield, MO, and now resident Instructor Trainer with Diventures, has become the first scuba diver to be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Peterson was awarded the honor at the hall’s 2022 induction ceremony on February 6th. With 58 years under his belt, he has taught more than 15,000 divers and over 50 instructors throughout his remarkable career.
Don Peterson’s journey began in the 1960s at Table Rock Lake where he accepted a summer job at ‘John the Diver’ dive shop. Little did he know that diving would become a lifelong career. A graduate of Drury University and a Navy Veteran, Peterson has a lot to be proud of. His scuba journey has taken him around the world, sharing his passion for diving with students of all ages, including children as young as eight through several summer camp programs.
In 1971, Peterson graduated with honors from the National Association of Underwater Instructors training program. There, he taught diving at Coronado Island and the University of San Diego. Eventually, Peterson returned to Table Rock where he became the Director of Education for ‘John the Diver’ stores.
In 1978, Don and two friends – Roy Waddell and Bob French – each pooled $10,000 toward the opening of Aquasports Scuba Center. Later, Aquasports added a swimming and commercial diving division for scuba classes. In 1987 Don’s wife, Vickie, and her mother, started a travel agency next door. Fast-forward a few years, and Aquasports was named ‘Store of the Year’ twice by the National Association of Scuba Diving Schools (NASDS).
“Without Vickie’s help and encouragement, I would have never been able to achieve this kind of success,” said Peterson in his acceptance speech.
In addition to leading his business, Peterson has also been an industry leader, serving on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Scuba Diving Schools and also as a chair of the Water Safety Committee for the local American Red Cross. In 1999 Peterson became an Instructor Certifier for Scuba Schools International (SSI) and was awarded Platinum Pro 5000 Diver and Pro 500 Instructor.
In 2011, Don sold Aquasports to Diventures, the fastest growing network of scuba training centers in the United States. There, he continues to teach as an Instructor Trainer and scuba Instructor based in the Springfield location.
“This award is for all the divers in Missouri and all the people who support us and come through our scuba diving school,” said Peterson. “This award is for them. Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”
“I consider our organization incredibly blessed to have Don as a leader and mentor for our team. When I walked into his dive shop on Friday, October 8, 2010, I had no idea that it would lead to the rich friendship we share,” said Dean Hollis, founder of Diventures. “We’re humbled to carry forward his legacy and we’re thrilled to see him receive this well-deserved recognition.”
“We call Don ‘The Legend’ around here,” said Will Munroe, General Manager of Diventures. “Don is the salt of the earth; an incredible instructor, a servant leader and a genuine class act. He has directly influenced generations of divers and dive professionals – a legacy that continues to grow through his ongoing mentorship of our team members. We’re so happy for Don and Vickie and thrilled that there is now a diver recognized in the hall of Missouri’s top athletes.”
“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Peterson. “My enthusiasm for it today is as great or greater than it was back then. I still enjoy every day I go to work.”
