Narragansett Pier Dive scuba instructor Matt Robinson
Matt began his diving under the wings of veteran wreck divers Bill Campbell and Capt. Billy Palmer who gained wide recognition for their diving efforts on wrecks such as Andrea Doria and U-853. Both are spoken highly of in many books and periodicals; and are well known in the wreck diving community. The two veterans began teaching Matt gear configurations, techniques and the history of technical wreck diving as it was incepted in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Matt was invited on many dive trips to local wrecks with Campbell and Palmer as well as Capt. Pio Moretti, where he gained experience and technical diving expertise in safe decompression and wreck penetration.
Matt was then invited in 2003 by Author/Tech Diver Kevin F. McMurray on an expedition to the Empress of Ireland. Matt made 6 successful dives to the Empress that August, which sank in 14 minutes in 1914, claiming over a thousand passengers and crew. The Empress is a dangerous wreck and considered a life time achievement for many divers.
Dark Descent by Kevin F. McMurray
Kevin McMurray wrote the book Dark Descent: Diving and the Deadly Allure of the Empress of Ireland and you can read about Matt in that literary work. Matt went on a second expedition to the Empress and made another six successful dives to the wreck with some harrowing experiences penetrating her hull in the dark and cold waters.
Matt made many friends in the dive community and became close friends with Captain/Professional Diver Dan Crowell of New Jersey. Dan invited Matt to stay at his home in New Jersey and to train him in Advanced
Trimix diving. Trimix is the combination of helium, oxygen, and nitrogen gases to properly sustain life in a safe manner beyond traditional diving limits. This gas mixture is necessary to engage in deep wreck diving. Under the training of Dan Crowell Matt descended to many more wrecks, up and down the East Coast, with dives to well over 200 fsw.
Matt continues in the diving profession in many facets, besides technical wreck diving. Matt works as a commercial diver which entails many different under water jobs, mostly involving ships and inspections. Matt has dove under the ice in New Hampshire and in caverns of Mexico. Matt is also an open water dive instructor for Scuba Diving International (SDI).
Matt has been written about for his diving in many types of literary works such as newspapers and magazines. A local wreck was located and featured in Hampton Sport’s Dan’s Magazine and the author sought a
qualified technical diver whom had dove to the wreck. The author searched for and interviewed Matt. The article was included in the July 2004 edition. The wreck is located near Prudence Island’s T-Wharf.
Matt Robinson on ascent from 260 FSW Photo By: Rick Marshall
As an open water dive instructor Matt stated he wants to train divers the way he was trained. Matt wants to offer people an opportunity to learn to dive from someone who has the skills and background to cover all types of diving and dive environments. Today divers do not learn the basics. Divers are taught exactly what they need to know to pass a test designed for ten year olds and above. Diving is a very safe sport. However, the basic diving course taught by most agencies, dive shops and instructors is a bare bones course to shuttle divers in and out of the water with a dive-master on Caribbean vacation with each diver having their hand held. Matt proposes a much more encompassing course, including all of the required material but including much more attention to fundamentals that every diver should be aware of. Mastery of the additional topics are not requirements to gain the certification but will be discussed with some practicum to establish a more informed and well rounded diver.
Matt has certifications from several agencies including PADI, IANTD, TDI, SDI, and Rescue Diving International. In addition Matt has attended seminars to become a Scubapro repair technician, a Mares repair technician, and PSI scuba cylinder inspector. Matt is also an advanced gas blender able to mix Nitrox and Trimix.
If you want to learn to dive from one of the best, take a course offered by Matt Robinson. Matt will teach you the skills you need to become a safe diver!
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