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A 25th anniversary is a milestone, a good reason to reflect – and that’s something Jeff and Jessi Dawson have been doing where their business, Scuba Marco, is concerned. 

The island’s only full-time dive shop celebrated its silver anniversary in August. Located in Old Marco, the business offers diving instruction and certification, dive trips locally and elsewhere in Florida, equipment for rental or purchase, tank refills, equipment repairs and a wide range of accessories.

Looking back has left Jeff Dawson with mixed emotions. 

“On one hand, I feel grateful to be here and serve the community and turn so many people on to scuba diving. But on the other hand, I feel like I’m old,” he said with a smile.

Jessi Dawson also pointed to the opportunity to serve the public, especially for a quarter century, as a source of pride. 

“It feels wonderful to be part of such a huge, water-loving community and to have kids that we certified when we first opened, bringing their children in now, for us to certify them,” she said. “Second generations are coming through.”

To mark the occasion, there was a month-long sale during August on all merchandise except tanks. The Dawsons are considering holding a celebration party in October or November when snowbirds have begun to return. 

Such longevity wasn’t something Jeff had in mind when founding the business. 

“When I first opened the shop, I was shooting for five and figured that would be a success,” he said. “So it’s a little bit surreal, actually.”

Prior to opening the shop, Jeff worked at the Marco Marriott for 10 years, “on the front line,” as a valet, doorman, bellman, and bell captain. He also dove for recreation. 

At a time when Marco had no dive shop, he approached the then-owner of the Snook Inn, Dennis Passini, about opening one in the cottage that’s still the business’ home. Passini had just purchased the property, explained Jeff, and thought it would be a good fit. 

“So I wrote out a business plan and took it around to some friends that were well-off asking for a loan to get the business started. The ones that were agreeable wanted 50 percent of the business, which wasn’t going to work. So I thought about creative financing, including a second mortgage on my house and maxing out some credit cards. But it was scary and daunting because I had a young kid and didn’t want to embark on an endeavor that failed and hurt my family’s position.”

It seems Divine Providence then entered the picture one day at the Marriott. 

“I was thinking myself sick over it,” Jeff recalled, his awe apparent. “I reached out to the universe, prayed to God for a sign. I needed to know whether I should make this leap of faith and open up this dive shop. And shortly into my shift, I walked out to greet a car on the ramp and the lady in the passenger seat was reading a book. I asked her what she was reading and she flashed the book at me without saying a word. The title was ‘Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow.’”

Follow is exactly what he did and that has made all the difference for the Dawsons and the legions of divers they’ve taught and served and will in the future.

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