Black Hills Aquatic Adventures is a full-service scuba shop, serving the Black Hills region since 2016. What’s a scuba diving shop doing in the beautiful but land-locked Black Hills of South Dakota?
Well, part of the answer can be found in their history. Owner Jim Wallace grew up on the water. This ocean-loving former US Coast Guardsman has been scuba diving for 50+ years, a NAUI instructor for 25 years and a NAUI Instructor Trainer for 20 years. Teaching others to scuba dive (all levels from recreational to professional) marries his passion of diving with his passion for teaching. He is also a paramedic and has experience training emergency medical personnel (First Responders, EMTs, AEMTs, Paramedics) as well as community health courses for divers through Divers Alert Network (DAN) and for professionals/lay people through American Heart Association.
Another part of the answer can be found in their love of scuba diving and water. And they’re not alone – the appeal of diving with sea turtles or manta rays or visiting coral reefs or submerged shipwrecks is widespread. Many students come to Black Hills Aquatic Adventures so they can become scuba certified before a fantastic trip. But some students discover the allure of diving itself – the feel of breathing while weightless is available right in the Black Hills at Lake Pactola.
Scuba diving is equipment intensive, and Jim along with his wife Julie Hallstrom are happy to help you find the latest and greatest dive and safety equipment. They also offer repair and maintenance services as well as coordinating dive travel and even local excursions.
In 2021, Jim became a certified instructor for Handicapped Scuba Divers Association International, enabling him to work and certify adaptive divers or offer an adaptive discover scuba experience. In 2022, the shop became a NAUI VA Testing Center, which extends opportunities for military and military family members, to use the G.I. Bill®, also active military with 180 days left in their enlistment can take advantage of the SkillBridge program.
Connect for your next adventure here.
