Scuba Coach Trace

For over 40 years, Trace Malinowski has been at the heart of the scuba diving world. His story began at 13, when what should’ve been a quick trip for snorkeling gear turned into something far bigger—an invitation to join a scuba class at the headquarters of the Professional Diving Instructors Corporation (PDIC), home to one of the most demanding, US Navy-style training programs of its time. (Today, PDIC is part of Scuba Educators International, SEI.)

That one decision launched a lifelong adventure. Trace has since earned more than 100 certifications, logged over 7,500 dives—including 1,000+ in underwater caves—and taught more than 650 students across 9 countries, all with a flawless educational safety record. Along the way, he’s been honored with awards like the SSI Platinum Pro 5000, the Hal Watts Elite Cave Diving Award, the Abe Davis International Safety Award, and PADI’s Aquanaut Recognition for spending 24 continuous hours living on the sea floor.

Trace has shaped the dive industry behind the scenes too—serving as training director for both PDIC and PSAI, authoring three diving manuals, pioneering solo cave diving instruction, and pushing for higher training standards on the boards of RSTC and WRSTC. Today, he continues his work as a consultant for the International Diving Safety Standards Commission (IDSSC) and as president of the National Independent Divers Association (NIDA).

Scuba Coach Trace was born from a simple truth: too many divers were being rushed through training, missing out on the confidence and skills they deserved. Trace set out to change that. His mission is to create a relaxed, personalized learning experience where fun meets serious skill—helping students go from curious beginner to confident diver, at their own pace.

Summary

​Diving industry insider with 38 years of experience specializing in freediver, sport diver, technical diver and cave diver education, team building and unification, professional career training and leadership development, talent acquisition and retention, program development, writing, publishing, public speaking, international cross-border policies, ANSI, OSHA, ISO, NPFA, WRSTC, RSTC, IDSSC standards, regulatory compliance, strategic marketing, and technical emergency analysis and management.

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Awards

  • SSI Platinum Pro 5000 Diver Award for 7500+ lifetime dives
  • Hal Watts Elite Cave Diving Award for 1000+ cave dives in 38 systems
  • Abe Davis International Safety Award for 100+ cave dives in 5 countries
  • PADI Aquanaut Recognition Award for JUL Mission #4109
  • Winner of the 2007 Northeast Regional Ultimate Diver Challenge


​Professional Affiliations

  • Board of Advisors, Professional Scuba Association International (PSAI), 2016 
  • Board of Directors, Professional Scuba Association International (PSAI), 2011 - 2016
  • Administrator, Agnes Milowka Project, 2011 - Present
  • Board of Directors, Professional Diving Instructors Corporation (PDIC) 2007 - 2011
  • Board of Directors, Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC), 2007 - 2011
  • Board of Directors, World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC), 2007 - 2011
  • Board of Directors, Hydronautics - Diving for Science & Adventure, Inc. (H-DSA), 2001 - 2004


​Professional Experience

  • Founder & President, National Independent Divers Association, 2024 - Present
  • CEO, National Association of Solo and Team Divers, 2021 - 2024
  • Consultant, International Diving Safety Standards Commission, Mendoza, Argentina, 2016 - Present
  • Rescue/Recovery Surface Operations Manager and First Responder Recovery Diver, International Underwater Cave Rescue & Recovery (IUCRR), 2007 - Present
  • Rescue Diver, Lifeguard, Surface Water Rescue, Event Medics, 2016 - Present
  • International Training Director (North, Central, & South America), Professional Scuba Association International, Sand Point, MI, 2011 - 2016
  • Technical Diving Training Director, Professional Diving Instructors Corporation, Scranton, PA, 2007 - 2011
  • Owner, Scuba Coach Trace/Tech Expeditions, Clifton Twp, PA, 2006 - Present
  • Beach Lifeguard Supervisor, Appletree Management Group, Poconos, PA, 2002- 2006
  • Technical Director, Hydronautics - Diving for Science & Adventure, Inc., New York, NY, 2001 - 2005


Dive Centers

  • All About Scuba, Alexandria Bay, NY, 2018 
  • St. Lawrence Scuba Company, Watertown, NY, 2016 - 2018
  • Tec Dive TCI, Provo, Turks & Caicos, 2008
  • Lehigh Valley Dive Center, Bethlehem, PA, 2005 - 2016
  • Lynnhaven Dive Center, Virginia Beach, VA, 2001
  • Divers Direct/World Watesports, Key, Largo, FL, 2000
  • Austin's Dive Center, Miami, FL, 1999
  • Brac Aquatics, Ltd., Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands, BWI, 1999
  • Scuba-America, Scranton, PA, 1989 - 1999


Commercial Diving Experience

  • Diver, Kyle Conti Construction, Hillsborough, NJ, 2015 - 2018
  • Diver (Contractor), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2002 - 2005


​Organizations

  • USA Freediving, 2018 - Present
  • International Underwater Cave Rescue & Recovery (IUCRR), 2007 - Present
  • United States Lifesaving Association (USLA), 2004 - Present
  • National Speleological Society - Cave Diving Section (NSS-CDS), 2003 - Present
  • Global Underwater Explorers (GUE), 2001 - 2012


Certifications​

  • PSAI Freediving Sport Diving, Technical Diving, Cave Diving, and Technician Instructor Trainer Evaluator
  • PDIC Freediving, Sport Diving, Technical Diving, Cave Diving and Technician Instructor Trainer Examiner
  • SDI/TDI Sport and Technical Diving Instructor
  • SEI Scuba Instructor
  • YMCA Lifeguard Instructor/American Red Cross Lifeguard
  • GUE-F, GUE Tech 1, GUE Tech 2 Trimix Diver
  • NSS-CDS Cave Recovery Diver
  • 100+ certifications from PSAI, PDIC, GUE, SDI/TDI, IANTD, NSS-CDS, NACD, PADI, NAUI, YMCA, etc. 


​Achievements

  • Founder of the Big Bight Spearfishing Club
  • Co-founder & President of the East Coast Freediver Club with Jeff Rempel and David Nesbitt 
  • 38 years diving experience throughout North America, Europe, and the Caribbean
  • 30 years teaching experience in 9 countries having trained 650+ students
  • Developed over 20 sport, technical, cave, solo & freediving programs for PDIC and PSAI
  • Explored 38 cave systems and 98 shipwrecks
  • Created the first solo cave diving course in the industry
  • ​​PADI Underwater Habitat Specialist, JUL Mission #4005, January 11 - 12, 2009
  • PADI Aquanaut, JUL Mission #4109, January 10 - 11, 2011
  • Assistant Lacrosse Coach, Marywood University, 1993
  • ISSA and AMF Certified Personal Trainer
  • Author of PSAI Advanced Buoyancy Control, Trim & Technique; PSAI Freediving: A Guide for Breath-Hold Divers; and ​PDIC Extended Range Freediving
  • Author of the romance novel "The Amphitrite Entanglement" under the pen name Coral Leigh Tide
  • Cast Member, Ghost Town Divers​.
  • Appeared with Cristina Zenato in the shark documentary Gimme A Hug
  • Rediscovered ancient Lucayan remains with Cristina Zenato in Burial Mound Cave for Brian Kakuk, Jill Heinerth, the Bahamas National Trust, and the BBC
  • Appeared with Manny Puig and Mark Rackley of the Wildboyz
  • Appeared in the National Geographic TV series Auction Packed
  • Jr. Jedi Knight, Awarded by Jedi Master William Flannery during U.S. Masters Swim Practice :-)


Favorite Dive Sites

  • Caves: High Springs, Fla.; Marianna, Fla.; Freeport, Grand Bahama Island
  • Wrecks: Alexandria Bay, N.Y.; Morehead City, N.C.; Bermuda
  • Marine Life: Catalina Island, Calif.; Key Largo, Fla.; Porthkerris, Cornwall, England
  • Reefs: St. Lucia; Turks & Caicos; Bonaire
  • Lakes: Dutch Springs, Pa.; Kingston, Ont.; Skaneateles, N.Y. 
  • Drift Dives: Brockville, Ont.; Rainbow River, Fla.; Niagara River, N.Y. 
  • Night Dives: Ginnie Springs, Fla.; Bonaire; Narragansett, R.I. 
  • Deep Dives: Keystorm, St. Lawrence River; U-853 Block Island, R.I.; Bloody Bay Wall, Little Cayman
  • Tech Dives: J.B. King, Brockville, Ont.; Roy A. Jodrey, Alexandria Bay, N.Y.; Blue Hole, Nassau, Bahamas
  • Freediving: Dutch Springs, Pa.; La  Jolla Cove, San Diego, Calif.; Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands 



Trace Malinowski's Resume

About TRACE