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| 130 SW Monroe Ave Mayo, Florida 32066 (386) 294-3377 |
Scuba World’s roots in this community go all the way back to the days when sporting
good stores were the only place to find swim and scuba (self contained underwater
breathing apparatus) equipment. Ed Peasley was the owner of Edgewood Sports Center
(later Jim Hollis´ Scuba World) located in Orlando. Ed was one of the first businessmen
to cater to the new sport of scuba diving in the 1950s and ‘60s. In the early years of
scuba diving there was very little industry policing of the sport, and Ed did something
that you would never see today, a coin operated air fill station, truly ahead of his time
for diver convenience.
Jim Hollis purchased the business from Ed in 1969, and for the next 30 years brought
scuba diving to the residents of Central Florida. Jim was one of two early pioneers of
the scuba industry in Central Florida, the other being Hal Watts. Jim trained thousands
to scuba dive. Many were trained all the way through the leadership levels.
Today nearly every scuba store in Central Florida is owned and operated by someone
Jim trained. In 1970, Jim moved Scuba World to its present location on East Colonial
Drive, and this scuba shop has become the cornerstone for scuba diving in Central
Florida ever since.
In the 1970s Scuba World underwent several building and business expansions. The
store was expanded to over 2,000 square feet of showroom, and the business expanded
to 2 additional stores. Scuba II was opened on South OBT in 1978, and Scuba III was
opened in Altamonte Springs on Highways 436 and 434 in 1979.
Jim began the ‘80s by owning and operating a dive boat out of West Palm Beach, the
Scuba IV. Scuba IV operated until 1987. The ‘80s were also a change in focus for
Scuba World.
Jim sold most of his satellite stores and the dive boat and reinvested in a rustic river
getaway in Mayo, Florida. Jim Hollis´ River Rendezvous was the best of the best for
cave and spring divers. After several wonderful years, the Rendezvous was sold in 2003.
That same year Jim continued the Scuba World saga and opened Scuba 7 in downtown
Mayo. Scuba 7 operates today as a family owned and operated store with Jim's step-
daughter and son-in-law at the helm!
During the 30+ years of owning and operating Scuba World, Jim organized and lead
hundreds of dive trips to such places as Belize, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Little
Cayman, Cayman Brac, Jamaica, Roaton, Haiti, Bimini, Turks and Caicos, Walkers Cay
and the Red Sea. Throughout this period students of Scuba World repeatedly explored
the Florida Keys, both Florida Coasts and northern Florida springs.
| Our Story |
| Site Map Home / Equipment / Scuba Courses / Service & Repair / Contact Us All images and content Copyright 2008 - 2012. Jim Hollis Scuba 7 and Infinite Blue LLC all Rights Reserved. Website Created by Infinite Blue LLC. If you have Questions or Concerns Regarding this website Please Contact our Webmaster at webmaster@jhscuba7.com |
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| The Original Scuba World |
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