Instructor and Staff Biographies
Alan Golden is one of the head instructors for our classes.
Alan has been a certified diver since 1983. After his initial open water certification, he started working with his instructor Lou Nesslar and helping out with Scuba classes in several locations. In 1991, Alan received a scholarship to a YMCA Scuba instructor institute held at Ball State University. He began teaching at the North Suburban YMCA soon after he was certified as an instructor and has been there ever since. In 1998 Alan became a YMCA Scuba Instructor Trainer, able to certify other instructors.
Certifications:
- Open Water - 1983
- Instructor 1991
- Instructor Trainer 1998
Specialty Instructor in:
- Scuba Lifesaving and Accident Management (Rescue)
- Underwater Photography
- Wreck Diving
- Coral Reef Ecology
Since learning how to dive, Alan has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel all over the world to dive. His principal interest, other than teaching diving is underwater photography. After years of shooting film with Nikonos and housed film cameras, I have made the switch to digital and use a housed Nikon D-SLR. I also enjoy Great Lakes wreck diving.
In my life outside of diving, I have a masters degree in molecular biology and immunochemistry and have worked for Abbott Laboratories in Chicago since 1987. I live in Wilmette, Illinois with my wife (also a diver) and our two very spoiled cats.