If you want to be a skilled diver, Two Fathoms is the place. While I wasn’t sure the route I wanted to go, I knew I wanted to be a very skilled diver. A diver that could choose to go on any trip and have the skills. Two Fathoms determined a path based on my goals, educated me on the different agencies, skills and paths. Hands down the most thorough training I have received and explained the differences between equipment, skills, certifications, paths, etc. The support outside of class is second to none; highly invested in their students. Highly recommend.
Working with Jessy Thompson and Two Fathoms Diving has been an incredible experience. The knowledge, professionalism, and commitment to quality scuba training has helped me grow from a student into a confident and capable scuba instructor.
Throughout all of my training, Jessy has been patient, encouraging, and always willing to take the extra time to explain techniques, answer questions, and help me improve. His real-world experience and passion for diving made every training session both valuable and enjoyable.
I am truly grateful for the guidance, support, and mentorship I have received. I highly recommend Jessy Thompson and Two Fathoms Diving to anyone interested in learning to dive, advancing their certifications in recreational or technical diving, or pursuing a career as a scuba instructor.
As a public safety diver, I evaluate training through the lens of operational readiness, risk management, and the ability to perform under pressure—not simply recreational proficiency. Two Fathoms Diving sets itself apart by emphasizing disciplined, mission-oriented diving from the very beginning. Their philosophy of “quality over quantity” is evident in every aspect of their training, with a strong focus on foundational skills, problem solving, buoyancy control, and standardized equipment configuration.
Instructor Jessy Thompson brings extensive real-world operational experience as Chief Diver for the Muskegon County Sheriff Dive Team, along with instructor credentials across multiple major training agencies, including ERDI, SDI, TDI, and PADI. That operational background translates directly into practical instruction that goes beyond certification requirements and prepares divers for challenging environments.
For public safety divers, consistency and teamwork are critical. Two Fathoms’ emphasis on situational awareness, and deliberate skill development creates divers who are better prepared to function safely as part of a professional team. These principles closely align with the demands of search and recovery, evidence recovery, low-visibility operations, and other public safety missions where precision and discipline are essential.
Rather than rushing students through certifications, the instructors focus on developing competence and confidence. This approach produces divers who understand not only how to perform skills, but why those skills matter in real-world operations. That mindset is invaluable for anyone involved in public safety diving, where mistakes can have serious consequences.
Jessy and Two Fathoms Diving have been invaluable in my diving journey. As an instructor Jessy is dedicated, patient, and encouraging. He always makes sure that I get the most out of any class or dive, often going beyond the requirements for a course to ensure that as a student I understand not only the theories of diving (gas planning, good buoyancy, team communication, and problem solving) but that I am able to put them into practice.
His training has allowed me to expand my goals as a technical diver beyond anything I ever thought I could do when I first started diving. Through Jessy I have had amazing opportunities to further my training, such as CCR, Advanced Nitrox/heliotrox, and deco and I am still excited to continue to learn more from Jessy.
Two Fathoms Diving is an excellent place to learn to be a good diver, from open water to CCR and I highly recommend them to anyone wanting to learn to dive, improve their skills underwater, or become a dive professional.
I consider myself extremely lucky to have started taking classes with Jessy & Two Fathoms Diving from very early in my diving journey. From recreational through technical courses, the reason I keep coming back is the true care with which each class is conducted. Jessy will meet you where you are and deliver an incredible wealth of experience in an approachable and actionable way.
During a course, you can expect a thorough pre-dive briefing along with detailed descriptions and demonstrations of the various skills to be completed. Questions are always encouraged and met with respect and encouragement. Every drill is conducted with the “Doing it Right” (DIR) principle where everything has a purpose and meaning behind it. Video feedback has been incredibly helpful to identify and understand your performance and move forward with confidence. Even after a course, I have found myself asking follow up questions which were always promptly answered. Each certification really is a ”license to learn” and I have always left feeling capable and ready to practice my newfound skills in a safe and controlled way.
Two Fathoms is one of those rare instances where you really feel that the priority is on the students’ success. If I ever felt like I needed an extra dive to hone a skill, Jessy will be the first in the water to make sure you leave confident. I can draw a clear line in my dive experiences where the confidence and safety with which I’m now conducting dives means I enjoy every moment in the water and feel equipped to address emergency situations effectively. The mentorship and support from Jessy has led me to continue my diving education far beyond anything I ever imagined. And since Two Fathoms Diving emphasizes training with the end in mind, I am so excited to see where the training will ultimately take me!
I’ve been training with Jessy Thompson at Two Fathoms Diving since my Open Water course over Memorial Day weekend in 2023, and looking back at how far I’ve come is incredible.
Since then, Jessy and his wife, Laurie, have guided me through Advanced Open Water, Dry Suit, Intro to Tech, and Advanced Nitrox. Along the way, I’ve had the opportunity to travel and dive with them on multiple trips, including two unforgettable expeditions to Tulum, Mexico, exploring the cenotes, as well as diving in Bonaire, Port Sanilac, and the Straits of Mackinac on some of the Great Lakes’ most incredible shipwrecks.
What keeps me coming back—and why I continue to train exclusively with Jessy—is his unmatched knowledge, exceptional skill, and incredible patience. From day one, he introduced me to the DIR philosophy, building a strong foundation of proper techniques, discipline, and, most importantly, safety. That training has shaped me into a more confident and capable diver and has prepared me for progressing into technical diving.
If you’re looking to learn to dive the right way—from your very first certification all the way through technical diving—I can’t recommend Jessy Thompson and Two Fathoms Diving highly enough. Investing in quality instruction is one of the best decisions you can make as a diver, and training with Jessy has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my diving journey.
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