June marks one year since Conch Republic Divers, located at Tavernier Creek Marina, got new owners. Dave and Ashley Hudson moved to the Keys from Texas to pursue their dream. The Keys Weekly recently sat down with Ashley to learn about their history and what’s new at this popular dive center.
My husband Dave has been a scuba instructor since he was 18. I got certified in 2007 when I was with my mom in Texas. Dave had a dive shop in central Texas. He certified divers in the shop, and then they would go on a trip — Bahamas, Bon Air, Mexico, the Keys, etc. for the practical certification.
In 2010, my mom, sister and I were going on a cruise. He had a scuba program in his shop, and I went into his shop to try to get scuba information for my sister. He also had a printing shop on the side and offered to do some work.
In 2012, he was going through a divorce, and I was as well. He was in the BVI, and I came into the shop to get my order, and his mom noticed the difference in my name; his mom said, “My son is going through a divorce too; you are so cute, and you two should meet.” When I came in to finalize the artwork on the order, we started talking.
I was in health care for 20 years and would go to work to build up enough PTO to get to the ocean. A man we knew on our travels had asked why I went to work and then said, “Wow, then you’re an idiot. If that’s what you love and that’s why you go to work every day, then you should find something that gets you on the water.” It was a catalyst.
In December of 2021, Dave had a massive heart attack, which was a genetic factor. It was eye-opening as it made us realize that life is short, and if we are going to live these dreams one day, then we need to live today and not put it off. At the 90-day mark, and he was all clear, we started thinking about finding something on the water.
So, on Memorial Day weekend, 2022, Dave got an email that Conch Republic was for sale. We came down on June 4, shook hands on June 6, I left health care on the 23rd, left Texas on the 27th, and was here on June 30. Every single puzzle piece came together, including a place to live. Our entire journey has been about timing.
We run two trips a day — morning and afternoon. All of our dives are two tanks, one-hour dives for each tank, and a different location. Each diver has a timing device. The one hour starts after the briefing and as long as the air consumption allows it. It’s how the shop has always done things.
A typical shop has group dives with a divemaster in the water, and then when someone has low air, they all come up. We prefer everyone to have a dive buddy, and if you are a single diver, we will see if you want to hire a guide or pair you off with someone else.
We get a lot of locals. We are an independent type of experience and get a lot of experienced divers. And we refer to other shops if someone is more interested in diving with someone in the water.
We’ve updated the shop with big screen TVs, sunscreen, towels, sunglasses and sunglass floats, and hats for the people that need things to rent boats, as there is a rent-a-boat company at Tavernier Creek Marina.
We remodeled the upstairs, so we have a nice-sized classroom, and downstairs has cubbies for people to place their stuff. We organized, cleaned and painted the whole shop — really opened and freshened up the space.
We did a total makeover on the Republic Diver, our 46-foot Newton — new engines, a new deck, wrap, solar, infrared, night vision and radar. When we have over 20 divers, we add another mate for safety. Our mates and divemasters don’t go in the water. We let people dive, which is different from other dive boats.
Our new vessel is a 30-foot Island Hopper called Mermaid Diver. She’s inspired by the AJ Bailey Adventure Novels; thanks to local author Nicholas Harvey.
I am so excited to be here every day. And everyone who comes here wants to be here. People feel that when they come in. They tell me, “I love the crew and the energy; everything’s so positive.” And it’s blossomed. Most of our divemasters are 1099 contractors who do this because they love diving; several have been with us for a long time.
Coming from health care, it’s refreshing. I want people to enjoy what they are doing. This is what we get to do for work — it’s amazing!.For more information and to schedule conchrepublicdivers.com. Follow @conchrepublicdivers on Facebook or Instagram.
