Jack’s Diving Locker

Teri and Jeffrey Leicher, co-managing partners, Jack's Diving Locker

Starting with one boat, a 240-square-foot location and $20,000 in sales in 1982, Kailua-Kona-based Jack’s Diving Locker today is a $3 million operation with two stores, five boats and the state’s only
12-foot-deep dive pool. It is a full-service dive shop offering kamaaina and visitors all levels of instruction, from introductory dives to instructor certification.

Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, co-managing partners (and husband and wife) Jeffrey and Teri Leicher have seen Jack’s garner many retail awards, including Scuba Diving magazine’s Best Dive Operator First Place Award for top-of-the-line instruction in swimming, snorkeling, scuba equipment sales and service and customized boat tours to more than 80 exciting dive sites.

“What we’re really proud of is incorporating the protection and preservation of Hawaii’s ocean resources into our professional and volunteer work,” says Teri, whose company’s community activities include Organizer of the Ocean Conservancy International Coastal Cleanup and Official Dive Shop for the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The company received the 2005 State Legislature’s Hawaii Living Reef Award for the Ocean Recreation Division and the 2001 American Red Cross Hero of the Year Award for Marine Environment. In the future, the company plans to create a nonprofit Ocean Center to expand its marine education programs, including scholarships for children.

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