Expert: Gary Shonert - 8/20/2009

Question
Gary;
I graduated from Coastal in Fall of 1973.  I saw from one of your earlier posts that Coastal has closed.  Do you know when it closed?  Do you know if there is any information or photos on line from Coastal?  Thanks!  -Mark

Answer
Hello Mark, I believe i saw an article on it's closing quite a while back, and if i am correct it would have been in 1989, but i am not 100% sure. It might have been 1991. I have not seen anything online as far as photos or info. about Coastal. You might find a reference to Sparling School of Diving...(The original name...under the first owner...Erv Cross, who stared it in 1947) You also might check some of the Archived editions of Skin Diver Magazine, as they may have an article written up about Coastal's closure. Don't know if Capt. A. Mikalow is still alive, or has since passed on, but i hope this helps you. Take care and thanks, Gary.