Glenn McFarland

Glenn’s journey into Scuba Diving started in 1979 at J Rich Sports,  a sporting goods store in Houston, Texas.  Jack Rich opened the first dive shop in Texas in the early 1950's, a time of true discovery for the new sport.  Working for Mr. Rich provided a world class education for anyone wanting to start a career in diving.  In 1986 Glenn opened his own business, The Great Outdoors, in Austin, Texas. The shop specialized in adventure sports.  By 1989 the business was relocated to Guadalupe St, and renamed Austin Aqua Sports where it operated for twenty years.  

“Glenn’s vision of diving was born out of a true pioneering spirit”. 

From the very beginning, providing outstanding service has been at the core of Glenn’s focus. His commitment to quality and his passion for adventure has made him a valuable provider for a number of world class projects. Throughout the eighties and nineties Glenn provided technical support for Jim Bowden’s exploratory work in the caves of northern Mexico.  Jim and Glenn spent hundreds of hours configuring and modifying equipment to meet the extreme demands he put on his gear.  Traveling  with Jim  and his team on expedition further enhanced Glenn's education.  Legendary divers made up Jim's crew;  Sheck Exley, Dr. Bill Stone, Dr. Ann Kristovich, Dr. Marcus Gary and many others, regularly provided their expertise "pushing human potential" and redefining exploration.  This amazing collective of explorers provided a unique opportunity for Glenn to learn from the best of the best in the discipline.  An enormous knowledge base was gained during that period of Glenn’s life. The extraordinary people involved in the cave diving community, helped Glenn to expand his skills as well as his understanding of the "dignity of risk".  After the death of Sheck Exley (during Jim’s world record setting dive in 1994), Glenn refocused his interests to serve another community, divers with disabilities.  

"We are all disabled underwater", became Glenn's mantra. 

The complexities of keeping a diver with disabilities alive underwater can be every bit as challenging as sustaining a diver in a cave or at extreme depth.  Making Scuba available to this underserved group was a natural fit for someone like Glenn.   Everything Glenn has learned from his experiences and his mentors blends together seamlessly to ensure things go as planned. 

“It would be hard to find a more comprehensive safety protocol than cave diving”. 

For over a decade, Glenn provided support and training to a wide variety of people with developmental disabilities.  Hundreds of people of all ages and abilities discovered the underwater world in Glenn’s pool behind his dive shop on Guadalupe. The new millennium brought a new discipline and a new explorer into Glenn’s life, when Tanya Streeter came to see him for a very different reason. Tanya wanted to set a new world record for a "No Limits" Freedive.  Although Glenn had limited expertise in this extreme discipline, his reputation for problem solving, broad palette of skills and willingness to embrace the unknown combined to help Tanya reach her goal.

“In 2001 she plunged to a depth of 525 feet, while holding her breath”.

Glenn’s willingness to take on challenging projects, his skills and knowledge of diving, and his commitment to the success of the mission has made him instrumental in helping others reach their goals.
Glenn has spent a lifetime honing his skills and perfecting his techniques.  Although High Adventure is his passion, education is what Glenn works the hardest on.  Even though Glenn has spent a lifetime meeting the needs of some of the world's most elite divers, Glenn's focus is the new diver.

“Every journey starts with the first step.  Starting off in the right direction helps to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience”. 

Contact Glenn to see how he can help you on your journey.