Transcript Episode 3: Saving Long Island Dive Sites | Barry Lipsky & LIDA

Episode 3: Saving Long Island Dive Sites | Barry Lipsky & LIDA

Brittany (00:00)

Hello, welcome to the Dive Long Island podcast. I am your host, Brittany McCabe, and with me today is

the President of LIDA, Barry Lipsky. Barry, thank you for being on the show.

Barry (00:11)

Good morning. This is great—coming out here into the Hamptons, looking at your wallpaper with all the

ocean and the waves, and saying it’s time for the winter march into early spring. Let’s go diving.

Brittany (00:24)

Before we get into LIDA, I’d like to start where it all began. Do you remember when you first started

diving?

Barry (00:38)

About 57 years ago, a friend introduced me. My first breath underwater was in a pool in Bellmore at a

place called the Watershed. I remember thinking—this is the coolest thing I ever did. I’ve never been

bored diving since.

Brittany (01:33)

Did you get certified that day?

Barry (01:42)

No, I dove for about two years before getting certified through the YMCA in 1970. Back then,

certifications were rare.

Barry (02:17)

We did mostly shore dives—Levittown, Seaford, Wantagh. We followed cables underwater, recovered

anchors, and sold them to pay for dive fills. We had no pressure gauges, so we learned to feel our air

consumption.

Barry (03:56)

We used J-valves—when you ran out of air, you pulled the lever and got about 500 PSI to exit.

Barry (05:24)

We had minimal gear—mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit, tank, regulator. Today’s divers would look like

astronauts to us back then.

Barry (08:10)

In 1974, I went to Key Largo, fixed a boat engine, and ended up diving two full seasons as a

divemaster, doing hundreds of dives and learning leadership skills.

Barry (11:47)

I used freediving to build confidence with groups—leading them underwater on a single breath. It

helped establish trust quickly.

Barry (16:10)

I went to Mississippi State University, started in pre-med, switched to education, became a teacher,

then moved into construction full-time.

Barry (20:35)

I later became involved in public safety diving through the fire department, training divers including

those preparing for pararescue and Navy SEAL programs.

Barry (21:23)

Training starts with mask control, then breath-hold drills, underwater tasks, and survival techniques.

Barry (25:08)

Public safety diving is immediate—alarm goes off, gear up in the truck, in the water within

minutes—often in zero visibility conditions.

Barry (33:30)

LIDA stands for the Long Island Divers Association. We focus on access, conservation, and education.

Barry (35:25)

We helped restore access to the HMS Culloden by working with East Hampton to rebuild safe access

stairs.

Barry (38:56)

We helped save Ponquogue Bridge after Superstorm Sandy by demonstrating its ecological

importance.

Barry (44:31)

We regained access to Secret Beach by working with Greenport and establishing trust with local

officials.

Barry (48:03)

We worked with Governor Andrew Cuomo to create the 12 Mile Reef—an artificial reef for divers at

deeper depths.

Barry (53:20)

Artificial reefs transform barren sand into thriving ecosystems that support marine life.

Barry (55:54)

My passion came from seeing ‘No Trespassing’ signs as a kid—I wanted to change that, and we did.

Barry (58:15)

LIDA now focuses on liveaboard safety education—helping divers prepare for emergencies at sea.

Barry (1:06:27)

What keeps me diving is introducing others to the underwater world—that first breath never loses its

magic.

Barry (1:08:24)

Favorite dive site: Ponquogue Bridge and Long Island wrecks like the USS San Diego.

Barry (1:12:27)

I’m most proud of LIDA’s accomplishments in preserving dive site access.

Barry (1:13:22)

Learn more at www.lidaonline.com.

Brittany (End)

Thank you for listening. Follow and subscribe, and I’ll see you between dives.