Our Story,

Early in 2015 Ron and Dee, Owners of Ron's Scuba Shop, decided that it was time that 13 11th Street West change back to residential. After many conversations between Ron and Steve, it was agreed that Steve would relocate the air fill station to a new location, a new beginning. With the taste of a new freedom, it soon followed that Ron signed over the remaining business assets and closed up shop on 11th Street West.

Why Steve and Darlene Guindon (Owners)

Once upon a time...... as a teenager playing at Apple Hill Quarry, a curious Steve saw his first scuba divers gearing up and diving. Being a competitive swimmer at the time and his love for the water, he began to question where they got the equipment and where they learned to dive.

Within days he was standing in Ron's Scuba Shop, signed up for the course and on his way. What neither of them anticipated was the bond that was created.

For the remainder of his teenage years, Steve followed Ron and dove as much as possible. This is where he began to meet his extended family!!

Years later, with his wife and kids, his hometown of Cornwall was calling him back. His first stop, Ron's Scuba Shop.

In the years that followed, where you saw one you seen the other. Steve has assisted Ron in the classroom and for open water checkouts for many years. He has continued to take his dives to depths that many aspire to achieve.

He has worked as a commercial diver servicing ice beams for Ontario Hydro and the city of Cornwall servicing water intakes, adding to his level of experience.

That day in history, when Steve first walked into Ron's, neither knew that the student was the protege and that the Captain was the Great Master. It was destiny and with that handshake, it was not the closing of Ron's Scuba Shop and the beginning of O2ToGo Dive Centre, rather it was the passing of the baton.  

Kyle Alguire (Manager)

A month before O2ToGo Dive Centre first opened it's doors, Kyle would call Ron's Scuba Shop his new employment for the month. Kyle overshadowed Ron MacDonald learning how to properly inspect and fill tanks. He quickly learned how to service and maintain scuba equipment and how to thoroughly and properly test it out after to ensure proper use for it's owner. This not being enough, Kyle would then take all courses related to inspecting and servicing scuba equipment and became a certified technician through SSI/TDI. Exploring more options and wanting to learn more, he would also become certified to inspect, clean, handle and mix with the use of Medical grade Oxygen.

The friendly face and smile that everyone who has opened the doors at O2ToGo has come to know and respect.

Although a land lover, his passion for your sport is alive through each and every diver.

He has built up his knowledge of equipment and management skills added to his pleasant personality making him the face of O2ToGo Dive Centre.

One of Kyle's biggest passions is soccer. He gets to share this love with his 3 younger children. His 3 younger children play and compete in the sport at a competitive level. Having played as a kid with the pleasure of his father being his coach, he understands the demand that comes with the training and organizing. Kyle actively volunteers with indoor and outdoor soccer all year long. He sits in on the committee board in helping organize a fun, learning and development atmosphere for young athletes. You will find Kyle, 5 days a week in the winter and 6 days a week during the summer coaching boys soccer at all age levels whether it be recreational or competitive.

Ron MacDonald

Captain, Dive Master, Guru, Instructor, Friend. All titles he handles very well and with respect.

James Pickett (PADI Instructor)

           Captain (Ret’d) James Pickett was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1960 and entered the Canadian Forces on December 1, 1986. After completing his basic trades and language training he was posted to Cold Lake Alberta where he was the Executive Assistant to the Wing Logistics Officer. Of note, he was tasked with coordinating the recovery operations for a downed CF-18 in Inuvik, NWT within his first month of service in Cold Lake. During the war in the Persian Gulf in 1990 - 91, then Lieutenant Pickett, was involved with the planning and controlling of the deployment of 416 Tactical Fighter Squadron from Cold Lake. After the cessation of hostilities, he served in various positions within Base Transportation, culminating in the position of Base Transportation Officer.

            In 1992, Capt. Pickett was deployed to Cyprus as a Peacekeeper where he served as the Canadian Contingent’s Movements Officer. It proved to be a most interesting tour, as he was tasked to plan for the redeployment of all Canadian personnel serving with UNFICYP. The closure of the mission did not happen as expected and the remainder of his tour, with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment went without incident. As an English-speaking officer with a French speaking unit, Capt. Pickett found that his first challenge was to ensure proper communications within his own unit, then he had to work out communications with the Turkish and Greek combatants. Although sometimes this proved difficult, ultimately everyone was able to work well together making for a pleasant learning experience for all concerned.

            Upon completion of his UN tour, Capt. Pickett returned to Cold Lake. In 1993 he was posted to North Bay where he ran 22 Wing Transportation Squadron. While there his love of history was re-ignited when the Wing Commander asked him to write the History of the Wing. The result was the publication of the book “Into the Sausage Machine” which provides the official history of the first all-Canadian fighter Wing of the Second World War. In 1995 Capt. Pickett was transferred to 8 Wing Trenton where he served as a Mobile Air Movements Officer with 2 Air Movements Squadron. While there he coordinated all air transportation requirements for the G7 Conference in Halifax, and spent time on operations in Germany, Sicily, England and Greenland. In addition, he attended night classes at Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, earning his master’s degree. His decision to specialize in the history of the R.C.A.F. resulted in being recommended for the position of Chief Air Force Historian. 

            On December 1, 1998, Major Pickett was transferred to the office of Air Force Heritage and History at 1 CAD HQ in Winnipeg, MB as the Chief Air Force Historian and Deputy Chief of Protocol for Air Command. Shortly thereafter, on 30 April 1999, he was deployed to Aviano, Italy, as part of the Canadian NATO Contingent. He returned to Canada at the beginning of July following the successful completion of the bombing campaign in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. While in Italy he was tasked with maintaining the War Diaries for the Canadian Task Force of 18 CF18’s and some 300 service men and women. He is currently involved in writing his second book, a book on the history of the Kosovo Air Campaign. He returned to Canada after serving in the War on Terrorism, Operation APOLLO, from April to October 2002 as the Adjutant of the Canadian National Command Element with U.S. Central Command in Tampa Florida. On 22 August 2005 Capt. Pickett was honored by the Canadian Air Force when he was given the lifetime appointment of Associate Air Force Historian.

James Pickett is an active member of the Air Force Association of Canada and Canada’s National History Society. He has taught history for the Royal Military College of Canada, and adult education for Brock University, and until recently was the Director of Saint Leo Universities North-East Florida Center in the School of Continuing Education. He is presently employed as a project manager with Service Canada. He was an Associate Research Fellow with the Centre for Defence & Security Studies at the University of Manitoba from 1999 until 2003 and has recently completed his Doctorate in Educational Leadership. He is married to Naomi and has four children, Jonathon, Nicholas, Hannah, and Samantha.