Justin “Doc” Grimes is one of the owners of River City Scuba and a highly experienced, safety-focused scuba instructor and technical diver. He has been diving since the late 1990s and has been a certified scuba instructor since 2002.
After college, Justin spent several years backpacking and traveling the world, eventually settling in Australia where he worked as a full-time scuba instructor. There, he logged extensive dives and trained divers from around the globe on iconic sites such as the Great Barrier Reef and the historic Yongala wreck. Those years shaped a practical, real-world approach to diving built on preparation, awareness, and respect for the underwater environment.
Justin later returned to the United States and spent several years in Fort Lauderdale, where diving remained a central part of everyday life. He owned his own boat and spent most weekends diving offshore wrecks and reefs or shore diving throughout South Florida, including South Beach and the Florida Keys. Constant time in the water across changing conditions and environments reinforced a calm, adaptable, and safety-first teaching style.
Justin’s path also included military service, during which he served on active duty as an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon at Fort Bragg, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, and Fort Benning, while continuing to dive whenever possible.
Justin is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, a technical diver, and also holds instructor certifications with SSI, SDI, and TDI. While River City Scuba teaches within its chosen agency pathways, his cross-agency background brings a broad perspective on diver education and best practices. His instruction emphasizes strong fundamentals, situational awareness, and thoughtful progression, preparing divers for real-world diving rather than simply meeting minimum standards.
Justin is a husband and father of four, and River City Scuba reflects a family-centered, community-driven vision.
For Justin, great diving is built on preparation, respect for the environment, and a genuine love of exploration.
