VETERAN OWNED
THE MISSION
Precision Depth Diving was founded by two veterans who discovered clarity and peace underwater. In the technical world of cave diving, they found the discipline and focus to grow. Our mission is to pass on joy of scuba diving to everyone. We also provide a professional, safe environment where veterans seeking post-traumatic growth and civilians striving for technical excellence can build skills, resilience, and purpose. It is more than instruction; it is a disciplined approach to personal growth through the art of precision diving.
Tony Daly-Crews, Co-Owner
I’m a husband, a father, a disabled combat veteran, and a lifelong student of disciplined, high-consequence environments.
I began diving in 2008 and quickly found myself drawn to cave diving. The precision, preparation, and accountability required in the overhead environment resonated with me immediately. On my 18th birthday, I was inside the Devil’s Cave system working on my Intro to Cave course — a full-circle moment for someone who grew up swimming in the springs of Ocala, Florida and staring at the “Do Not Enter” signs with curiosity and respect.
Shortly after beginning my diving journey, I enlisted in the military. Following a motorcycle accident and the demands of service, I stepped away from diving for over a decade. During that time, I earned my degree in biology, built a family, deployed to Iraq, and developed a professional career in environmental and wildlife permitting.
I also founded The Rattlesnake Conservancy, an international nonprofit dedicated to rattlesnake conservation and public safety. There, I designed and taught a structured curriculum focused on safe, responsible work with venomous reptiles. That experience is where I discovered my passion for teaching, breaking down complex, high-risk skills into disciplined, repeatable systems that build confidence and competence.
When I returned to diving, it wasn’t alone. My neighbor Daniel, a Navy combat veteran, father of four, and avid diver, and I had both found our way back to the water for many of the same reasons. What started as conversations over the fence between two dads with toddlers just a week apart in age turned into dive trips, shared projects, and eventually a business partnership.
Our friendship was built first on family, service, and mutual respect. Diving simply strengthened it. We approach things the same way, disciplined, methodical, and focused on doing it right. Building this business together wasn’t a sudden idea; it grew naturally out of years of trust, shared experiences, and countless dives.
Cave diving remains my greatest passion, not for adrenaline, but for preparation, precision, and continual growth. I am always learning, always refining, and committed to becoming not just a better diver, but a capable and disciplined instructor.
Daniel Presley, Co-Owner
I’m a husband, a father of four, a disabled Navy combat veteran, and a lifelong builder at heart.
Originally from Tennessee, my path eventually brought me to Jacksonville through my service in the Navy. After my time in uniform, my family and I put down roots here. A few years later, Tony and his family built a house next door where we met. Our kids ended up being born just over a week apart (completely unplanned), and what started as neighbors quickly turned into a close friendship built around family, service, and diving.
I’ve always been drawn to technical systems. My background in avionics taught me to think methodically, troubleshoot under pressure, and respect the details, because in aviation, the details matter. That mindset naturally translated into technical and cave diving, where preparation, redundancy, and discipline are everything.
I’m an avid cave and technical diver, and like many who are drawn to the overhead environment, I appreciate the structure and focus it demands. There’s something deeply rewarding about executing a dive plan well and knowing that your preparation paid off.
Outside of diving, teaching and mentoring are important parts of who I am. I spend much of my free time coaching youth baseball and softball. Watching kids grow in confidence, skill, and teamwork is something I genuinely enjoy. Whether it’s on a field or underwater, I value helping others build competence the right way — safely and deliberately.
Within our business, I serve as the Technical Director for repairs and rebuilds. I handle DPV servicing and upgrades, battery rebuilds for canister lights, DPVs, and heating systems, and most of the technical troubleshooting that comes through our door. I’ve always loved taking things apart, understanding how they work, and putting them back together better than before.
If it has wires, seals, bearings, or a battery pack — I probably want to work on it.
At the end of the day, I’m passionate about building reliable equipment, being a dependable teammate, and helping others pursue diving with the right foundation.
Mission & Core Values
Safety is our absolute foundation. We prioritize technical mastery through muscle memory and disciplined instruction, ensuring that every diver, from entry level to advanced, approaches the water with precision and preparation.
Our mission is to foster post-traumatic growth by utilizing the focused discipline of scuba diving. We provide a professional environment where veterans find renewed purpose and resilience through structured mentorship and focus.
Expertise extends beyond the dive. Our craftsmanship in DPV repair and battery building represents our commitment to technical precision. We apply the same mission-driven focus to your gear as we do to cave exploration.