Born in Istanbul in 1969, Asutay Akbayır completed his secondary education at the French College Saint Michel before pursuing his high school education at the Naval High School, affiliated with the Naval Forces Command, and his university education at the Middle East Technical University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. Fluent in Turkish, French, and English, Asutay is married and a father of a daughter.
Experience in the Information TechnologySector - 17 Years of Sector Leadership
During his university years from 1988 to 1992, Asutay worked at two separate information technology companies, and in 1992, he founded his first corporation, “Ak-Sis Computer Systems Ltd.” This company provided computer hardware services from July 3, 1992, to November 30, 2008, for approximately 17 years. During this period, Ak-Sis Computer Systems Ltd. became one of Turkiye's leading information technology companies, engaged in the import, assembly, distribution, and technical service of PC hardware, boasting over 300 dealers nationwide. In late 1990’s Asutay and his team were recognized as the "Most Successful Wholesaler" by industry leaders.
Experience in Diving Tourism - 39 Years of Ongoing Diving Professionalism
Inspired by the experiences of his father, Yüksel AKBAYIR, who was one of Turkiye's first Navy Seal Commandos in the early 1960s and served as the Commander of the “Rescue and Underwater Command” attached to the Naval Forces Command for many years, Asutay Akbayir decided to become a scuba diver. Asutay, who received his first scuba diving training in 1983, completed a three-month course opened within the Naval Forces in 1987 and earned his first professional diver certificate. Between 1988 and 1992, Asutay took on active roles in the Middle East Technical University Underwater Society. In 1990, he obtained the Underwater Sports Federation Guide Diver license and founded his second company under the name Aqua Club Diving School Ltd. in Ankara in 1996. Rising to the level of "Instructor Trainer" (CMAS 3 Star Instructor) at the Turkish Underwater Sports Federation in 1997, Asutay continued his operations in both training organizations by succeeding in the PADI Diving Instructor Exams.
Known in the industry for his unique style of promoting diving and efforts to preserve the memories of legendary divers, Asutay obtained the title of PADI Course Director by completing the training process held in Malaysia in 2006. Having completed training in leading technical diving organizations such as PADI/DSAT, TDI, and IANDT concurrently in the same year, Asutay also obtained the title of Instructor Trainer in Technical Deep Diving and Trimix Diving.
Training over 7,000 divers, diving instructors, and dive leaders between 1996 and 2018, Asutay organized a total of over 600 travel organizations to countries such as the Maldives, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, and Cyprus in addition to the entire coastal strip of Turkiye, enabling over 20,000 passengers to meet these wonderful diving destinations. During this period, Asutay filmed a 6-part Underwater Documentary Film for Turkish Radio and Television Corporation to contribute to Turkish Diving Tourism.
Ensuring the deep-water safety of athletes with the Mixed Gas Technical Deep Dive Team he trained at three Free World Championships held during these years, Asutay conducted operational dives to depths of up to 150 meters. He has been awarded multiple times by many institutions, particularly the Ankara Governorate, due to the trainings he provided to numerous state institutions, including the Armed Forces, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie, Police, and Civil Defense Units. Ultimately, he served in Turkmenistan for a while for the underwater training of the Special Forces.
