The writing on the wall of the Wave gas station in East Moriches tells Ozzy Kurtoglu’s story at a glance: “Traded Fins for Fuel Pumps.”
Once a deep-sea diver working on shipwrecks and pipelines across the Mediterranean and Black Sea, Ozzy now fuels cars instead of exploring the ocean depths.
Born in Turkey, he came to the U.S. to bone up on his English. But a degree in Marine Diving Technology launched him into a globe-trotting career. He salvaged sunken vessels, installed underwater pipelines, and even placed a memorial plaque on a Turkish submarine lost years ago. Adventures took him from Hawaii to the Caribbean, but he found his true anchor on Long Island.
“I love the South Shore,” Ozzy says, nodding toward Moriches Bay, just down the road from his station. “The waters are good for diving, and the community is very friendly. It feels like home.”
He hasn’t left the sea behind. Ozzy taught his daughter Reyhan to dive, and they explore local shipwrecks together, from Moriches Inlet to nearby reefs. Cold or murky waters don’t dampen his passion; the fish, wrecks, and underwater history keep him engaged with Mother Ocean.
Running the Wave has brought stability and rooted him in the community. The station displays his old windsurfing board and offers Turkish goods alongside everyday items. A mural, by Ukraine artist Karina Smyrnova, was inspired by his diving past and links his adventurous history with his current life.
“I’m not diving professionally anymore,” he admits, “but I’ve brought the sea here in a way. People see the mural and smile. It makes me feel at home.”
For Ozzy, the South Shore is more than work—it’s a harbor, a place to create memories with his daughter, and a community as welcoming as the waves he loves.