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In January, 1998, I mentioned to a friend that I would love one day to learn how to Scuba dive. She said that her husband was interested in selling his scuba equipment (in order to fund an obscenely expensive putter). I was immediately interested, and she arranged for me to purchase the items in February. For a great price, I got an old Scubapro BCD with an A.I.R. 2, regulator, mask, snorkle, fins and booties. I took them home, happy as a clam. Within a week, I had gone to my local dive shop, the Blue Dolphin II, and signed up for a PADI Open Water class for myself and my son, James.
To my dismay, I found that the BC was far too small for me to wear. I therefore decided to give the BC and regulator to James. We started our pool sessions in March, and went out for out certification dives at Blue Stone Dive Resort (a nice little quarry near Thomasville, NC) at the end of April. Naturally, a quarry in April looks cool, but it's bloody cold, and I needed a thick wet suit. Being rather large (in all three dimensions, if you MUST know!), the dive shop was unable to provide a wet suit my size. They tried to get me into a suit borrowed from an employee, but it didn't work out. James completed his certification before me (being skinny as a rail, and having no sizing problems - oh how I envy him!).
So, I was forced to get a custom made suit (I was long since committed to this hobby). I called Ocean Ray in Wilmington, and they had a new, form fitting suit on my doorstep in less than a week. I then spent a little extra money to get my glasses prescription mounted permanently in a new Zeagle purge mask (so I could see - a little added plus!), and I was pretty well set. In May, James went to the Bahamas with the Honors Chorus (from Southeast Guilford High School) and dove on a reef there. I finished my certification that month, and I've been diving as often as possible ever since.
The week after Labor day, we went to Wilmington, and dove on some wrecks just off the coast. I tried taking some photos on that dive, but the flash wouldn't operate - bummer. In the middle of October, I took the Advanced Open Water certification, so I'm on my way!
My plan is eventually to become a professional diving instructor, and possibly a search and recovery diver also. Anything to make it possible to pay back the investment in equipment I've made.
I'll keep you posted on my advancement. Thanks to Boy Scouts, I won't have any trouble skipping directly to Rescue Diver classes next spring. What a rush!
5/23/99: Time for an update!
Here's a few photos from our fish-feeding trip last month:
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In June, James will be taking PADI Advanced Open Water certification, and I will be taking my Rescue Diver certification. Talk about FUN!
1/19/2000: Another update.
At Christmas, I finally got a good underwater camera. The day was freezing outside, and for SOME reason, James refused to go diving with me to try it out! Anyway, this spring, I'll be going with the whole family to the Bahamas (another choral cruise-trip thingy) and I'll plan to dive with it then.
On another front, I'm trying to gather together enough money for an un-planned expense - having my custom-made wet suit altered. Last spring, I was diagnosed with diabetes. As a result, I have been on a weight-reduction plan (diet, exercise) and I've lost close to 100 lbs. As you'd expect, this has resulted in a little more room in my wet suit than is good for me, si I'll be contacting Ocean Ray soon. I also plan to get some plastic-dipped knee pads installed, hoping to make this suit last as long as possible, you see.
1/27/2001: The latest and greatest.
Much went on over the past year. I had to take a work assignment in Mississippi (no diving available around Jackson) and took one really good diving trip out of Wilmington. I shot nearly a roll of film on the wreck dive on the Markham, but I haven't gotten the film developed yet. That will come shortly, and new photos will arrive here as soon as possible.
On tap for this year: a trip for the family to Hawaii. We'll be spending a week on Oahu, and I intend to get as much diving done as possible, with James in tow, naturally. Lucky us, we got to go on 4 truly great dives. And we managed to get some really neat pics (finally!)
