Thank God for Dive Buddies

Short and sweet. I've been a Diver for more than 20 Years, but it has only been the last five years that I've become really and active diver. In that time I've met more fun and interesting people than the 15 years before. I wish I would have been more active sooner!

Now that I've become a Divemaster and a PADI professional, I've bee able to both share my love of the adventure of diving as well as train and train with people of the same mind, despite coming from different generations or walks of life.

To all my new friends and colleagues, thanks for the help, friendship, sharing and the opportunity to learn! Happy Thanksgiving!

End of the Dive Season? No Way!

I just spent the weekend at Lake Rawlings helping to teach a Rescue Diver Course. The Water temp was a balmy 62 degrees, cool but nothing my Pinnacle 7mm couldn't handle. One of the crowd (about 15 of us) that came down just to dive while the class was in session commented that he came because he figured it was the last dive of the season. Our instructor said "what season is that?" and the response was, "Well, the Dive season!" Without batting an eye the instructor responded " you got it wrong. It isn't the end of Dive Season. It is the end of Wet Suit Season! Get ready for Dry Suit Season!"

I thought about that exchange and I gotta say I really agree with our instructor. There should be no seasonal boundaries for Scuba. With today's gear and technology, it is a year around sport no matter where you are! In fact a store owner in Michigan told a seminar I was in that if water temperature defined his season, he'd have no dive season! This Michigan owner in fact developed slates that help him combine Dry Suit and Open Water skills into one course.

Now I am dry suit certified, and while I don't own a dry suit yet, I most certainly will pick one up in time so that I too can help our students understand that Scuba shouldn't really be held to seasonal boundaries!

Diving in Hawaii

Yesterday I was afforded the opportunity to do an impromtu dive on the Island of Oahu, HI while traveling on business. Since this was rather short notice and I wanted a nice dive on the cheap, I contacted one of my business acquaintances, whom I had recently learned was a diver, and said "Hey I'm in town tomorrow, lets go diving!" Great news, he said sure.

Upon arriving on the island I contacted a favorite shop of mine, Ocean Concepts (www.oceanconcepts.com ), and they advised me (and later equipped me) on where the best spot for was for a shore dive. If any one is looking to dive on Oahu, I highly recommend diving through Ocean Concepts. Full service, fully equipped and very friendly.

My friend and I were able to get two shore dives in on a spectacular day. You know its amazing how many people are certified divers and you don't know it till you ask. Many times they just don't have anyone (local friend etc.) to go diving with or are overcome by very busy lives. Sometimes it just takes you to say, "hey...lets go diving!" to rekindle the spark and ta-da, a renewed dive buddy is born. So talk up diving as you go through your travels...never know where you might find a new buddy!