Father & Son dive buddies!

[Sam Miller III]

Congratulations are in order to both of you-
10 years ! ~~~~~~ I question what took you so long to grace the UW world ???

Around 60 years ago I was the 3 or 4th UW (AKA SCUBA ) instructor in OC- lots have changed since those halcyon days shops have come and gone as has the diving community. What was the name of your shop and who was you instructor

A word of advice -- I had five children -- all began diving in a bath tub around 2 years old, into the doboy pool at 3-4 and into the family pool at 5 and then into the ocean -- Diving was not a right but rather a privilege .
They had maintain their grades, participate in school activities and do assigned chores-- then the had the right to go diving with the family

After every dive they had to Id and write a report on a critter they saw on the dive-- every now and then I read them for the humor and as a reminder of times and dives past -- hopefully you and yours can have the same experienced in future years
.
Good Luck.

Sam Miller, 111

 

[Derek Stout]

Congratulations are in order to both of you-
10 years ! ~~~~~~ I question what took you so long to grace the UW world ???

Around 60 years ago I was the 3 or 4th UW (AKA SCUBA ) instructor in OC- lots have changed since those halcyon days shops have come and gone as has the diving community. What was the name of your shop and who was you instructor

A word of advice -- I had five children -- all began diving in a bath tub around 2 years old, into the doboy pool at 3-4 and into the family pool at 5 and then into the ocean -- Diving was not a right but rather a privilege .
They had maintain their grades, participate in school activities and do assigned chores-- then the had the right to go diving with the family

After every dive they had to Id and write a report on a critter they saw on the dive-- every now and then I read them for the humor and as a reminder of times and dives past -- hopefully you and yours can have the same experienced in future years
.
Good Luck.

Sam Miller, 111

Thanks Sam! I bet you've seen some amazing things and had great times with your family on dive trips! I'm not sure the reason it's taken me so long to become certified. I had to work out some fears in my head I guess. Not even something like a fear of sharks, but fear of the unknown I guess. I'm glad I was finally ready!

Are you still instructing? Our local dive shop is Sea Stallion Scuba Outfitters, and Dave Knight was our open water instructor. In the pool our instructor was Jules and her hubby Tony-not sure what their last names are though. They're a great bunch of people.

That's a great idea to have the kids write something about the dives! I'm going to at least make my son keep his dive logs with comments about everything. Our kids definitely have to keeping earning their privileges!

 

[Bert van den Berg]

You And your son diving together is a wonderful thing. Brings you together physically and emotionally.

You get to spend quality time together - something your son will remember forever.

 

[Sam Miller III]

@Bert van den Berg

You And your son diving together is a wonderful thing. Brings you together physically and emotionally.

You get to spend quality time together - something your son will remember forever.
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You are so correct ! Your son will recall events, people and places of diving long after you have forgotten them-- Belive me I know!
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@Derek Stout
I know of the dive shop but do not know the owner or staff -- FYI always positive reports.
As I recall there is a long established dive club that meets in Lake Forrest-- cant recall its name-- I visited about a years ago with the late great Pat Smith (author Ship wrecks of SoCal)

I confine my diving actives to historical research , occasional lectures at The SCUBA Show and a yearly historical lecture at the SLO UW S&R Divcon, each year the 2 Saturday in March - This past year 2018. Before Amazon - Sears Wards and Pennys---FYI Dive shops were few and far in between until the American retailers began marketing SCUBA .from 1956 to 1974.

FYI see you PM for a little about divers - not people who dive-- there is a difference

SAM, III

 

[Resqdivemedic]

My son was certified when he was 14, he is now 17. He still talks about his first clear water dive in the Bahamas right after he got his card. Great memories. We still go out at least 2-3 times during the summer, lots of fun. My daughter is next to get certified.

 

[drbill]

Congratulations. I also enjoy diving with my son (who lives in Aliso Viejo) and Casino Point is my "home"

 

[arew+4]

Congrats,
My wife and I got our three kids certified a couple years ago, it continues to be a blast.

 

[Derek Stout]

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome! I'm really seeing how the diving community is a great group of people, and very into sharing these family moments. It makes me even happier that I finally decided to take the plunge.

 

[Sam Miller III]

@Derek Stout
FYI
discovered this in my files-- about Orange County -- the birthplace of diving in America..

Some interesting historical diving facts about Orange county (the OC!) California from one of my articles from long long ago

DID YOU KNOW....

Orange County....
A few little known facts about Orange County;

In the genesis....Orange County was the fountain head of recreational diving in California, the US and for the world.

It had the most manufactures -- US Divers, Voit, Sea Tec, Inflatable systems, JBL, Mares, Spearfisherman, Mark V, Newport divers, Sea Quest, Del Mar, Sea Suits, Water Wear, Kettenhofen Wet suits, Sampson,Sea Pro, Riffe International, Alexander Spearguns, and many more lessor known and now forgotten manufactures

Divers cove/Pic nic cove was selected as the location for the world's first Competitive Spear fishing meet in 1950 and every year to the early 1960s.

Divers Cove was not named as a result of recreational diving activity

Two world record fish were speared off Orange county's coast; the BSB & WSB.

It's waters did contained a variety of shell fish; Mussels, Oysters, Pismo Clams, Scallops, & Lobsters

It has a train and several airplanes, an ocean going barge and several WW 11 landing craft sunk off it's coast.

It has an underwater canyon

It had the second recreational diving ordnance in California. (Aka the Laguna beach dive ordinance)

It had one of the first California game reserves at Heisler park, named after Glen Vedder, the architect and driving force behind the Laguna beach diving ordinance.

It has a number of piers that are diveable.

PADI's first office was in Orange County.

In the genesis of instruction Orange County had more LA County Certified Underwater Instructors than LA County.

It had one of the first dive shops in California; Lyle Hoskins and sons (@drbill- Bill Now you know!)

Three OC residents were honored as "Fathers of Spearfishing" at the 2000 Millennium Free Diving conference ( The late Ron Merker (Dr. Bill's Instructor.) Allan "Omar" Wood and Dr. Sam Miller,111). (All had began diving in the 1940s and were considered the pioneers by divers from all over the world)


Now you know!
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Copyright 2015 Dr. Samuel Miller,111 and Dr. Samuel Miller, IV may not be reproduced or copied in any format for private or commercial usage with out express permission of the authors and the TPR news paper

I was the coauthor of Diving West along with my dive companion Ron Merker-- It was first dive guide to OC diving published in 1960s- I suspect it is difficult to find -- there is a later guide published by Dale Scheckler that you might want to acquire as a dive guide-- check advertisements in CDN.

In Dales book he list a dive site called Millers reef--(My reef - I discovered it and dove it for many years ) too far to swim as a novice -- maybe next year. Suggest you keep in contact with your shop and instructors. And dive every opportunity you can with them ~~~sdm .