How you found scuba..

[Narced44]

There may have already been a thread like this, I am pretty new to scuba board. I appriciate all of you exerienced guys with a love for scuba that hasn't died and a willingness to share your knowledge. I was wondering how everyone got introduced to scuba whether it was thier father or grandfather..or the discovery channel. I'm sure we will get some meaningful stories. My grandfather has been scuba diving for 50 years. and I grew up with pictures of flamango tounges and parrotfish on the wall..every time i hit the reef or a wreck even though it is already the greatest thing..it reminds me of him.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

There may have already been a thread like this, I am pretty new to scuba board. I appriciate all of you exerienced guys with a love for scuba that hasn't died and a willingness to share your knowledge. I was wondering how everyone got introduced to scuba whether it was thier father or grandfather..or the discovery channel. I'm sure we will get some meaningful stories. My grandfather has been scuba diving for 50 years. and I grew up with pictures of flamango tounges and parrotfish on the wall..every time i hit the reef or a wreck even though it is already the greatest thing..it reminds me of him.

I don't remember although I do know it was not Dad or any other family member. There was no "Discovery Channel" in the 1960s which is when I bought my first mask (a Calypso).

I was SCUBA certified in the mid 1970s. From my recollection, it was something "I always wanted to do".

 

[Guba]

Well, I turned on the TV and there was this guy with tanks, a rubber mask, and fins. Think his name was "Mike Nelson" or something, and the show....let me see....Oh, it was called "Sea Hunt".

Am I dating myself or what? Although I watched that program as a kid and later Jaques Costeau's every adventure, I wasn't able to get certified until much later. In fact, it was on a trip for my son's graduation from high school that I signed up for a "resort course" in Mexico. I can remember being at 45 feet with a guide after the most rudimentary instruction I could have imagined and thinking..."What am I doing down here!?" And then I knew...I was having the time of my life!
That started it. I decided right then and there (still at 45 feet) that the moment I got home I was finding a dive shop. At the tender age of 43 I got certified and I've been going at it ever since. AOW, Rescue diver, a science diver volunteer, a volunteer with NOAA and the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, director of the Christian Divers of Texas...I love learning new skills, meeting new diving friends, and just plain having fun underwater. It's amazing how how worlds can open up for a person at practically any stage of life.

 

[cmufieldhockey8]

My story isn't a sentimental one..

I needed a college class and scuba diving fit into my schedule and had spots open. Wasn't even gonna get certified if my aunt hadn't forced me (and payed for it.) Now I'm ridiculously hooked.

 

[NadMat]

Dad dove, so that was one factor, but J.Y.C. was also a major factor. Also the fact that I loved anything outdoors, especially water related outdoor stuff.

 

[Walter]

Mike Nelson for me as well.

 

[erparamedic]

My mom and dad dove for about 5 years before I got certified. I kept hearing about all the neat things they would see, then they starting taking pictures too.... then I really wanted to dive. So, my hubby and I took a class and got certified.

Not a dreadfully interesting story, but that's how I got interested.

 

[nolatom]

At a Florida "Treasure Coast" condo for a week, and the Monday am meet-greet coffee had the usual operators selling sport fishing, nature tours, etc. But this particular year a couple who were dive instructors showed up, offering "discover scuba diving" at a pool down the road, for 15 bucks. So I figured that was something new, why not?

Well, I liked it a lot ("always keep breathing"), they asked if I wanted to do a resort dive off West Palm that Saturday while they were doing a small OW class, they'd knock the $15 off the price and give me a ride both ways. Can't beat that, so off I went, really liked it, and came back home and got certified.

 

[phoenix09]

I went to camps at SeaWorld when I was younger, and one of the things that continually came up was that for most jobs working with the animals, you needed to be scuba certified.

Flash forward a few years. I'm preparing for college and going off to study biology and marine science, so I figure that my career plans would be another good reason to get certified. Got certified on winter break after my first semester of college, and now I'm totally hooked.

 

[sharkattack]

While in Hawaii, my uncle let me play with his rig in Hanamua Bay (sp). I was hooked at 17. He took me to a LDS and asked if they would take us out. (I had no c-card or training) They did. I had to demonstrate a couple of skills off the back of the boat at the dock before they would take us out. No problem. It was a fun dive. When we returned back home, I tried to talk my dad into getting us certified but it never happened. So when I joined the USMC and ended up in Guatanamo Bay Cuba for my 1st duty station some Navy wife came around and asked us if we were interested in diving. 5 of us jumped at it. Rest is history. Every chance I had I was in the water. Best diving on earth was right there.