Hi,
I have often thought about the Santa Monica Blue Fins dive club. I was a member when I was a newly certified diver back in 1992. I came across their dive boat schedule and booked a trip with them to the northern channel islands on Truth dive boat if i remember correctly. I was a totally new diver but i was committed to the sport.
On my first trip with them I came alone to the dive trip. When it was time to jump in on the first dive i announced that i did not have a dive buddy. There was a collective gasp among the crowd there. These were all very experienced divers, but they were very kind to me. A couple guys explained to me that this is a club of solo divers. They gave me a explanation of why and I listened. They told me that If i wanted to I can hang around in close proximity to them and they would keep an eye on me. I ended up solo diving and I was ok with it. I had great conversations with the club members and I liked them a lot. I joined their club right away and paid my dues. I went on a few boat dives with them but eventually they kind of disappeared.
I do remember one very special trip where i sat in the galley and was talking with Bonnie Cardone. She was awesome. Even though it was a solo diver club there were some that did buddy teams and on one dive Bonnie offered to buddy with me and we did a dive together and she even signed my log book. It was an honor. I had a passion for diving starting way before i got certified. I credit the members of the blue fins with encouraging me to go farther with diving and to enjoy it to the fullest.
