What got you started in diving?

[odiecho]

I've always loved the critters in the water but since I was rather near-sighted until the advent of Lasik diving was a non-starter. Heck, I'd like to be actually able to see what is down there. When I was a kid, my dad had an AMF Air Buoy system and I remember "diving" lakes in northern WI holding the kid size mask to my face since one size did not fit all! But I loved being able to see everything.
I waited until 4 years ago to get certified 'cuz I let the pressures of adulthood interfere. Brilliant, I know.
Now, I'm hooked and just looking to get better. The more critters I can see, the better. My instructor certainly earned his money though.
I love history and have read alot about shipwrecks and their eventual discovery.

 

[mack50md]

I have been interested in diving since the mid 50s watching Lloyd Bridges in "Sea Hunt" as a young boy. Dabbled in snorkeling in Hawaii and Mexico over the last 20 years but always longed to see more. Then at age 50 I said, "Now or never." and went for it. Got my OW and AOW cards in 2004 and never looked back. Now my 22 year old got the bug and certified OW this past summer. Nothing made me happier than our first father & son dive at Lake Rawlings last August. Only regret...I wish I had done it 30 years ago.

 

[ththooft]

I'd always wanted to dive since I was young (it was on my life to-do list). I took a class in Australia about 5 years ago and got the change to dive on the Great Barrier Reef. How could I not have been hooked after that?!?!?

 

[divinginn]

always had alove for the water growing up on clearwater beach fla made it a natural to take up watersports,always wanted to dive,then in my first year of college was signing up for classes and saw scuba course offered twas a no brainer, spent 3 months in the pool,getting scuba skills pounded into us loving every minute of it,then went to a spring in n.fla,troy springs i think,was laying on the bottom about 90 ft looking straight up ,the surface looked like a hudge mirror.that was the coolest thing i have ever done.still going 25 years later,my tank turns 40 this year still use it,had to retire my old aqualung reg though.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Like many others on here Sea Hunt did it for me even though it took another 30 yrs or so to finally get in the water with gear. Got certed last july. currently specialties in deep, nitrox, drysuit, uw nav, and equip specialist (for PADI Master Scuba Diver). As of last night I have only physics and rdp tests left for DM as well as skill demo final and the swims, all intern stuff is completed. Also tonite ordered tecrec setup, tecrec deep, and tecrec trimix course materials. still down the line a little but the learning is fun for me.

 

[ktrjc]

Went I was about 6 I realized my dad was on the State Police Dive Recovery Team, all of his scuba gear seemed so cool, I wanted to play with it, for some reason he never let me. I can remember him coming home from where ever, rinsing off his gear, hanging some and laying the other stuff in a storage box he had made. From that point I was stuck, Cousteau specials, James Bond movies, loved to watch any diving. Finally the last year of college I took Scuba as an elective, certified in Lake Superior in November. (Just a little cold.)

 

[Dive1Dennis]

I always liked the Cousteau specials as a kid. But I knew I wanted to dive when I went on a Caribbean cruise in the 90s. I snorkeled several times and I told myself that the next time I wanted to be certified to dive so I could really see the reefs. The next time I went to the Caribbean I got certified first, and I went diving. Since then I have discovered the great wreck diving that we have here in the Great Lakes. It's all great!

 

[JacobK]

Girlfriend twisted my arm... I was dead set against it. Now, I love it more than she does...LOL

 

[laivindil]

Skydiving seemed boring.

 

[carldarl]

First reason was a reward for weight loss. Promised myself certification at 100 pounds lost. (January 05) At 125 pounds I got to go to Roatan, Belize and Cozumel. (March 05) At 150 pounds I get to go to Jamaica. (January 06)

Second reason was after six back sureries I was looking for a new sport I could participate in and be somewhat equal to everyone else. A friend calld this "The Great Equlizer" and here I am. (Kinda brought my wife and two kids along too)