Why did you start Scuba Diving, and what makes you continue it?

[martinskarin]

I have always seen diving as a hard to do exclusive thing for real proffesionals, at least when I was young. Then a friend did the OW on some vacation and I realized that anyone can do it and I decided to do it when I got the chance.

After moving to Shanghai and having easy access to South east asia I followed a friend to Philipinnes and did the OW course between the drinking and girls... It was only a one time thing, just to do it and to be certified so I could know I accomplished this thing in my life. But a great instructor gave me motivation to continue so as soon as I came back home I spent $500 or so on some gear and 2 months later went back to PH for my AOW, now I will soon go to Bali (October) for my next trip and try out my Olympus XZ-1 and some new gear =)

I gave my Chinese GF the Discover Scuba exercise in Christmas gift and she got bitten by breathing under water, now she finished her swimming class and are practicing every week (Could not swim what so ever before). We will do a Water tank shark dive in a few weeks to make her more ready for her OW in Bali!

I just wish I could go more often!

 

[Thalassamania]

Back in 1956 my dad was an archaeologist. We saw Cousteau's Silent World and he got the idea to attempt to recover Babylonian artifacts from a barge that sank in the mid 19th century at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. We were already avid freedivers. He bought two tanks, two regulators, and a copy of the Science of Skin and Scuba (several later editions of which I was honored to contribute to), and we learned how to use scuba. The planned Fertile Crescent dives never happened, but I continued to dive on a recreational basis in lakes in New York, the New England Coast, North Carolina, Florida, and California.

In high school I joined a group that styled itself, "Beta Oceanographic Research Inc." It was a scientifically minded dive club that had an agreement with the California State Parks people and the Pt. Lobos administration that, in return for mapping and doing some biological and geological baseline work, it would have unlimited access to the park.

While at university I became involved in the Research Diver Training Program. I took the 100 hrs. Research Diving Course in the spring quarter, was invited to do underwater research in Central America over the summer, was an Assistant Team Leader (AI) in the course in the fall, and a Team Leader (Instructor) for the next course. I remained active, both teaching and conducting research until I received my degree in Zoology. My senior honors thesis, an outgrowth of my term project for the Natural History of the Vertebrates course (last time I checked, the only perfect score ever given for that assignment) was on the foraging behavior of Brant's Cormorant. I spent over a year free diving in the area of the Monterey Breakwater to observe the birds. Yes ... I was an underwater birdwatcher.

I spent five years with the National Underwater Accident Data Center where I worked investigating diving accidents.

A major oceanographic institute accepted me into its Ph.D. Program. There was no formal research diving program there so, in 1975 I attended a two-week NAUI ITC at the University of Michigan run by Dr. Lee Somers. I returned to my home institution and began teaching faculty, staff and other students the 100 hour course I learned during my undergraduate days. To make a long story short, I wound up as the Diving Safety Officer, had a chance to do some interesting things and make what where, I hope, some small contributions to the diving communities I belonged to.

 

[scubamama5]

Loved "Sea Hunt" .. (but putting on all that gear seemed like too much trouble) was content to freedive.. till I watched "JAWS"..decided I couldn't hold my breath long enough to avoid the big one..
Best thing I ever did..been an avid diver since '74

 

[knowone]

Chased it as a kid, and then I found it
only place around with mutual respect

 

[Wantonmien]

Always been a distance swimmer, tennis player, football player etc etc - then a couple of years back on a 300 km / 3 day bike ride, something went 'ping' or was it 'crunch' in the knee - ouch. Limped for weeks and specialist told me quit cycling and do less 'impact sport' :depressed: .. So tried diving and was instantly hooked - wish I'd taken it up earlier, or at least made the time to learn to dive years ago.

Of course if weather ain't right I'm still tempted to revert to other sports - and in June picked up a bronze medal in a 6 a side football tournament - before heading on a dive trip the next day - but the road & mountain bikes, they are now collecting dust !!

 

[Rich Keller]

I was always a water rat as a kid so when an older cousin wanted to start diving for a merit badge and needed someone to dive with I jumped on the chance. Had the mask and fins already, bought a tank, reg and a book and we taught ourselves. He stayed with it for a couple of years, I have been diving 41 years so far.

 

[Scubadreaminn]

I started Diving when I was 6 as my father was a diver.. Nothing more than station breathing from one end of the pool to the other, but as I got older the more my father allowed me to do, guess you can say it was in my blood from the get go.

Why do I continue to dive: Some people find their salvation and peace inside of a church, I FIND mine under the water... All is right with the world when i see the bubbles going up..

 

[gypsyjim]

Started daydreaming about diving after watching Sea Hunt, and then learned there was a YMCA class being offered locally. Had to buy everything mail order from catalogs.

Still diving, still doing occasional training, and exploring new gear choices, and techniques after 41 years myself, although there was a period of @15 years in the late 70's, early 80's when I drifted away from the sport for a while.

My son and daughter began diving with me at 10 and 14, and now both grown, my kids and I just did our first ST Lawrence River, Thousand Isles wreck dives together this last weekend, and my gf just helped her grandchildren earn their OW this summer.

 

[ColoDale]

I married a diver and whose father was an instuctor. An obilgation I suppose at the time but now can't get enough of diving.

 

[Whatevva]

My wife and I were planning a trip to an all inclusive Jamaican resort that included diving. We planned to do all the coursework, and pool dives up here and do the open water in Jamaica.

She couldn't pass the swimming test, and was not allowed to continue, so I dropped out too, and for years we've just gone to jamaica and snorkled (I always envyd the guys getting on the dive boat)

Last October (2 weeks before our next trip) she fractured her hip and had 3 screws installed. Since she wouldn't be snorkling this trip, I asked her if I could do the basic Cert.

I bought the book (and my own regulator) and read it up here, but did all the classroom, pool, and open water in Jamaica. I WAS HOOKED!!!

Last March(Now with my own wet suit and BCD) I took the AOW Cert., and plan to take the Rescue Cert. this October(with new fins per instructor's request).

I still go on the daily snorkle excursions with my wife.....