I grew up on Jacque Cousteau as well in the 70s. Then other nature shows on PBS, and I used to walk past Northwest Divers in MN every day and think, I'd love to try that! Of course, being 12 with no money I didn't think to try to social engineer them into letting me try it for free.
Then I was going to the UofM, over 20 years later, and figured I was blowing all my student loans anyway, I might as well spend the money on one thing I always wanted.
Of course, long before I dove, I loved the water. Wading into the Gulf of Mexico in Galveston, I would walk out a little when my feet would touch the ground on the trough of each wave, and jump up with each swell. I kept walking out farther and farther, watching fish jumping in pairs and triads in front of me. If I didn't have to, I wouldn't have returned to shore. I just wanted to keep going, but not being able to breathe underwater was the only thing keeping me back.
Now I'm certified, and living a walk away from the ocean (cold water in Puget Sound, but it's salty) I love to be able to get underwater, love seeing every tiny fish and invertebrate. It's disappointing when the air runs low and I have to go back.
I don't want my ashes scattered in the ocean when I die- I'd prefer that my body simply never wash up in the first place (as long as it's my time, and not a stupid mistake that causes my death)
gomi_