I've been meaning to make this post since July when I met a trio of vintage equipment divers in Alexandria Bay, New York at the St. Lawrence River. The three divers were Robert Studnicka of THESCUBAMUSEUM.com, Barbara Heil and Allan John. They showed up to dive the Islander wreck in town and then we were fortunate enough to have their company the next day for dives on the Keystorm and America wrecks and cross paths at Hunts, at lunch and on the Islander again.
The gear was a walk down memory lane since my instructors who started diving in the 1950's still had their equipment around the dive shop where I began to learn to dive in 1981. But, what was an even better walk down memory lane was the positive attitude and passion for diving that the three exhibited. No talk of certs, depth, distance, diving prowess, egos, philosophy, politics, or any of the other nonsense that is dividing divers and "boxing in the sport."
They took me back to a time when every dive was an adventure no matter how shallow and a time when just blowing bubbles was the best thing on earth. For me, they made diving new again for a couple of precious days. Even better, I think I want to go play with the same gear that captured my imagination as a child and gave me heroes to emulate that to this day shape my concept of what it is to be a diver.
Thanks folks! I just wanted to let the vintage community know what great ambassadors to the sport they can count among in their ranks.
The gear was a walk down memory lane since my instructors who started diving in the 1950's still had their equipment around the dive shop where I began to learn to dive in 1981. But, what was an even better walk down memory lane was the positive attitude and passion for diving that the three exhibited. No talk of certs, depth, distance, diving prowess, egos, philosophy, politics, or any of the other nonsense that is dividing divers and "boxing in the sport."
They took me back to a time when every dive was an adventure no matter how shallow and a time when just blowing bubbles was the best thing on earth. For me, they made diving new again for a couple of precious days. Even better, I think I want to go play with the same gear that captured my imagination as a child and gave me heroes to emulate that to this day shape my concept of what it is to be a diver.
Thanks folks! I just wanted to let the vintage community know what great ambassadors to the sport they can count among in their ranks.
