New Diver from Utah

[Litefoot]

Hello scuba board! I’m a 63-year-old retiree who grew up watching Jacques Cousteau, Flipper and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. As a young man, I snorkeled in any lake, river or clay pit I could find with decent clarity.

Eventually, I took my family and grandkids on snorkeling trips to Maui, Catalina and the Florida keys. Now I’m mountain biking regularly with my kids and soon with my grandkids.

I got certified PADI OWD at Key Dives in Islamorada in October in hopes of diving with my sons in Costa Rica next year. Certification was a bit more intimidating than I presumed (removing/replacing the mask created anxiety).

My goal is to dive at least once a quarter at the crater in Midway to practice my skills and a yearly travel dive trip with Catalina being the first destination.

Hope to meet other divers from the Intermountain West.

 

[Robert H. Diver]

Welcome!

 

[drrich2]

Welcome to ScubaBoard! I hope you'll post a trip report if you make it to Costa Rica; questions about it occasionally come up on the forum. I've never been. California has some really nice diving, albeit not the warm, tropical kind.

Richard.

 

[TMHeimer]

Welcome to SB. I too snorkeled all over until certified at age 51. One place was Casino Point on Catalina in 1972 when I was 18. I hear they got it really fixed up nicely for scuba there now so I'm sure you'll enjoy it. If I recall correctly it's a bit of a walk from the dock to there, but maybe there are buses/cabs. I still have those two Norris Top Shells I found back then in my collection.

 

[Litefoot]

Welcome!

Thank you. I'm originally from the South and regret not taking advantage of the proximity of the Keys and the Caribbean

Welcome to ScubaBoard! I hope you'll post a trip report if you make it to Costa Rica; questions about it occasionally come up on the forum. I've never been. California has some really nice diving, albeit not the warm, tropical kind.

Richard.

Thanks Richard. Yes, I'll surely post a TR after the fact. I grew up on the SC coast, and yes, the Pacific is shockingly cold in comparison.

Welcome to SB. I too snorkeled all over until certified at age 51. One place was Casino Point on Catalina in 1972 when I was 18. I hear they got it really fixed up nicely for scuba there now so I'm sure you'll enjoy it. If I recall correctly it's a bit of a walk from the dock to there, but maybe there are buses/cabs. I still have those two Norris Top Shells I found back then in my collection.

Hi Tom. My wife and I snorkeled over in Lovers Cove. Wish we had gone over by the Casino to see the kelp and sea lions. One thing I'm having to learn in the transition from snorkeling to diving is to keep my head up and not constantly be looking down "snorkel style".

 

[HV62581]

Welcome to scubaboard! Its a great websie to build connections and find excellent information.

 

[HV62581]

BTW: I'm dying to go to Costa Rica !

 

[MichaelMc]

Welcome.

That Midway Crater (Utah Crater website) looks neat with 94 degree water. That is almost hot tub temperature. No need for a wet suit there! That would be interesting.

 

[Mason338]

I’m in Park City frequently and have swam in the crater, always wanted to go back and do a bounce dive there! Welcome!

 

[happy-diver]

One place was Casino Point on Catalina in 1972 when I was 18.

We call that Dr. Bill Point these days chief

Dive Dry w/ Dr. Bill | Catalina Scuba

Star Thrower Educational Multimedia, known by its acronym STEM (which is much easier to say), focuses on education and scientific research in the areas of biology, natural history, marine ecology and environmental issues. Its educational efforts utilize state-of-the-art multimedia technologies. Dive

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