Following numerous PM's asking me to post a thread in this forum (well one pm), here we go....
I'm SSI OW since April 2003. My story towards diving is long and complicated: I always dreamed of it, but was always too scared. My husband must have been a fish in his last life, but too cheap to get a scuba cert. After following him through his cancer disease and eventually to his death, I promised myself that I would never let physical fear stand in the way of my dreams. So I went for it on Cuba. Which is another long story.
Without any theory, confined water training or whatever - and after having seen a bcd for the first time in my life, I was asked to jump from the boat. My fear would actually have prevented me from doing so, if it hadn't been for the fact that my brother was on a different dive boat and I just couldn't come back and say that I didn't do it. He'd still be making chicken sounds today...
So I did. Jumped. Somehow I survived and after my 4th dive I actually received a theory book, which I had to read that evening, because my exam was next day. I got my certificate. And in the meantime I've also learned how to dive: through diving with my brother and listening to his criticism. My brother has taught me that every diver is responsible for him/herself and that if you cannot gear up / dive / climb back up the ladder without help, you're in the wrong place. We both have the attitude that if you cannot appreciate a dive unless there are rare and spectacular animals every 1,5 minutes, you're also in the wrong place.
I'm still a beginner with about 40 logged dives, but I'm addicted. Went to Egypt in November (my first holiday ever on my own, wouw) and obviously had to dive with people I'd never met. I felt very proud that the very experienced divers I went down with, told me they were impressed with my diving. Went right home and thanked my big bro. Had a crappy experience with a hoover one day (2 dives) - mostly because I don't like people with the I'm-the-greatest-and-don't-have-to-ever-learn-anything-in-my-life attitude.
Wouw, long intro...Anyway, off to Dubai tomorrow for business - but have of course prolonged my stay with a couple of days off to go diving end of next week. Yippie. And 3 weeks Thailand in April are booked
Oh, and in a weak moment I have promised the local dive club to at least try one dive here in the cold, dark water. That'll have to be in the summer though
Karin
I'm SSI OW since April 2003. My story towards diving is long and complicated: I always dreamed of it, but was always too scared. My husband must have been a fish in his last life, but too cheap to get a scuba cert. After following him through his cancer disease and eventually to his death, I promised myself that I would never let physical fear stand in the way of my dreams. So I went for it on Cuba. Which is another long story.
Without any theory, confined water training or whatever - and after having seen a bcd for the first time in my life, I was asked to jump from the boat. My fear would actually have prevented me from doing so, if it hadn't been for the fact that my brother was on a different dive boat and I just couldn't come back and say that I didn't do it. He'd still be making chicken sounds today...
So I did. Jumped. Somehow I survived and after my 4th dive I actually received a theory book, which I had to read that evening, because my exam was next day. I got my certificate. And in the meantime I've also learned how to dive: through diving with my brother and listening to his criticism. My brother has taught me that every diver is responsible for him/herself and that if you cannot gear up / dive / climb back up the ladder without help, you're in the wrong place. We both have the attitude that if you cannot appreciate a dive unless there are rare and spectacular animals every 1,5 minutes, you're also in the wrong place.
I'm still a beginner with about 40 logged dives, but I'm addicted. Went to Egypt in November (my first holiday ever on my own, wouw) and obviously had to dive with people I'd never met. I felt very proud that the very experienced divers I went down with, told me they were impressed with my diving. Went right home and thanked my big bro. Had a crappy experience with a hoover one day (2 dives) - mostly because I don't like people with the I'm-the-greatest-and-don't-have-to-ever-learn-anything-in-my-life attitude.
Wouw, long intro...Anyway, off to Dubai tomorrow for business - but have of course prolonged my stay with a couple of days off to go diving end of next week. Yippie. And 3 weeks Thailand in April are booked
Oh, and in a weak moment I have promised the local dive club to at least try one dive here in the cold, dark water. That'll have to be in the summer though Karin
don 
