A lot of good stories in here. With a little more detail they might make a good book. I've never told mine, but here goes.
I suppose being from San Diego had something to do with it. Or maybe because of Jaques Cousteau. Or maybe my dad who was certified by Naui in the early 70's.
I'm a defense contractor by trade. While I was on a job in Italy, I had the opportunity to get certified, but then started working overtime and lost it. Long story short, the contract ended in spring but I decided to stay in Italy. I was running out of money but contacted the instructor and made a deal. I got certified in March 2004. Made good friends with a divemaster candidate too. Took my last 200 euro went and bought a Cressi mask, fins and snorkel with scubapro booties. Rented the rest and made two more dives at Calafuria and was broke.
I spent the summer working on the American Beach at Camp Darby; one of the coolest jobs I've ever had and the worst paying. The day it closed, I got a call from my old company and went to Korea This was Sept. 2004. Made my first dive here in December the same year and got one hell of an ear infection. My buddy happened to know a former PADI Course Director by the name of Yeong Cheon Kang (Doc to me) who had crossed over to SSI. He is also a doctor who specializes in ear nose and throat. He speaks fluent english (even slang) and he's on my web site.
It took a while but he healed me up. I started diving with him and have become good friends. He asked me about getting my advanced Open Water but I wasn't interested at the time. I just wanted to dive and didn't see the need. Then my buddy Brian went for his so I did it with him after I had 24 dives.
Once again, work got in the way in the summer of 2005 and I only made two dives that season. Started again after the overtime in Sept the same year. Diving every weekend. Went on vacation to Italy and found out my former instructor had lost her contract through MWR at camp Darby. IDEA!!!!
Got back to Korea and told Doc what I wanted to do. Worked my ass off but turned pro in January 2006. Found out entry level wouldn't get me the contract so I pressed on with my buddy Frank. We both became SSI Instructors in December 2006.
I haven't made it back to Italy. Getting to this level cost me a lot of money and it doesn't pay well. But I really enjoy teaching others to dive. I long for the day when I can do it full time. Until then, I have to do it one C-Card at a time and keep working toward my tec XR certification.
That's it in a nutshell. There are a lot of side stories to it, but not enough room. Maybe I'll write a book myself.