Sometimes life gets in the way

originally published April 10, 2017
So. I'd met my knight in shining Aqualung. I'd had my first taste of breathing underwater. I was ready to pull the trigger and get my Open Water certification. But, as they say, life is what happens while you're busy making other plans. Let's go with the Reader's Digest version, shall we?

There's an old saying among dive professionals: if you want to make a million dollars in the scuba industry, start with two. Guy's shop was forced to close unexpectedly and thus began a two year adventure of address changes and road trips. His work took him to North Florida, the mid-Atlantic coast, back to Central Florida, the Southeast Florida coast and, ultimately, back to North Florida. 

All the while, I had been dealing with my own challenges - a house full of kids & (gulp) a grandkid, taking care of my elderly mother, working full time as well as being a part-time freelance writer. Guy, who wanted me in the hands of someone he knew and trusted, had been trying valiantly to hook me up with an instructor, but there always seemed to be some obstacle, some distraction getting in my way. 

Nearly two years had passed since I had started making plans to get my scuba certification, and I knew it was time to stop making excuses and just take the proverbial plunge. Luckily, Guy had already introduced me to the owner of a local dive shop, one whose outlook on scuba diving and classroom style fit my needs. Being comfortable with your instructors and dive shop support staff really can't be underrated. Some instructors are super mellow, others see themselves as wetsuit clad drill sergeants. It's all subjective: pick whichever method works best for your individual needs. 

At long last, I had my dive shop, I had my plan. It was time to get diving. 



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