Who or what or how did you get into diving??

[javelindan]

Great stories...  I grew up in AZ and like all kids in the desert was on a swim team in the summers.  Between annual visits and snorkeling on the baja side of MX and being hooked to Jacques Cousteau specials, I was always intrigued by diving.

I fell into a diver's dream during my senior year in college in 1984-85.  I signed up for a 1 month "Winter Term" trip with 2 geology profs and 9 other students to study marine ecology and geology of the SE USA which would include a lot of diving.  All of the participants became YMCA certified under Larry Shipman, the author of the diving book we used.

Long story short, in Jan '85 we spent 2 1/2 weeks camped out on Big Pine Key, FL, diving every day.  We spent most of our time diving Looe Key but also dove off Key Largo, bug (lobster) hunting off West Summerland Key, and we did some spearfishing as well.  Perhaps the most unique dive was on our way to the Keys when we dove with the Manatees at Crystal River.  I LOVED it all.

I became PADI certified in '89 and with the exception of periodic "dry periods" due to our growing family, I've been diving ever since.  I became dry suit certified in '03 and after another delay (youngster in Sept '03) I'm looking forward to FINALLY doing some Lake Superior diving this year!