Experience w/ U of MN Dive Program?

[tullibee]

my first salt-water dive was in Athens.  They do have lots of rules about who/where/when for diving, so your best bet is to hook up with a regular shop over there to make sure you don't get picked up for diving where you're not allowed.  unfortunately for me, the day I went, the guy who I got teamed up with as a guide did not have his usual luck, so we din't get to play with a dolphin (according to both the guy and the shop owner, the previous 4 or 5 times out he had a finned buddy for half his dive...).  We did however see a TON of spiny urchins, some starfish, and some small local fish, and it was fun to be putting fins on and wondering what the funny taste in my mouth was -- took a couple seconds to sink in that it was salt-water splashing my face!