I have no idea how I wound up going through the PADI Open Water Course. My son, John, and his friend Nick, well, they sorta encouraged me to take the course so that my new interest in underwater photography could grow. So, I enrolled with the guys at EZScuba in Tampa and the next thing I know, here I am underwater at Weeki Wachee Springs while my instructor Chris Register looks on me with an expression that says, “This guy needs lots of help.”

But, I must admit, Chris knows his stuff and his continuing lessons were meant to teach me those basic skills that keep one alive while learning this incredible sport. Chris has taught thousands of new divers those fundamentals in a professional and straight forward manner, forcing one to do things that one thinks are impossible. I still shiver when I think about taking my respirator out of my mouth and throwing it behind me, then retrieving it, and finally putting it back in my mouth and clearing it for air! And, I won’t go into this stuff about emergency ascents! Breathing out when you are out of air is not normal!!!

The site for training could not be more pleasant. Weeki Wachee Springs, located on Florida’s west coast is a fabulous place to learn about SCUBA.

And, I might add and stress, the view in the springs is something special for sure. It is the only place I know of in the world where one can actually see a mermaid swimming freely in crystal clear water. Ah yes, the joys of SCUBA!

I must admit that the PADI course of instruction was one of the best courses of any kind that I have followed. The instructions are extremely well organized, easy to understand, and very thorough. The emphasis is on safety and that is exactly where it should be. I highly recommend that one who is interested in SCUBA attend a PADI course.

What I have learned is that getting your Open Water certification is just a beginning, additional courses, and dozens of dives with experienced divers is a must to develop those skills which ensure that you enjoy the sport and do it safely. It is not an end, but a beginning, and one which I hope to enjoy in the years ahead, especially because it will give me an opportunity to explore a whole new arena of photography.

Let’s dive!