Have you been scuba diving?

[ChrissyRyan]

Have you been scuba diving?

Have you ever been in an underwater cage to protect you from sharks?

[Lori Dee]

I have never been scuba diving, but I would love to try it.

[Allie Jayne]

As per my post in another thread, I started scuba diving in 1985 and have done almost 2000 dives around the world. I have dived most of the coast of Australia, Vanuatu for wrecks, Micronesia for wrecks, Fiji for reefs and sharks, Tonga for reefs and whales, Dominica for reefs and whales, New Zealand, Bali, Phillipines, and Christmas Island for reefs and whale sharks.

I ran a dive club from my home hosting divers on my custom built dive boat to dive on some of the most spectacular temperate reefs in the world, plus over 70 wrecks from shallow to 200 ft deep. I even formed a group to bid for and sink a retired guided missile frigate near my home as a dive wreck. Having my own boat, I was able to dive places nobody else had been and find new dive sites.

Now I am in my 70's, I have been slowed by health conditions, and skin cancers related to the time I spent out on the water. I try to get out a few times a year, but nowhere near as much as I would like. When I came out to the broader scuba community, I was amazed how accepted and supported I was treated, and everyone showed respect for my history in this sport. I was privileged to finish the last 17 years of my working life employed to share my passion of the underwater world and marine critters with school groups and general public.

Hugs,

Allie

[ChrissyRyan]

As per my post in another thread, I started scuba diving in 1985 and have done almost 2000 dives around the world. I have dived most of the coast of Australia, Vanuatu for wrecks, Micronesia for wrecks, Fiji for reefs and sharks, Tonga for reefs and whales, Dominica for reefs and whales, New Zealand, Bali, Phillipines, and Christmas Island for reefs and whale sharks.

I ran a dive club from my home hosting divers on my custom built dive boat to dive on some of the most spectacular temperate reefs in the world, plus over 70 wrecks from shallow to 200 ft deep. I even formed a group to bid for and sink a retired guided missile frigate near my home as a dive wreck. Having my own boat, I was able to dive places nobody else had been and find new dive sites.

Now I am in my 70's, I have been slowed by health conditions, and skin cancers related to the time I spent out on the water. I try to get out a few times a year, but nowhere near as much as I would like. When I came out to the broader scuba community, I was amazed how accepted and supported I was treated, and everyone showed respect for my history in this sport. I was privileged to finish the last 17 years of my working life employed to share my passion of the underwater world and marine critters with school groups and general public.

Hugs,

Allie

Allie,

That all truly sounds wonderful.  I know you have many memories of all those dives.

Thank you for sharing out.


Chrissy

[Lori Dee]

That is awesome, Allie.

You have been able to see and do things that many people will never get a chance to. I am glad you became an instructor and continue to share those experiences with others.

[Allie Jayne]

That is awesome, Allie.

You have been able to see and do things that many people will never get a chance to. I am glad you became an instructor and continue to share those experiences with others.

Lori, I didn't become a scuba instructor, but I did a snorkel instructor certificate for my job teaching marine life. I was also able to share my passion through books and documentaries I contributed to, and through taking divers to my favourite locations on my boat. I have been truly blessed in life to have so many opportunities, many of which were created by my wife and soul mate, who has done over a thousand more dives than me. The end of that relationship, my job and my abilities to dive every week has hit me hard, and was my single biggest cost to transition.

Hugs,

Allie