Well, they managed to finally get into Blue Springs today. She went to 56 feet down the vent and completed her hardest skills tests. Her paperwork is all done, so three more dives and she's certified.

They will have time for one rec dive after cert, maybe two if the weather cooperates. I offered to pay for a Living Seas-EPCOT Divequest dive before she goes. We'll see if the instructor is willing.

Nice to be able to make some dreams a reality. Hopefully she will pursue it for the rest of her life. She certainly won't forget.

She might even get in a couple surfing lessons before heading back to school. That'd pretty much complete her Florida experience, for now.

Sounds great, is she doing this for a basic dive cert or something more specialized?

John E

Her age?

Have you ever done the Living Seas dive? I did it three years ago and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. My kids really got into watching Dad in the tank. It's a lot of fun to sit and stare at the patrons in the resturaunt as they eat dinner. The whole thing is just great!

Congrats!!

Good for her! I have always kicked myself in the butt for not getting into sport diving when I had the chance...

Congrats!

If she ever gets dive master or higher, i'm sure I can find something down here in Cayman for her.

She's doing her basic cert for now. She's 19. It will be up to her whether she wants to pursue further certification; I suspect that will depend on the opportunities she encounters.

I really wanted to send her to the living seas dive, and was planning on it before she left for school. But with this new storm coming and me having to be out of town for two weeks, I don't know if that will happen now.

At least she's done this much. I believe it is an experience that will change her life.

You have done well, and so has she. Celebrate! Look forward to more good stuff as fate allows. Teach your daughter to shrug off the way life changes our plans. It's all good.

Diving has changed my life...

Though diving and hunting (just to see - nothing more) for white tipped hammerheads going to feed at 4am - you start to realize that you're kind of pushing the limits of 'normal' and bordering on 'stupid'. Your hovering at 80-90' over the wall, 4500' below you, and watching the dive computer trying to push your time under, all the while being 20-50' from the crack in the coral wall where the sharks swim through, and controlling your bubbles so your not marking your location... rebreathers would have been a better idea at the time!!!!

I don't dive often anymore but after hundreds and hundreds of dives (basically lost count), and tonnes of certs; i count myself lucky and fortunate to have seen and done the things i did.

I wish your daugher has her own experiences that last a lifetime.