I don't, but my daughter took a course while she was at Smith last year, and got SCUBA certified over this Memorial Weekend down in the Florida Keys. She is phobic of many things, so I was surprised that she had any interest (or tolerance) at all. But she just loved it, and was captivated by the life under water (she's a bio major and is exploring the idea of going into marine biology). She loved every aspect of the course and the certification and is urging us to do it, too.

Have you ever tried snorkeling? That's all I have ever done, mostly in Hawaii.

I'm certified and my husband is also; he is assistant instructor level and has volunteered as a diver for Biscayne National Park for many years. He trains divers (mostly interns) and also leads a lot of diving excursions for rangers.

I took a long sabbatical while the kids were growing up but have been out a few times over the past few years. Frankly, I generally prefer snorkeling but that's because as a diver I'm really only into peacefully drifting around looking at pretty stuff :). By definition that means I prefer depths of However, scuba diving for me has always been a lovely, calm almost meditative experience. Slowly stroking along quietly watching, and listening, withthe sunshine sparkling into the sea on a calm day in warm clear water...it's beautiful.

As for scary, not really. As mentioned I personally don't go much for deep dives. My husband LOVES wreck diving and regularly dives at 100+ feet, but although I've done my share I don't do it any more. Just not my thing and I"m too impatient to hang out on the decompression line anyway. The only thing that makes me nervous is when we're out in deep water and I'm swimming around on the surface with a lot of water beneath me, where I can't see what's down there. That is a LOT more scary to me than if I"m diving where I am in it, not on top of it if that makes any sense.

Not sure that answers your questions but if there is anything else I can tell you just ask. If I can't respond I'll ask Mr. Diver Guy I live with!

Ann

I learned to dive when I was in my late 30s and dove a lot for about the next 10 years. I love the sensation of floating through the water. And I love seeing fish. I didn't take to night diving - it was too creepy for me. I'm a fair weather diver - nice warm clear tropical water only. No rivers or lakes. No heavy wetsuits.

We lived in the Bahamas for a few years and had a boat and did lots of diving. After that experience, it was hard to go back to the cattle boats used by dive operators.

Scuba diving was on my bucket list so I got certified about 10 years ago. We lived in Florida at the time. My one and only real diving trip was to the Cayman Islands. It was a wonderful trip. Like Graywings, I was also a fair weather diver. We no longer live in Florida and our vacations are no longer centered around water since we decided that it was time to see the world while we are still able so I have pretty much given it up but it was fun while it lasted.

Thanks so very much, everyone! I'm doing it! Well, at least taking a Discover SCUBA course to see how I like it and if I want to continue. I've signed DH and myself up for a course the weekend after this coming one, and we're both very excited. I spoke to the instructor and he was very nice and informative. He told me that a lot of folks who have sea/water-related phobias actually fare much better under water, since they can see what's around them. (I assume that doesn't necessarily hold true for deep water dives, but I don't anticipate doing that anytime soon!)

I just want to know what it feels like to swim around in the equipment and breathe underwater. First things first!
:-)

DH and I have our PADI certification. Haven't done any diving since we had kids, but might get started again now that the kids are just old enough to take a course and try some shallow dives.

We are also fair weather recreational divers, but when we took our certification diving tests we were on an island that was getting strong winds and currents left over from a hurricane!! Those were some interesting conditions with little to no visibility. During part of our test they gave our group a rope to hold onto so that we wouldn't be swept away by the strong currents. We all passed and figured we would never again have to dive in such bad conditions.

Someone mentioned night dives. They are very creepy and weird, but you have to do one at least once because it is so different and you do see a totally different set of creatures.

It may be obvious from my name here, but yes, I am a serious dive addict. I enjoy diving here in CA, but warm water destinations are a treat. It's nice to have a hobby to share with my sweetie, too. Hope it goes well for you, Sunny!

I couldn't imagine diving in CA ... I'm always cold and even in the tropics I have to use a "real" wetsuit or I start shivering after 30 minutes.

This is something that I have been thinking of doing also. I tend to be claustrophobic, so I don't know how I would feel about having all that gear on. I got notice today of a special in our area for a Discover SCUBA class - buy one get one free, and I might see if my DH wants to try. He likes to snorkel (more than I do). I have been searching for more things for the two of us to do together.

terriks, taking a scuba class in a pool might be a bit claustrophobic, but once you get out in the ocean it is a very different feeling. In great visibility you can see "forever". You might feel the opposite ... fear of wide open spaces!

Chispa, I did think it was cold at first; I do use a drysuit during the winter/spring an a 7 mil with a hooded vest in the summer. It's really beautiful in the kelp, though -- a 3-D diving experience. Well worth it to me!

Thanks so much for the input (and encouragement)! I'm really looking forward to our initial pool dive this coming weekend. I'm already adjusting my mindset so that (I hope) when the time comes, I won't freak out! I think if I can just relax and keep telling myself that no harm will come to me (I mean, we're only going to be in an 8-foot deep pool, for crying out loud), I'll be alright. Part of overcoming my fear/phobia will definitely have to include approaching the whole thing as a fun adventure, instead of something to be endured for the sake of overcoming.

There's an underwater art installation near Isla Mujeres called "Silent Evolution" that I really want to be able to dive next year. I'm sure it's vastly changed (covered in sea life by now!), but the effect will surely still be the same. This fascinates me!

I understand that diving in these waters is referred to as "bathtub diving" and that wet suits typically aren't needed, but I can still envision myself wearing one, just because the thought of brushing up against something "down there" kinda skeeves me out.

Baby steps. Right? ;-)

Yep, it's really eerie now!