I thought I would take a moment to talk about why I scuba dive. When I was young, my mom's boss wanted to check out some scuba gear he had, I assume before going on a dive trip. We are talking probably the mid-80s, as I think I was around 6 years old. After he had checked all his gear, he showed us kids how to breathe off the regulator and let us have fun in the pool for a little bit. In reality, it was probably only 5 minutes, but that 5 minutes ignited a passion that would become lifelong, although I didn't get a chance to fulfill it until I was much older.
By the time I turned 18, I had just graduated from high school and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. I spent 5 years working on EA-6B's, and our squadron participated in operation "Allied Force" in Kosovo. My time on active duty was up shortly after 9/11, and I chose to exit the Marine Corps because I knew it wasn't a lifestyle that I wanted to continue living. 9/11 was a jarring event for the entire country, but I was already scheduled to EAS shortly thereafter. While I enjoyed my time in the service, I was glad to get out and enter some sort of normal life.
Fast forward a few more years, and I had moved back home to Hickory and gotten married to my beautiful wife. I finally remembered those first few breaths underwater and knew that I had to try my hand at scuba diving. I signed up for the basic open water course and dragged my wife along. I had grown up in and around water and was very comfortable in the water. My wife, not so much. She couldn't push past the fear of getting water in her nose and never was able to master the skill of clearing a mask. We talked about it and decided that diving wasn't for her. I continued on my scuba journey with her blessing and successfully completed the PADI open water scuba diver class.
That was a lengthy way of giving you a glimpse into my background so you can understand my perspective. Initially, my interest was purely in the excitement of breathing underwater, observing fish, and the sensation of weightlessness when neutrally buoyant. Even now, I still experience those wonderful sensations each time I dive, but my connection with the underwater world has evolved. With a demanding job and constant technological demands, SCUBA diving provides me with a much-needed escape from daily stress. Underwater, there are no emails, no on-call duties, just the focus on the next breath. It almost feels like meditation, allowing me to clear my mind and unwind. The mental benefits linger for days, which is why I pursued becoming an instructor. Even after a decade and numerous dives, I find solace in the simplicity of swimming in familiar quarries. I wish everyone could experience the tranquility I find underwater.