SCUBA: Day 1!

After quickly finishing my classroom & pool work last weekend, I decided I'd try to complete my certification in Florida & do the open water dives. I worked with Brett, instructor & marine biologist, and Melissa, a college student applying for an internship to do marine animal training. Cool! And speaking of cool, the water in the Gulf was too cold & rough on Friday, so Martha, Kelley & I drove about 2 hours inland to Lake Denton to complete the first 3 dives. The sky was blue, the sun was shining, the trees & lake were beautiful and it wasn't warm... but it was warmer than KC!

It didn't take long for Martha to find the sun...
...and a friend!
Wet suit #1: check! Wet suit #2: halfway on!
My arms are going to look like Popeye's after carrying around all this gear!
The dorkiest photo of me ever recorded:
Beginning the dive:
Ready to submerge:
And an hour and a half later, we're back!
Melissa, Brett & me:
Dives 1-3: complete! On to the 4th & final dive tomorrow...

And I have to credit Kelley for noticing this sign in the dive shop (partially blocked by the TV). Very mature, Kelley!

I'll have to design some cool decals for my cylinder, like this one: