I started swimming very young, my first summer my family had a pool and thanks to an older sister bringing home chicken pox, I got to enjoy the water in hopes of soothing the skin. Every summer we would swim in the back garden and every winter go to the indoor pool. Summers at the beach just meant that there was even more calling me to the ocean.
Fast forward to my third year of university. I needed one more credit to be full time and receive all of the benefits of a full-time education but did not want to take another course that would be time and brain consuming. In looking at the PE course offerings, I saw SCUBA on the list, why not sacrifice 1 evening a week for the term to get my theory and pool work completed?
Fast forward a year when a friend and I decided to go to Miami for spring break and finish off our course. We were meant to complete all of our dives in the ocean, but the weather had a different plan. We went to an inland sight that meant I got to see manatees on my very first dive. At this point I was loving being underwater. We finished off in the ocean and that would have to be it for a while because I joined the navy limiting my time and ability to do any diving.
Fast forward to my third year of university. I needed one more credit to be full time and receive all of the benefits of a full-time education but did not want to take another course that would be time and brain consuming. In looking at the PE course offerings, I saw SCUBA on the list, why not sacrifice 1 evening a week for the term to get my theory and pool work completed?
Fast forward a year when a friend and I decided to go to Miami for spring break and finish off our course. We were meant to complete all of our dives in the ocean, but the weather had a different plan. We went to an inland sight that meant I got to see manatees on my very first dive. At this point I was loving being underwater. We finished off in the ocean and that would have to be it for a while because I joined the navy limiting my time and ability to do any diving.
OW4 Miami
Australia
A few years later, I went to Australia which meant that I would be diving the Great Barrier Reef. Even though I had completed a dive at Disney’s Living Seas the year before, seeing the vast life living on the reef was incredible, I was hooked. Even better, while I was gone, two of the men I worked with had completed their open water so now I had people to dive with! We soon started diving (and continuing our training) with a great shop with a friendly family feel. I spent two years with them, learning and progressing as a diver.
It was during this time that I decided to move to England. This is where the professional seed was planted.
In preparation to move to England, or more accurately to dive Silfra, I wanted to get my dry suit certification. On completing this, I then had 5 specialities and could become a Master Scuba Diver, as long as I completed rescue. This was easy enough to schedule in, but they did have one condition. Since I was moving to cold water, they wanted me to complete my rescue course in my dry suit. Yes, my third dive in a dry suit was my rescue course. On the boat ride back, I started talking with the staff and they told me I should consider completing my Divemaster course. This was honestly the only real selling that they did in terms of courses, but it was not about completing it with them. They thought that it was something I was meant to do after seeing me interacting with the other, more nervous customers.
I went on to complete my DM at a warm, sunny location and it left me seriously considering whether or not I would even continue to dive. I no longer had a passion for diving let alone for helping others dive. I left there disheartened. It took me months to consider diving again, and that is when I found Dive Rutland. I came in, admitting I felt like I was not ready to DM, or even take the step to instructor. Little did I know that I would be completing my Instructor Exam within the year.
In preparation to move to England, or more accurately to dive Silfra, I wanted to get my dry suit certification. On completing this, I then had 5 specialities and could become a Master Scuba Diver, as long as I completed rescue. This was easy enough to schedule in, but they did have one condition. Since I was moving to cold water, they wanted me to complete my rescue course in my dry suit. Yes, my third dive in a dry suit was my rescue course. On the boat ride back, I started talking with the staff and they told me I should consider completing my Divemaster course. This was honestly the only real selling that they did in terms of courses, but it was not about completing it with them. They thought that it was something I was meant to do after seeing me interacting with the other, more nervous customers.
I went on to complete my DM at a warm, sunny location and it left me seriously considering whether or not I would even continue to dive. I no longer had a passion for diving let alone for helping others dive. I left there disheartened. It took me months to consider diving again, and that is when I found Dive Rutland. I came in, admitting I felt like I was not ready to DM, or even take the step to instructor. Little did I know that I would be completing my Instructor Exam within the year.
Silfra
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Buddies
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I am now able to share the underwater world with those around me. Not only in my SCUBA certifications, but in all the programs that I am able to participate in. I get to teach my physics students more about a world that they may never see, or inspire them to explore it themselves.
My training does not stop here. I want to continue in my own diving and improving my own technical skills so that I can dive Truk Lagoon, Antarctica, and the Galapagos. Diving offers me a challenge, an adventure, and something new every dive.
My training does not stop here. I want to continue in my own diving and improving my own technical skills so that I can dive Truk Lagoon, Antarctica, and the Galapagos. Diving offers me a challenge, an adventure, and something new every dive.
Diving Qualifications
PADI Staff Instructor, PADI Speciality Instructor, EFR Instructor, FAW Instructor, RAID Instructor, RAID Speciality Instructor and Technical Diver