Die-Hard, Limitless, No-Boundary Divers
Question:
Dear Mr. Sawyer,
I am a beginner diver who recently became certified in SCUBA. I read your article titled "Judgement Day At Ples Masalai" in the May 2004 issue of Sport Diver and honestly I am amazed at the depths these adventurers go for the sport of SCUBA. I am hooked!!! I want to become one of these die-hard, limitless, no boundary divers who explore unchartered waters. My question to you is where/how do I begin? Like I said earlier, I have just recently been certified but I am looking for more ways to increase my experience and see the world. I live in New Orleans and day after day all I think about is diving. Thank you in advance for any help/advice you can give me.
Eric Relle
Ty Responds
Eric:
I'm thrilled to hear from such an enthusiastic diver. If you want to become a "die-hard, limitless, no boundary diver" the first, and most important thing you must do is become an good, safe diver. The people pursuing the exploratory side of diving are highly trained, and dive and practice and hone their skills constantly. Jim Bowden has done more than 10,000 dives. Peter Hughes and Captain Alan Raabe, too many to remember. Digger has logged more than 9,000. Of the rest of the team only a couple had less than 4,000 dives. All were extremely competent divers. And the number one consideration on each and every dive was safety, not pushing limits. And safety is paramount because a reckless attitude is often a deadly attitude. The second consideration was trust in each other, and trust is not earned by desire, but by ability and experience.
With that said, take as many PADI courses on as many different areas as you can to gain the building blocks, then spend as much time as possible in the water to gain experience and comfort in the water. Become an expert. Do research on on the underwater edges of the earth (it's the last, truly unexplored region, after all). Figure out what interests you the most in the realm of underwater exploration. That combined with your desire will take you down the path of adventure.
Have fun. And I hope to be writing about your adventures someday.
Ty
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