So SCUBA diving has been something that I have always been interested in. My parents were both certified divers at one point in time, but they haven't been under in years. I don't know if they ever did it after I was born.
I have flirted with the idea of taking a cert class on several different occasions, but always talk myself out of it because I don't really know where I would do it or who I would do it with.
Well, I was talking about it the other day because they now allow you to SCUBA dive in the shark tank at the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Aquarium in Las Vegas. To my surprise, Cathy said that she would be interested in learning how to do it. She actually said she'd like the idea of doing SCUBA quite a bit more than learning how to sail, so I'm thinking now that maybe the sailing will be out and some SCUBA will be in.
Upon a little investigation, I found out that we actually live about 3 minutes from the dive shop here in town. It's literally about a mile from our house. They offer classes there, and they even do the open water certification dives at...get this...Clark Lake. Now, if you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know that Clark Lake is the lake that Cathy and I have used the kayaks at. Apparently on the end of the lake that we haven't really been to, they have a nice swimming area, and about 25 yards outside of the swimming area they have some things that they have set up for SCUBA diving in the lake. It's apparently a pretty good little lake for doing some diving, and I wouldn't doubt it...each time I have been there the lake seems extremely clear and it's pretty good as far as temperature goes.
The dive shop also does weekly dives that are free to attend, and the cost for rental equipment is only 50% if you go to one of these dives. They are at several local lakes in the area, and range in time from early morning to late at night.
Add to this the fact that I found a place called Gilboa Quarry which is located in Ohio that is about 2 hours from us that from what I can read is a literal Mecca for midwestern divers. It's a huge quarry with many, many objects that have been set up for diving in it, up to and including a full size passenger airplane. It is also stocked with many, many fish and even includes a few endangered and protected species.
So with all of this coming to light, I think that Cathy and I may be passing on the sailing classes and instead doing some SCUBA classes. I never knew how many places there were in the general area to go diving at...and it gives me a good excuse to drag Cathy to some tropical islands!!!!
2 comments:
Wow, What a cool place! Gilboa Quarry. Who woulda thunk it.
Did you see that they have an event next year for trying to break the world record for most submerged divers at one time and that they are asking for as many people to show up as possible and be a part of history?
Of course, looking at all those fish in the picture gallery wants me to go fishing there.
Guess they don't allow it. :-(
Hey! That's where I did my open water dives when I got certified years and years ago! Back then there was a sunken school bus. We had to enter the bus, take our tanks off, put them back on and leave through the emergency exit in the back as part of the certification. I thought it was cool back then, but it looks awesome now. If that's what it takes to get Cathy to go tropical with us then do it!
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