So what is the allure that seems to grip divers and novices alike about gliding along under the surface of the water? Some things are the obvious visual panoramic experiences whereas some souls relate that they feel as if they've left earthly bounds when in the undersea climes. In addition there are delicious dinners awaiting should you master the spear gun and track down a nice snapper like the one shown here by mate Austin Fraley of Quality Time Charters.The following description of the allure of diving comes from work penned by poet laureate Gary Henkel who is also a contributing writer for this article.

Weightless flight. For a while set aside your
earthbound self and travel like an angel free
from the cares of the mortal world.
           -Gary Henkel

In an interview with Gary and his friend and Dive Master and rescue diver, Captain Bill Nelson I was introduced more thoroughly to the complexities, training, and rewards associated with scuba diving. The more I listened and read the material they supplied for me; I began to see that to dive safely and successfully would take time, patience, training, endurance, and confidence by anyone that wishes to become a certified scuba diver.

Firstly, before slipping into the water with a deadly spear gun and skewering dinner, each would-be diver must complete a rather rigorous training course and testing to receive the desired certification. A qualified dive instructor, as Gary described, will

The balance of this article is penned by Gary Henkel as his description of the dive training experience. In future articles we will relate reports of divers from locals around the reefs, wrecks, and seas of the world. In addition, Dive Master Captain Bill Nelson will share dive tips, locations, and techniques. I welcome submissions from our readers or divers, scuba, snorkel, free, or other. Pictures are appreciated and will be posted appropriately and credit given.

 Sounds exciting? While diving can be one of the most exciting adventures of your life, without proper training diving can be the last great adventure of your life. Not to scare you, but you are breathing underwater under great concentration, weight and compression of a medium not know to honor the foolish.

Taking a dive class is not a pass fail situation. Mother Ocean will look at you diving and be able to tell exactly how well you did in your dive class. I say this, again not to frighten you off, but to ensure you exercise all due diligence and prepare to really understand and absorb the materials your dive instructor goes over with you. I’m not going to go into all of those details here. Just remember, you have a tank of air on your back, something called a “buoyancy control device,” wrapped around you, a device in your mouth called a regulator, a dive computer, and you are the one most and sometimes only responsible for your safety. Old Mother Ocean will diligently check out each piece of your dive equipment in search of any deficiencies, and usually in the least favorable moment let you know there is a problem with your equipment. Again, nothing said here is to frighten you away from diving. Learning to dive, however, requires your complete attention and willingness to wave happily at Old Mother Ocean.

Once you have demonstrated sufficient knowledge and understanding, you will go to a pool where you must demonstrate the ability to swim, float, and enjoy the water. You will also demonstrate, by swimming, you have the physical condition and stamina to meet the rigors of diving. Once you have passed the physical endurance tests, you will then begin to experience the wonderment of putting on all of the still mysterious dive equipment. Finally, after what seems an absolutely endless period of time, you will experience your first breathing under water (something you could never do before, even though you may have tried). Once you have proven you can breathe underwater (even if in a swimming pool) you are then ready for your first open water dive experience. 

Water has weight. Water has currents. Water often has its own relentless agenda to take anything or anyone in it where water wants to go. Water does not ask permission to change its dimension or direction. And once you are in the water, guess what, you had best have plans made to deal with the situation. Usually, on your first open water dive you will be taken to what is usually a safe spot. However, if you are willing to jump out of a perfectly good boat, you and your dive instructor and fellow students will need to be totally aware of where you are, what the water conditions may be, what to do in case a big, hungry fish has missed its lunch and what big and extremely curious fish with big teeth are likely to do (if not eating you).