Post by alan004 on Dec 12, 2020 22:12:56 GMT -8
I am not very good at this sort of thing, so forgive me for my lack of etiquette...
I started spearfishing at age 14 off Long Island sound, north shore. Certified NAUI and YMCA in 1980 and then Sport Diver in 1981. I think I was 15 or 16. Moved to the UK and joined the BSAC and the local club instructors made me start over from scratch. (Apparently not much faith was placed on US qualifications in those days). Made 2nd class diver and club instructor some time later.
1988 I turned professional and attended Fort William Diver Training Center in Scotland. First job placement was West Africa with Oceaneering. After that it was a pretty quick career track to the North Sea. Then over to Norway for mixed gas/bell diver training at the Norwegian State Diving School. Then a lengthy 20 years working for Stena, Seaway, Subsea, Comex and Rockwater. I quit in 2002 and moved back to the states. I decided I had used up my nine lives and the next incident would be my last.
In 2003 I pulled out my old Scubapro gear and got a shock when I visited a dive store only to learn Scubapro as I new it was no more.
I bought my AIR 1/MKV regulator in for a service and the kid at the counter had never seen one before. I knew then all was lost. Then I discovered eBay. Thank God. Spent the next 5 years buying and selling to the point where I now I have some pretty tasty new old stock gear. During my efforts to acquire what I thought was the holy grail of twin tank manifolds I got to meet Dick Bonin. That was a treat. Then Sam Ichikawa and he was a real character. Do I dive much? No. Do I have the time? No. But my daughter is coming of age and is now 10 and getting interested in the underwater world. SO here I am getting my toes wet again.
Where do I think the best diving in the world is? You just can't beat New England Wreck Diving. Thats just my opinion. Baked clams on the half shell with garlic, fresh caught lobster soaked in melted butter and a good New England Ale to wash it down. Blue water, sandy seabeds and a lot of history.
A pleasure to be here,
~Alan
I started spearfishing at age 14 off Long Island sound, north shore. Certified NAUI and YMCA in 1980 and then Sport Diver in 1981. I think I was 15 or 16. Moved to the UK and joined the BSAC and the local club instructors made me start over from scratch. (Apparently not much faith was placed on US qualifications in those days). Made 2nd class diver and club instructor some time later.
1988 I turned professional and attended Fort William Diver Training Center in Scotland. First job placement was West Africa with Oceaneering. After that it was a pretty quick career track to the North Sea. Then over to Norway for mixed gas/bell diver training at the Norwegian State Diving School. Then a lengthy 20 years working for Stena, Seaway, Subsea, Comex and Rockwater. I quit in 2002 and moved back to the states. I decided I had used up my nine lives and the next incident would be my last.
In 2003 I pulled out my old Scubapro gear and got a shock when I visited a dive store only to learn Scubapro as I new it was no more.
I bought my AIR 1/MKV regulator in for a service and the kid at the counter had never seen one before. I knew then all was lost. Then I discovered eBay. Thank God. Spent the next 5 years buying and selling to the point where I now I have some pretty tasty new old stock gear. During my efforts to acquire what I thought was the holy grail of twin tank manifolds I got to meet Dick Bonin. That was a treat. Then Sam Ichikawa and he was a real character. Do I dive much? No. Do I have the time? No. But my daughter is coming of age and is now 10 and getting interested in the underwater world. SO here I am getting my toes wet again.
Where do I think the best diving in the world is? You just can't beat New England Wreck Diving. Thats just my opinion. Baked clams on the half shell with garlic, fresh caught lobster soaked in melted butter and a good New England Ale to wash it down. Blue water, sandy seabeds and a lot of history.
A pleasure to be here,
~Alan
