Hello Everyone

[Tigerbeach]

Hi everyone; I am Anthony.
Boy, this takes me back to great and wild days as a Scuba Instructor!
I was in the water 6-7 days a week, for years.
I wouldn't shower on my days off just so I wouldn't have to get wet.

I grew up in Laguna Beach, in So Cal. I grew up surfing, diving, and sailing.
I went to Pepperdine and studied Business.
After college, I started training to teach, then became the Head Dive Instructor teaching surf entries to students at Laguna Sea Sports in Laguna Beach. A few years later I was on Oahu and began my own company, the Owner / Operator of Aloha Dive in Hawaii Kai.
We were crazy! On days off my safety divers and I:
Did everything you have ever heard of, and then some.
Drank beer underwater. Smoked pot underwater. Dove 240' deep on air. Snorkeled over a mile in full dive gear. Free dove 100'. Blew perfect air rings. Found rare sea shells. Hid from big sharks. Breathed straight off the tank valve. Took our tanks off, and pushed them ahead of us through tight cave openings. Ran into big whales. Dove wrecks. Messed with ALL sea life. (Like filling puffer fish with compressed air) Got laid underwater. Laughed off thousands and thousands of pounds of pressure, etc.

During work we pushed ourselves relentlessly. NO accidents. Ever.
We didn't lose dive gear. Ever.
We trained ourselves and conditioned ourselves constantly.
We used UDT fins, only.
I had 5000 dives in 6 years. I spent about a month each year underwater.
I taught hundreds and hundreds of students.

We taught our students self reliance, common sense, and unbeatable swimming skills like neutral buoyancy and body positioning. Even back in the '80's, people in the industry thought we were nuts. They just wanted to certify everyone and their Grandma and then sell 'em a bunch of gear.
I didn't care about that; I wanted people to learn to play safely.
And have half as much fun as I did!

I trained at the following establishments:

- Naui College. San Juan Capistrano, Ca 1981 Naui # 8319 (With Jim Hicks)
- US Coast Guard Captains license course, Oahu, Hi 1984
- PADI crossover course. PADI Collage Santa Ana, Ca 1985
- Taught 5 Specialty courses (Wreck, Photography, Deep, Search and Recovery, Night)
- Master Scuba Diver Trainer, IDC Staff Instructor,
Emergency First Response Instructor
- Master Instructor Training, Course Director training. 1987

I moved back to California a few years later and got a land job.
I am coming up on 20 years after teaching! I still have my UDT's!
(contact Greg for some real fins! parsimony@earthlink.net)
What an amazing swim I had!
ASW

[Zero]

G'day and welcome aboard.

Matt

[acelockco]

Sounds like a most impressive resume'

Now if you are willing to train 2 new DM's that are very serious about diving, you could have 2 great employees at that dive shop of yours if it is still active.

Anyway welcome to our forum. I see you have already jumped right in which is great. If you need anything give a shout.

Ace

[Carp_dm]

Welcome! When did you find time to sleep?

[Sarah]

Welcome Anthony!

[lottie]

Hey Anthony, welcome aboard.

[Tigerbeach]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Ace, I am in Real Estate development, in Branson Missouri.
I left So Cal to ride the wave that is beginning out here.
I'll do this, then retire in 9 years back to Newport Beach.
I'll still dive for fun, on vacation, but don't plan to become professional again.
It is beautiful out here; my 11 year old and I are enjoying our transition.
All the best,
ASW

[acelockco]

I am glad you are enjoying what you are doing now. I am sure there is a LOT more $$$ in real estate than diving, but then again I am sure money was not the most important thing at that time.

Now the big question, is your 11 yr old going to be your new dive buddy when he/she becomes 12? I am sure 12 is still the minimum age for dive training.

Ace

[fooddude]

Anthony,

Welcome abord. I'm sure you have some great stories that you will share (next Hemmingway, perhaps?)

I look forward to your experience.

[Tigerbeach]

BTW, My kidlet is a little fish; I took her to the beach every summer of her life.
Plus swim classes, surf lessons, snorkeling, and boogie boarding.
Of course she and I will dive together!

("Yay!" She says; she is in my lap watching...)