About the Dive Bum

I started by doing PADI's DSD program.  Twice.  Then, before some planned travel to Mexico, I actually decided to get certified.  Or licensed, or whatever it was.  I didn't even know any divers, so I had no idea even whether the red and white flag of the shop I drove to was for diving or lifegaurding (I figured if it was lifegaurding they'd be able to direct me to a dive shop.)

I had a really interesting moment, the memory of which I cherish, when I came back from the local dive shop, went into the office of my crummy, little apartment, and dropped the DVD into the computer to start my academic work.  As the DVD started up I had a feeling that the world was fundamentally shifting around me, that something really important was happening.  I had no idea what it was and I certainly didn't recognize just how monumental that shift was at the time.  But my life had, in that moment, ceased to be what it was and had turned onto an ineluctable course that would delight and define me.

I did my checkout dives in Mexico and started diving in a crappy Virginia rock quarry.  "To keep my skills up," I thought.  Before I knew it I was racking up dozens upon dozens of dives in that cold-ass water.

Went on a liveaboard to Mona Island and racked up more than 100 dives within my first year of diving.

I was talked into doing a Cavern certification in North Florida ("You'll become a better diver," my friend assured me as I protested that cave diving sounded stupid) before moving back to my home of New Jersey which is where the fun really started.  Started strapping on doubles and deco bottles and getting some quality bottom time in.  
Naturally, I had to go back down to Florida to go for Full Cave, as well.

I moved to Hawaii as a dive instructor, having decided that working to fund a dive addiction is stupid, so I quit my day job and made diving my day job.  Things are better that way.  I worked as a resort/destination instructor for about three years.  Three years of "living the dream."  It was fun in a lot of ways, but in just as many it was an terrifying education.

Then I moved home and currently work as an Aquarium Dive Safety Officer.  I still like to teach when I can, which is rarely.

Mostly, all I want to do is cave dive or tinker with my beloved rebreather.

When I'm not diving I like to think about diving or read or write about diving or watch diving videos.

You know how some people have lots and lots of varied interests and pursuits?  I am not one of those people.