Welcome Aboard

I'd like to give you a little background about myself and how my interest in diving developed.

When I was a young boy, my father was stationed on the island of Guam far out in the Pacific. To an 8 year old this translates into PARADISE! The old man loved fishing and if we begged and pleaded enough, he would take us when he went. While he spear-fished, Dad would tow around an old life raft with three kids hanging over the side, looking down at him through a bucket with a plexiglas bottom he'd made. I remember watching him for hours with his simple mask, fins and snorkel and his mop-handle spear. After catching our dinner we would have a cookout on the beach then look at the stars while the fire died. I never forgot how beautiful it was peering down at the underwater world.

In 1970 I joined the Navy and volunteered for submarine duty. I was assigned to a boomer (missile boat) out of - Guam! Now that was a stroke of luck! We would go on patrol for about 70 days, then return to Guam for a few weeks then back to Pearl Harbor for a little R&R. During those years I rekindled my desire to explore the ocean. In '71 I volunteered to be one of the ships divers. What a great way and place to learn. Although the diving duty was routine, the off-duty diving was fantastic! Then... I got out of the Navy and returned to Kansas. No more bubbles for a while.

In the early 80's I went to Hawaii for vacation. Things had changed a lot. I learned the hard way that without a 'certification card' no-one would rent you gear. I basically had to bribe my way back into the water! When I got back home I took a NAUI basic diver course. Two years later I completed my instructor training. Guess what... one of the course leaders had also been a submarineer. I recall him commenting "I guess those guys back on Guam must have done something right".

Since '88, I've been training divers in all levels from basic through leadership. I've also been fortunate to travel, visiting facinating places and have amazing underwater experiences.

But what I've enjoyed the most about my diving carreer are the people I have had the pleasure to meet. Next to submariners, divers are probably the best folks you could hope to be around. Think about it, we go into a hostile environment where communication is difficult at best. We are stripped of the identification of our day to day life, we all wear the same life support equipment. We depend on one another to watch our back, remaining vigilant to lend a hand if needed.

I think most would agree - "Its a pretty special breed, these divers" - Diver Dale Worley