Hey! I'm no Ishmael, but it seemed like a good idea when Jeff, my instructor, asked me to keep a diary on my learning experience. I think it would have helped me to know what I would be in for, and would certainly have dispelled some fears, mostly of the unknown, and will hopefully be informative to others wondering what it's all about. So here goes...

Hello, my name's Rick and I've been addicted to Life since 1966. I've been a paraplegic and in a wheelchair since '83, the culmination of my misspent youth, and since '95 spend most of my time on a prone cart because of a history of pressure sores from sitting in a wheelchair.

So why do I want to dive you ask? A variety of reasons, the most important would be that it's something I can do without actually sitting in my wheelchair. It also seems like a great form of exercise, and there's also the odd chance of finding sunken pirate booty! I have a slight interest in marine life, especially the tasty bits, and I agree with and echo the opinion of "Who wouldn't want to do it!!!"*. For some, circumnavigating the earth in a small boat, or being part of a scientific expedition to the Antarctic may be a dream come true. For others it may simply be enough to sit along a small creek with a fishing rod and a can of worms, but certainly whatever the limits of ones creativity and imagination, there still exists in most of us, great or small, some measure of desire to explore the mysteries of the earth, the universe, and of life itself. Enough philosophy.

I did have some trouble getting a medical release signed, the doc wanted me to go to an H S A certified instructor, there just happens to not be any locally so this wasn't a real option for me. The end result was in finding a new family physician. The point is that if your doc balks, call around and ask others, don't just give up. Another quick point here, no mater what you find yourself enthusiastic about, you'll always find some naysayer who will try to pee on your parade. Finding people of a like mind who will support your dreams, (well all right, let's call them enablers) is crucial. Don't drink the purple Kool-aid of those who will try to down play your life's mission, whatever it is.

During the med release bull I made some preliminary visits to Divers Descent and can't say enough about those I’ve met at the shop, instructors and other divers just stopping by; everyone seems very friendly, positive, and helpful, I'm eager now to start, and think it's time for action. And with that, Lets Go!

* I've read somewhere that using three consecutive exclamation marks is a sure sign of madness; please don't hold it against me.