Since I was 7 years old I've been enraptured by the undersea world. I sat way too close to the TV drinking in Jacques Cousteau shows like a little sea sponge. It never occurred to me that I could become a diver myself until a friend told me he as going to sign up for a class and get certified. I signed up with him and my own bubble blowing adventures began.
I do most of my diving in the Puget Sound because it is really interesting and because I can easily drive there for a day trip. When I can swing it, I love diving in warm waters where you can see 100 feet or more and, joy of joys, dive without a neoprene hood puckering my face up like an an--nevermind.
The best week of my life was spent on a Blackbeard's liveaboard sailboat in the Bahamas. Four dives a day are offered along with all the excellent chow you can keep down. I recommend them highly if you're okay with a relaxed semi-rustic experience. I dove with sharks, explored wrecks and learned many new species of fish. I also lost a rented camera which was, thankfully, insured. I was in heaven with the boat (I danced with it as it rocked), the sunsets (a new painting every evening by whomever your higher power may be) and fellowship with other equally and uniquely passionate amphibious humans. It was an overwhelming sensual experience from so many angles all I can do is tell you to get your ass on the next plane to Miami and feel it for yourself.
I have also been privileged to hear whales singing in Hawaii. I've dove in Kona several times. In February 2004, we saw whales at the surface on every trip out on the dive boat. This trip we enjoyed a Manta Ray night dive. Creepy, and eery and awesome beyond belief.
In October 2003, I enjoyed the kelp forests of the Channel Islands in California. My biggest thrill there was playing with sea lions for the first time. Imagine a dog in a wet suit...
Won't I ever get enough? I don't think so. I still hope to see whales while I'm diving, have some sort of dolphin interaction, dive in Belize, Bonaire, Thailand, Canada, the San Juan Islands, and many other places I haven't thought of yet. I also hope to involve myself in some kind of volunteer work when the opportunity arises so I can do my part to help the little fishies and corals and other nifty critters.