Why Scuba?

As long as I can remember I've been fascinated by fish. Historically this passion has manifested itself as a constantly changing and ever growing collection of aquariums and a need to visit every aquarium I encounter. In fact, I currently have over 1000 gallons of water bubbling away in a variety of tanks at home.

That's not to say that I haven't looked into scuba certification and diving a few times in the past. In fact, my partner of 7 years, my inlaws and several of my friends all dive. In the Upstate Reef Society, diving seems almost universal. Yet, I've never started the process until now.

Why Not? I've had lots of reasons not to learn. My health has been a big one, I've had problems with metabolism, energy levels and most importantly, a lifetime of sinus headaches & hay fever. All of which I understood to be rather important to both your safety and comfort while in the water. Besides health, I've had to deal with a general lack of initiative. Without a concrete reason and goal to dive, I've never been able to mentally justify the cost & time commitment involved in certification.

Why Now? I've started the process because of my family. We have a family trip scheduled in January that will take us to some of the best dive spots in the Carribbean basin: Belize, Roatan, Cozumel. So, after reading the following about Belize City,

Diving and Snorkeling: Number one on the hit parade of favorite outdoor activities due to the astounding sites along the barrier reef.
from: CruiseCritic.com

I decided to visit a local dive shop and get more information on Sunday. They had a great "Discover Scuba" program offered on Weds that seemed well worth the $35 fee. Most importantly, if I decided to get certified, the fee was refunded from the cost of tuition.