My first breath was just…it just seemed impossible that you could actually breathe underwater. I knew in my mind it was possible, but actually experiencing it was such a gulp of joy and I feel it every time I go under the ocean. I love doing it, to be able to feel weightless, to spin on one finger, to do somersaults, to be like a graceful ballerina – even with a huge tank on your back you can do the most extraordinary things.
Sylvia Earle
Nora arranged a scuba diving trip for us. She’s really passionate about diving, and it turns out that I played a part in sparking her interest. I’ve always been drawn to water, even as a kid when I preferred Jacques Cousteau’s specials over cartoons. I fondly remember pretending to scuba dive with my little brother in our parents’ living room, crawling from table to table and finding breathable air pockets underneath. My own scuba journey began with lessons at King Neptune dive shop in Annapolis during high school. After 35 hours of training, I obtained my certification and later pursued more advanced training with instructor John Kiser. Following my footsteps, brother Bob got certified about a year later, albeit requiring special permission due to his youth. Years later, Bob married Nora, he introduced her to diving, and she’s been the one organizing our recent diving trips.
Nora needed an outline of our itinerary to research our diving options. We like spending a day at both Leverick Bay and the Bitter End. Since they are so close to each other, sailing time between the two is minimal, leaving time for other exploration, like diving. Out of 4-5 operators, Nora chose Sunchaser Scuba at the Bitter End, which turned out to be a great choice. Sunchaser Scuba is owned and operated by Ben and Kay; they are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and have been around long enough to recognize my ancient certification cards. When they aren’t taking people out to the reefs, they teach scuba, maintain moorings, and even work with a team that applies antibiotic paste to diseased coral. Ben drove the boat on our outing, and Divemaster Kay took us on the underwater tour. Dive one was to the Corridors, which is a bit of a secret, and dive two to the Invisibles, an invisible, from above, pair of coral heads that I want to avoid locating with my keel. Kay pointed out more marine life than I can mention and is not only a master diver but also a master at hand gestures to describe marine life. You definitely want her on your team when playing charades. The boat was comfortable, the dive sites were great, and we all had a fantastic time.
Back at the dock, we had a little surprise. A ferry carrying cement mixers for the construction next door was blocking our inflatable boat almost completely. An occurrence that I’m told is unique in the history of the dive shop. Luckily, a dinghy with a raised outboard motor can just about float in the shallow water and be manually maneuvered under the ferry ramp. Just remember to bring the outboard’s key, or you’ll end up rowing when you get to the other side. Trust me, I know this to be true.
Highly recommended. 5 stars. We will definitely be visiting them again .
https://sunchaserscuba.com/
And of course we would all like to be under the sea…
Sailing Sea Sea 