Started on snorkel at 8, spearfishing at 12 (dark ages – sorry) and Scuba at 15. Father very early BSAC member, all submarine escape suits and home made stuff for all else. Everyone should endure talc to put on wet suits and twin hose single stage DVs just to appreciate what we have today although I think we were more integrated into the aquatic environent.
Holiday and odd lake until I got a job on a fish farm near Oban. Then doing 300+ dives a year. Not sport but not commercial either. Luckily HSE not involved at that stage. Mostly boring but sometimes challenging - January, 5 A.M. force
above and solo! Nearly all dives both work and pleasure were solo – although there were the odd occasions when a buddy would have made life a bit less exciting. Am still happier solo.
Virtually packed it in when I came south again, the club scene then was crap.
Did bit on holidays but nothing serious then went to the red sea in 2000 and was reconverted. Have since dived UK, Med, Mexico (caverns are awesome) and even Stoney. Lost track of number of dives. At last count it was around 1500. We did not log all when fish farming since each dive attracted a hefty insurance premium :)It wa amazing how little we did!
Now wanting to go the Trimix route before senility sets in too far.
Look forward to diving with you in the future maybe.
(great site)