Hi everyone, just found your club and so eager to join. A little about myself is I grew up in Maine until 16 years old where I worked on the water in the lobstering industry aka “stern man” to my fathers boat and also had my own gear and skiff. As a young boy we haul traps and I’d brace my knees against the wash rail peering down at the prism depths as I would listen to the pot hauler and wait for the ascending traps. I always wondered about the bottom below. My favorite times were when we fished close to the rocks and certain days I was blessed to see the bottom. I wanted so bad to explore the depths, but the unspoken rule of most New England fisherman was it was a death sentence to venture below.
Fast forward 20 years from 1986 and time found me removed from the ocean and in Illinois working at a prison, I still loved the sea but commitments were now to be filled. One day I found my self talking to another employee and hIm being a dive instructor encouraged me to try. God what a blessing back in 2011 even if it was just a rock quarry. Work was pretty hectic then with out of control over time but I knew if I just bit the bullet when retired at 50 my time would come. I was able to dive in Maine a couple of summers and just loved watching the lobsters and seeing what the bottom really looked like.
Three years ago just before retirement I treated myself to a solo self planned trip to San Pedro Belize, after that first sip of real Fanta I knew I found my happy place. The reef is my home. Since then I’ve retired and was just back in SanPedro for two weeks solo loving every minute. I’m currently headed to Roatan for a week in early April and doing Hostel style adventure at 52 years of age. Looking so forward to log 10-15 dives meet new people and see new things, oh and sip on a Fanta or two.
Today while surfing the web I found this club and decided to join in hopes to join up a trip or two a year. I just feel lucky to find others who might need a buddy. Thanks Charlie