The Buddy System

Well, I am off to the mountains for a little hiking today; a decidedly non-scuba way of passing some week-end time. I'm looking forward to diving in two weeks when Dave has his check-out dives for his open water. Hopefully he'll get some equipment so we can do some New Jersey shore diving before the end of the summer. I was thinking last night about what in the sport of SCUBA inspires such passion in its adherents. I think the fact that the sport is technical at the same time that it is meditative and relaxing allows it to attract a wide range of personalities with whom you interact and bond. The buddy system, the collegiality of the dive boat situation, the fact that a lot of diving is done while on vacation, all engender warm feelings. Or something like that.