"The ocean is a big blue desert. Although biodiversity can exceed that of the densest tropical rainforests, a lot of what we encounter is just vast swaths of desolate water. My favorite component of diving is the moment when a shadow or shine begins to take shape, and a chance encounter that appears in the distance drifts into view. I love the unknown component of the ocean, the uncertainty and unpredictability of the experiences and the elation of an unexpected visitor, even at a site you've dived 100 times."
Diving for me started in college. After two years of undergraduate study in Tennessee, I realized that I needed a change of direction in my life in order to be fulfilled. After a little research and correspondence I was accepted to the University of the Virgin Islands. I thought it'd be better to have a dive cert. under my belt before making the journey so I took the course as an elective at school. In hindsight it was one of the best decisions I could've made. Taking months, not days or weeks to complete the process made me a very comfortable and confident diver. Although my checkout dives were in a flooded, icy-cold rock quarry, it all paid off when my made it to the VI. Our first lab for Invertebrate Zoology was a dive at Saba Rock off St. Thomas, one I will never forget.
