[diverdown53]

THE MIGHTY ST. CLAIR RIVER

Water, Water everywhere. Water was always a part of my life from swimming in the St Clair River and ffice:smarttags" />lace w:st="on">Lake Huronlace>, to swimming laps for many years in a pool. Always thought of taking up diving---one excuse or the other, then my Father drowned in lace w:st="on">Vero Beach, Floridalace> in 1990. He was a good swimmer, but the rip-tides got the better of him. After that diving went out of my mind.

One day while getting my hair cut from a Padi Master Diving teacher, she suggested I take up diving. I thought about it, since at the time kinda between jobs and was looking for something to do besides cleaning the house!!!

I thought this should be easy!!! Ha Ha. I watched the video, studied my book and in I got. Had some troubles with buoyancy, the mask leaked etc etc, but kept going.

However my open water dive was a bomb!!!! Panic set in, mask leaked, BCD not a proper fit, all sorts of problems.

Went home from that trip (upset over failing my open water dive) in lace w:st="on">Ohiolace> (Gilboa) and thought not for me. My instructor called me and persuaded me to try again. So this time, off to the St Clair River I go with fellow divers, right below the bridge, where the current is swift. Just before I jumped in I saw am image of my Father, like a guardian angel over me, and this time I knew it would all work out---it did, and I passed my Open Water Dive.

I turned my passion into a business. I created a website -- kirkscubagear.com, named after my Father. He was my guardian angel that day, and for that I am thankful, and my website is dedicated to him.

Thank you for reading

Kathy Dowsett
kathydowsett@hotmail.com fficeffice" />>>
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