I was a late bloomer to scuba but caught on very quickly. My scuba journey began at Sandals Montego Bay on Nov 17, 2012 receiving my Scuba Diver Certification. This erupted an extreme desire and excitement to learn more. Two weeks later I was back at Sandals Montego Bay for work and decided to complete my Open Water and Advanced Open Water Certifications. I completed these Dec 18 and 21, 2012. 

I returned home and seriously could not stop thinking about diving. I decided to go back to Jamaica 2 months later for 30 days. With the help of friends I found a place to rent, drove around Jamaica in a rental car and did my Rescue with the same Sandals Montego Bay Team diving with them just about every day. I received my Rescue Certification with them on my 50th birthday 3/15/2013. To me this was a huge milestone. I am also one of their Sandals Elite Divers. This Team is like my family, have encouraged my every step and without them I would not be part of Blue today.

I wanted so much to continue but was undecided which direction to go. After frequent trips back to different Sandals I found Blue in Pennsylvania. I did some specialty diving and destination trips with them. Spring of 2014 Blue approached me about directing my journey going Pro. With their support and dedication I completed the Divemaster Program and joined their Staff as part of an awesome family at the Dive Center October 19, 2014. Fast forward to August 3 2015 and I became an Assistant Instructor with Blue. With each section of my journey I found out more about myself and what I could accomplish. My training with Blue has definitely taught me to be more professional and patient. I find these traits follow me in my profession and as I dive even when I am not with Blue. 

A spinal cord injury then surgery in Aug 2016 kept me from diving but after 6 weeks recovery I was back at the Dive Center doing what I love. First as Surface Support (which I enjoy very much) then by 12 weeks back in the water with full equipment. A few months later on a weekend in April 2017 our Team in a 40ish degree Zero visibility lake in New Jersey completed our Public Safety Diver Certification together. 

I very much enjoy teaching the BubbleMakers and Seal Teams. This is a kids first introduction to the underwater world of diving and it gives me great pleasure to be part of that. I also enjoy traveling as a Team to different locations during the year with clients who prefer to finish their training in warm waters. Ok, I admit it... I'm a warm water diver. 

Though the certifications are very rewarding more so is being a mentor to those I have the opportunity to encounter, introducing scuba to others, seeing their faces when they realize their accomplishment and what beauty they discovered below the surface. 

Amazing that I have lived by and played in the ocean all my life, but unaware of what beauty was really beneath the surface! I have absolutely no idea what took me so long!