First off, I’ve always been a dolphin….. I could hold my breath underwater for over 3 minutes when I was 12. I would bet people how many times I could go from end to end in an Olympic sized pool on one breath. ( My record was 7, almost 8.)
I was on the Swim Team in High School, (the one year I wasn’t in two band classes.)But then I did a Discover Scuba in 1979 in Hawaii and was hooked.
I traveled to American Samoa, Tahiti, Pango Pango, New Zealand and Australia. Which started my love for travel and adventure.
During my College Years, in San Diego I spent a lot of time in the ocean learning to Dive, Surf and continued to explore south into Mexico.
My travels continued during the 80’s when I joined the Tacoma based funk group, Jonah’s Whale as a Lead Singer. This introduced me to cruise ship traveling, which later in life became a way to combine all my passions, Music, the water and Traveling to new places.
The friends I made and still have during this period, are some of the best memories of my life.
I went on to earn my NAUI Advanced Certification in 1991. Then my Rescue plus Solo Diver Cert and finally became a PADI Dive Master in 2012.
I was fortunate enough to be apart of the Salem Scuba Instructional Team for Linfield College with Blake Fry and Jim Smith from 2012-2018.
During that time I traveled literally all over the planet countless times, with my friends from Salem Scuba. The Channel Islands, Grand Caymans, Cozumel, Roatan, Bonaire, Fiji and The Bahamas just to name a few.
Plus all the cool short trips to Florida, Vegas, New York, Alaska, Mexico and California.
I have to admit, I’m one lucky person to have been able to visit and see all these places and accumulate 4000 plus dives.
And now as of January 1st 2018, I am thrilled to be the New Owner of Salem Scuba Diving, Equipment & Adventures. A place for friends and family to come together and see just what else is out there and possible.