My name is Philip Johnston,
I am 36 years old and have lived in County Fermanagh for 26 years. I became
interested in water sports quite late in life, and decided
to learn to Scuba Dive when both my brother and sister went to university,
so I would have something to pre-occupy my time rather than siting about
the house.
I joined a local BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club) in September 1991, and
continued club diving till September 1997. During that period I became
an Advanced Diving Instructor, an Advanced Diver and had started to get
into the technical diving scene by completing my Technical EANx (Nitrox
course) through IANTD. I also became a club diving officer and training
officer on various occasions, and use to completed around 70 dives per
year.
I quit diving in September 1997 due to constant in-fighting and back
biting within my local diving club, due to over inflated egos, with which
my own was probably one of the biggest.
In September 1997 I joined the local canoeing club, unfortunately there
is no other better way to learn a sport cheaply, than through the Club
scene - I think the secret is not to get to involved in how a clubs run,
just concentrate in enjoying the sport for yourself and forget about the
rest - selfish I know but its less hassle and aggravation. I participated
in all forms of canoeing disciplines such as river paddling, flat-water
paddling, sea kayaking and my favourite canoe surfing. I didn't bother
too much about qualifications and things have worked out great.
In January 2001 my friend Tony who I do most of my canoeing with, expressed
an interest in learning to dive, so he did. I got back into diving and
have since bought my own compressor, I operate as an independent; I am
a member of the BSAC but not any club, and I love it. I complete around
10 dives a year and spend the rest of my time Canoe Surf and Sea Kayaking.
For all of those thinking about operating independently - I would highly
recommend it, their are loads of commercial operators out their who are
only to happy to take your cash and take you for a boat dive, and you
can shore dive for free - or alternatively there are a number of commercial/recreational
type clubs run by Paddy Instructors who have a minimal charge for the
organisation of their club dives. The good news is that they are the only
one's in charge, which usually makes for hassle free diving.
Philip
Johnston - 8 July 2004
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