September 2005

Volume 25, No. 1, September 21, 2005

FEATURES

Scuba diving opens a world of beauty

by E. E. and J. H.

From deep ship wrecks in Gloucester to the warm water in the Caribbean, multi-talented George Burliss scuba dives his way in many places. All of the beautiful sea creatures and wonderful underwater sights make the joys of scuba-diving even more fantastic. This relatively safe sport can be experienced by kids as young as 10 years old, and, according to Burliss, "...the only thing you can hear is the sound of your bubbles."

The relaxing adventure began for Burliss when he was watching the old television show "Sea Hunt." The main character, Lloyd Bridges, amazed Burliss with his wonderful sky diving missions and sea hunts. He was Burliss's idol, and main inspiration. The art of scuba diving became much more popular in 1957, when the aqua lung was invented by Jacques-Yves Cousteau. As a young swimmer at the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), Burliss was first certified to scuba dive in 1968.

As a kid, Burliss often wondered about the ocean. He once asked, "Ma, why did god put all the beautiful things under water?" For him, scuba diving became the key to opening up a whole new, beautiful world.

Unlike sky diving, one of Burliss's other incredible hobbies, one doesn't have to concentrate as much on the techniques of scuba diving.

It is something that one just enjoys. As Burliss says, "You just think about what you're doing and have fun with it."

Scallops, lobsters, sharks, French angel fish, anemones, and many other extraordinary sea animals, are encountered by Burliss in his underwater journeys. Some of these animals may seem scary, even intimidating, but as long as one doesn't bother them, they will stay away. On the other hand, with the proper training and some risk, one can get close to, even ride, a few of these animals. Burliss recalled stories and pictures from the time that he rode a large French angel fish.

When traveling under water, many things are needed. That includes $1500-$5000 in equipment! However, the cost does not mean this activity is a hard thing to do. The only main requirement is having a scuba license; almost everything else is accessory. Not only that, one can rent most mandatory equipment.

For different dives, different things are needed. For example, there is a large assortment of air-tanks that allow one to dive for varying periods of time. Also, a dry suit may be preferable for colder waters (a dry suit gets filled with air from your tank rather than water, heating it faster and longer).

Want to try out scuba diving? Contact the National Association of Underwater Instructors ( NAUI), or the Professional Association of Dive Instructors ( PADI).