power of your hobby (a.k.a. scuba diving)

[subsur]

i'm wondering what influence on your life you hobby or hobbies have. since we all share scuba diving as a hobby or passion for some of you, what impact has it had on your life. Some people find their soulmates thru hobbies, some people lose friends so in my mind the impact is huge. would be curius to read some of your stories.
for me - scuba diving have made me realize that there is much more to the world. I want (and hopefully will) to go places I would not imagine going a few years ago. Also, scuba has made me become more aware of the environment around.
let's hear so of your stories...

[Soonerwink]

My wife gripes because every trip we surrounds being able to get some dive time in. Plus she says I spend too much time reading and discussing diving on this board.

[DivingsInMyBlood]

I take flak for being so into diving from the wife.

[kingfish]

So far in a few short months of diving i have found 1 new mate met plenty of new people.... but have had to work hard to find time to see old mates.

Oh and i have no spare cash...lol.

Jas.

[BuzzGA]

Scuba is a way to escape, my wife and I both have high pressure jobs and the chance to get out on the water is where the sanity comes in. It also reminds me that there is a whole big world out there that doesn't involve my deadlines and it is a wonderful place. While I wouldn't call diving a religious experience when I was a teen and would skip church on Sunday to go dive my mom always told the minister that I was worshiping at Our Lady of the Sparkling Water or our Lady of the Deep Blue Sea. The minister who is now a good friend never gave me a hard time and actually usually applauded my efforts

[Bring the Payne]

Scuba has opened me to a whole new world that not many people get a chance to experience. Not only is scuba one of the most exciting things I have ever done it has led me to meet some really great people.

[ladyfish]

Diving is just the best thing I have ever done! I love being underwater, and it is really an experience that you don't get anywhere else. There's serenity, excitement, beauty and so much more.

It is also a great way to meet new people. I move a lot due to my husband's job. Diving has been a way to meet people in new locations. It's even better now that my kids are diving and they enjoy it so much. It's great to see your favorite activity reflected in your child's eye!

[jwdizney]

I was never interested in diving, but I sat through my wife's OW classes, watching bubbles and saw how much fun she was having, and how excited she was. I wanted to be a part of that with her, but as you know, i had my own demons to conquer first... we're getting closer to being full time dive buddies, and I hope i'm not a burden to her diving aspirations, because i look forward to sharing many scuba dreams together....

[scarlet&gray nut]

My wife says that diving is all I talk about. I am trying to get her to try scuba again. She had a bad experience on a discover scuba when we were on vacation few year ago. The Instructor was in too much of a hurry. Out of the 4 people in our group I was the only one that could recover my reg the 1st try and I was the only one that got to go on the dive.

[TxScubaBear]

Diving is my escape as well....wife said if she can ever overcome her fear of the water (incident when she was a kid) she'd join me....but in the meantime trying to recruit my kids (low to mid 20's)