Scubaholics Anonymous

[neogeo]

Hi, my name if Geoff and I'm a scubaholic... At first it was just for fun, just something on the side you know a hobby. I then started diving more and more. There's just something about that nitrogen high you get that makes me want more gear, more certs, more knowledge, and most of all MORE DIVES! I often times find my self digging through the love seat scrounging up change just so I can get some scuba. I often find myself searching post after post just to see what I can do next, or what I should do next.

Please everyone share you stories.

[BubblesMcCoy]

Hi my name is Bubbles and I'm a scubaholic. It started when I got back from a deployment and entered a self destructive phase. In one week I dyed my hair orange and got my o/w certification. For two years I couldn't keep from jumping in every mud hole and quarry around. It didn't matter what it looked like or how bad I smelled when I got out, I just couldn't stop myself.

I stayed dry and on the wagon for nearly five years. Then on a trip to Mexico with my wife, I stole away and went out with a frenchman who had his own boat and went on a nitrogen bender. Since then I spend nearly all of my time and money on scuba. No matter how many dives I complete, I just have to have one more. Each time searching for that ultimate dive, each time it gets harder and harder to ride the low.

My wife has tried to help me with my addiction, but at home, at work, and even at church I can't stop myself from trying to check my SPG. My wife has caught me reading a scuba magazine, I was so ashamed.

During my last trip, my kids kept asking my wife "when is daddy going to surface?" and "why does daddy smell so bad?"

[navyhmc]

My name is Bob. I'm not a Scubaholic...I'm a pusher! A dealer! I'm not going to admit I have a problem, because I don't! It's the people who live a dry life that have the problem. It's those that have not been drawn to the narcosis that are the problem, not me.

I have even been known to push my own nephews into scuba! Mwaa Haa-Haaaa! I admit it, I'm an evil tank carrying, deep diving, wetsuit wearing, Nitrox breathing fiend who lurks in the water whenever possible! I'm the guy your instructor warned you about!

[neogeo]

Originally Posted by navyhmc

My name is Bob. I'm not a Scubaholic...I'm a pusher! A dealer! I'm not going to admit I have a problem, because I don't! It's the people who live a dry life that have the problem. It's those that have not been drawn to the narcosis that are the problem, not me.

I have even been known to push my own nephews into scuba! Mwaa Haa-Haaaa! I admit it, I'm an evil tank carrying, deep diving, wetsuit wearing, Nitrox breathing fiend who lurks in the water whenever possible! I'm the guy your instructor warned you about!

Bob its ok you can open up... we are here to listen. I once thought the same.

[PlatypusMan]

They call me the PlatypusMan; I hang around ScubaToys at times, other times at lakes and ocean venues--pretty much anyplace that potential clients I can 'turn' into divers hang out.

What I do is pretty much act as an enabler--I give them their first hits off a snorkel for free, then ease them into the harder stuff: BCDs, tanks, regulators, fins, wet suits...before they know it, they're hooked on diving and that's all they can think about. Where's the next dive site, when's the next dive?...that kind of stuff. They start spending tons of money because they discover that they need more and more stuff to satisfy the craving and get a handle on the itch. There are some guys I know that have really gone into the deep and started doing rebreathers because the regular material is too tame for them now.

They'll start communicating in U/W gang signals just to keep a percieved coolness factor going as they submerge deeper and deeper into the Scuba world, a world with it's own slang and language like PPO2, or "undeserved hit"...and everyone is watching out for the DCS that could put an end to all the dive fun and games.

Before all you girlfriends and wives and such start gathering up your pitchforks and torches and start looking for me, consider that I didn't really mess your SO up; the craving had to already BE there--I just brought out the natural inclination of their 'urge to submerge'--so don't go blaming ME for what happens next, or the fact that they're trying to get you to join them in this lifestyle.

This is just what I do. Deal.

PPM

[neogeo]

Originally Posted by PlatypusMan

They call me the PlatypusMan; I hang around ScubaToys at times, other times at lakes and ocean venues--pretty much anyplace that potential clients I can 'turn' into divers hang out.

What I do is pretty much act as an enabler--I give them their first hits off a snorkel for free, then ease them into the harder stuff: BCDs, tanks, regulators, fins, wet suits...before they know it, they're hooked on diving and that's all they can think about. Where's the next dive site, when's the next dive?...that kind of stuff. They start spending tons of money because they discover that they need more and more stuff to satisfy the craving and get a handle on the itch. There are some guys I know that have really gone into the deep and started doing rebreathers because the regular material is too tame for them now.

They'll start communicating in U/W gang signals just to keep a percieved coolness factor going as they submerge deeper and deeper into the Scuba world, a world with it's own slang and language like PPO2, or "undeserved hit"...and everyone is watching out for the DCS that could put an end to all the dive fun and games.

Before all you girlfriends and wives and such start gathering up your pitchforks and torches and start looking for me, consider that I didn't really mess your SO up; the craving had to already BE there--I just brought out the natural inclination of their 'urge to submerge'--so don't go blaming ME for what happens next, or the fact that they're trying to get you to join them in this lifestyle.

This is just what I do. Deal.

PPM

Thanks for sharing PlatypusMan, thats a great start, I skipped all that weak stuff... I basically hit up my buddy for his extra gear or a dealer. But I recently started buying the good stuff BP/W, doubles, drysuit, you know the heavy stuff all the junkies use.

[navyhmc]

Originally Posted by neogeo

Bob its ok you can open up... we are here to listen. I once thought the same.

After diving for 35 years, there's no way I'm JUST a Scubaholic...I surpassed that 30 years ago!

[chilly willy]

Hi my name is Jeff and I'm a scubabuser. After a 20 year hiatus from being constantly narced I fell off the wagon when my wife said, "go get wet just this once, it won't hurt anything". Needless to say I've been narced ever since. It's just that type A personality thing, it got ahold of me and didn't let go. I can beat it, I can, I know I can........where's my bottle and reg?.

[navyhmc]

I have to say it...

Since Alcoholics Anonymous is for those wanting to break an addiction to alcohol, Narcotics Anonymous is for those who want to break a narcotic addiction, Scubaholics Anonymous would be for those who want to break their diving addiction.

Why in the world would I want to do that? I enjoy my diving, I don't want to quit. I wish to continue, I want to continue diving. The only intervention I want or need is the type I get here: invites to go diving! It should be Scubaholics United!!!!

[chilly willy]

Originally Posted by navyhmc

I have to say it...

Since Alcoholics Anonymous is for those wanting to break an addiction to alcohol, Narcotics Anonymous is for those who want to break a narcotic addiction, Scubaholics Anonymous would be for those who want to break their diving addiction.

Why in the world would I want to do that? I enjoy my diving, I don't want to quit. I wish to continue, I want to continue diving. The only intervention I want or need is the type I get here: invites to go diving! It should be Scubaholics United!!!!

I fully agree, I have the need to feed my addiction, not deny it.