Bummer... Ixnay on the C.U.B.A.S.ay

Shoot, no dive certification for me. I've been reading the Diving and Boating Safety Manual for my job (100+ pages of captivating reading...) and I have just learned that people with serious ear problems can not become certified.

I won't go into detail, but let me just say that my ears are pretty bad - so much so that I need hearing aids. Also, because of my ears, I think I'm starting to develop mild vertigo (another no-no for dive certification...). I'm going to check if I'm disqualified next time I go to the ear doctor, then I'll know for sure. Oh well...

Being the ever-positive person that I am, there is a bright side to this. I was only going to get certified to work on a phobia that I have of all things in the water. (Aquaphobia is the closest name to the phobia, but I'm not sure if it's entirely correct.) Anywho, I wouldn't be missing out on anything special by not doing this, would I?

Well, I suppose that I can still shatter that damn phobia with snorkeling. Plus, snorkeling is cheaper and easier to coordinate, anyway. All I need is some custom-made earplugs, mask, breathing tube, fins, and I'm off. I could snorkel down in the Keys (Ha, beat that you tourists who have to plan an entire trip just to go to the Keys! I can do it in 2 days - 1 if I got up early, which ain't happening. Nananana!). So, as I was saying, I could go to the Keys, a local beach, or, heck, even a nearby pool.

A pool - yes, a pool would be good - it's safe and clean. But wouldn't that kind of defeat the purpose of the entire endeavor? OK, so, no pool.

Anyone up for a snorkel?

Sunshine