“I love the ocean. Given the chance, I will just sit outside and listen to the water. For our 30th anniversary, my husband and I took a trip to Hawaii, and we had a great time. We went snorkeling, in particular with sea turtles, and I had an experience that really moved me.

“I had gotten close to a turtle, and we were curious of one another. It was so much fun, going up and down in the water with the turtle. I had a moment with this turtle, let me tell you! Then the turtle decided to go for a dive, and I wanted to go with him but I knew I couldn’t with just my snorkel. I thought, ‘Wait! Don’t leave!’ And I looked down deeper, where the turtle was diving, and I saw scuba divers. That was the moment that it hit me. I wanted to be like the turtle, and see what it’s like down there. I wanted to learn how to scuba dive!

“Now fast forwarding a bit, I have great friends who share my passion that I get to enjoy spending time with. I learned how to scuba dive by taking the course here in Cape. After that, I went down to Vortex Springs in Florida to do my open water certification. I got to go down to Pensacola to dive, and saw a wreck that they had sunk for scuba divers.

“I’d like to get my wreck certification so that I can actually go inside the wrecks. Scuba diving has been wonderful for me, and I’m glad that I was brave enough to challenge myself to learn and get my certifications. The experiences underwater are amazing, and it is great to be a part of the diving community.”