One of the earliest acronyms to gain the acceptance of a wary public, SCUBA is perhaps the only enduring legacy of the highly secretive Sub-Conscious Ungulate Booster Association. Get your feet wet in this watery pastime by submerging yourself into today’s deal: for $39, you get a one-day Discover Scuba Program (a $100 value) from Sink or Swim Scuba in Gastonia. This is a great chance for starving sea sponges to start soaking up saltwater knowledge.
The first sessions will be on Sunday, March 21, and Sunday, March 28, at 9 a.m., and more will be scheduled based on demand. The class can contain anywhere from 1 to 15 people, so call to request or find out about future dates. The program begins with a short class to lay the groundwork for the day to follow. Meet at the store to learn about necessary diving equipment, basic procedures, and the rules of the underwater world, such as "do not lick the octopodes." After the school of ambitious fish is released, you'll be transported to the dive site via transporter beam or bus. You won't be heading all the way to the Atlantic (this time), but instead to a nearby pool, where you'll grow your sea legs in a controlled environment away from packs of ravenous sea horses and prehistoric megalodons. Equipment will be provided for you. You'll spend two to three hours in the water practicing maneuvers and getting comfortable with the equipment. During the educational pool party, participants will play games in and out of the water to further the familiarity with scuba fun. Aspiring Cousteaus will also get a primer in open-water scuba certification to bring newfound skills to the open sea.
Students must be proficient swimmers and at least 18 years old to swim solo, while those between the ages of 10 and 17 can participate if accompanied by a parent or guardian. If you or someone you know has always been scuba-curious, get today's Groupon to start a new life in Waterworld. Direct descendants of merpeople can finally return to their aqua roots without devolving their lungs back into gills.
Reviews
Sink or Swim Scuba sent over some customer testimonials:
- Seeking to help a friend's paraplegic son experience freedom and movement again, I asked Brent, through Sink or Swim Scuba to introduce him to the world of scuba diving. Enthuestically [sic], Brent accepted this challenge and it was everything I wanted it to be and more. Brent broke through the bonds of paralysis and gave this young man a whole new world to explore, a world without limits. Thank you Brent, you make dreams come true. – Rhonda Owenby
- I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my diving experience with you. Your personality is a great asset to your business and dealing with clients. I look forward to experiences with you in the future and many more trips. – Jim
- I had a great time as well, it was good to get back in the water for a while. Everyone was most accommodating especially Brent… – Anonymous
Sink or Swim Scuba
Brent Clevenger founded Sink or Swim Scuba in 2006 to provide regular open-water dive experiences to fledging and senior divers alike. He trains neophytes in his full-sized pool, letting them control their buoyancy to drop to the full twelve-foot depth after they master underwater breathing fundamentals in the shallow end. He also oversees scuba certification training during group dives at the Piedmont Dive Rescue Association Lake Norman Quarry. The former dig site provides plenty of underwater excitement with schools of fish and sunken objects to explore, such as the quarry manager's shed which used to house instructions on how not to flood the quarry.