Jean Czapko
It started with some friends asking me if I wanted to learn how to scuba dive. I had never thought about it before but I had the evenings available, so my journey began…
After picking out my mask, fins, boots and snorkel, I couldn’t wait to get home to clean my mask with toothpaste and start reading my book. Horrors!!! I have to take my mask off, put it back on and clear out the water — all while I’m underwater? No, I can’t! Only those with magic powers can do such a thing! I do not possess these powers! I can’t sleep worrying about this. What will I do? I know! I will simply tell my instructor I do not want to take off my mask underwater and he will understand. Problem solved. Relief! Right? Wrong! My instructor informed me I would have to do this, explained how to do it and then demonstrated how to do it. And I did it. The rest is history.
If I can do this, you can do this and I feel having these apprehensions while taking my class has made me a more empathetic instructor. I’ve been there. In addition to teaching at Underwater Safaris, I also work the sales floor and yes, I’m “That Jean” who sends out the emails to our customers, keeping everyone up to date on what’s going on with the Underwater Safaris, including classes, trips and equipment.
Since my vacations now always involve diving, I’ve been to quite a few different dive destinations including Cozumel, the Cayman Islands, Belize, Honduras, Bahamas, Bonaire, the Great Barrier Reef and more. I even did a dive off the coast of Tasmania! I can honestly say I don’t have a favorite dive destination, I have favorite dives in quite a few destinations including Lake Michigan and Haigh Quarry.
I use my trusty DUI TLS350 when diving locally and my Body Glove 3mm full suit for warm water. You will never catch me diving in just a bathing suit. I get cold as do must women. I also own three (Yes, three) Body Glove beanies which go with me on all of my trips because, let’s face it, we still lose most of our body heat through our heads and most of us get chilled while diving, even when the water is in the 80s. It’s hard to overheat but you can’t warm up when you’re cold. I love Poseidon Regulators and not just because it’s purple. It breaths great. My next regulator purchase will probably be the Apex ATX100 with ATX50 Octo. They’re great regs. and I’m an Aqualung girl. I think it will go great with my SeaQuest Libra BCD and Suunto Vyper computer.
Enough about me, though. I look forward to hearing from and about you and I really look forward to perhaps diving with you in the near future. Remember… If I can, you can.
