DiveMaster trainee
Sea Level Scuba divemaster introduction - Ashley Ricker
During my senior year of college at the University of Toledo, I decided that I would reward myself with a "fun" course. I signed up for a scuba diving class through the university and was certified in May of 2005. Growing up teaching swimming lessons in my grandmother's indoor pool and spending my summers at the lake, diving felt very comfortable for me and I was instantly hooked. Soon thereafter, I began signing up for specialty classes to expand my skills. I obtained my Underwater Photography specialty in September 2005 and my Night & Limited Visibility Diving specialty in October 2005. In January 2006, I became Nitrox certified.
Just a few days later, I left Ohio and moved to Key Largo, Florida, to pursue a marine science internship with REEF Environmental Education Foundation. During the internship, I conducted several fish population surveys while snorkeling and scuba diving all over the Keys. I then compared my findings with others who had conducted surveys on each survey site in the past. If there were large changes in the makeup of the reef, we would seek answers as to why this happened, work towards changes in governmental regulations that would correct the problem, and determine how the species could be reintroduced to the area. This internship also allowed me the opportunity to write articles for the monthly REEF newsletter which was distributed both online and by mail to REEF members all over the world. The internship was an experience of a lifetime and really developed my personal awareness of both the environmental concerns that affect our reefs, but also how we as divers affect them. I obtained my Advanced Open Water training in February 2006 while in Key Largo. My internship was completed in April 2006 and I then reluctantly returned back home to Ohio.
In February 2008, I completed my Deep Diver certification. I took the Rescue Diver course in July 2008 and the Search & Recovery Diver course in August 2008. I began my Divemaster training in September 2008. I currently have over 100 dives. Some of the locations I have dove include the reefs of the Grand Caymans and Bonaire, the Wellwood Grounding research site in Key Largo, the cenote caverns at Quintana Roo in Mexico, a couple shipwrecks in Lake Erie, and of course, my local quarries where I spend most of my time- Gilboa Quarry in Findlay, Ohio; Portage Quarry just outside of Bowling Green, Ohio; and Whitestar Quarry in Gibsonburg, Ohio. I am an amateur underwater photographer. I love taking pictures, especially of my tropical dives, to preserve the wonderful memories that I make and the amazing sea life diving allows me to swim alongside. My pictures can be viewed at www.photobucket.com/albums/y174/anp05. I live in Findlay, Ohio with my husband, Matt, and our "baby" (our cat, Jinx). I have two fish tanks- a 55-gallon freshwater tank and a 75-gallon saltwater tank.
A great man, Jacques Yves Cousteau, once said, "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one it it's net of wonder forever". For me, this is especially true because once I discovered diving, my whole world changed. I became so deeply addicted that diving and thinking about diving became an every day part of my life. Going on trips to tropical locations so that I could see the amazing reefs and diverse fish populations became something I looked forward to all year long. I am fascinated with diving and only wish I had gills of my own so I could stay under longer. I am proud to say that scuba diving is my passion and something that will always be a big part of who I am.
Best Fishes!!
