“The Accidental Diver”, (or, “How To Have Fun On Business Trips Even If You Don’t Play Golf”)

by Michael Coburn, M.D.

After flying to a conference in Albuquerque recently with 4 other urologists, we all proceeded straight to the baggage claim area to retrieve our belongings. Within minutes, piled into the trunk of the rental car were 4 long, skinny bags with logos like “Titlest” and “Big Bertha”, and one wider and somewhat heavier duffel with a salt-encrusted zipper lock and a little green frog on the side. “What the hell do you have in there, Mike?” asked one curious colleague. “Scuba gear” I said proudly. “You know, this is the desert...” he quipped sarcastically. “Yeah, one big sand trap to you; karst country to me” I responded cleverly.

It is definitely possible to expand one’s diving horizons and add some serious spice to otherwise mundane business travel. All you need is a map, information on a few dive shops or clubs in the area you’re visiting, maybe access to the internet, and a few extra hours to kill while you’re on the road. Having long work hours, and a wife and two little kids who are fun to be with often makes it difficult for me to disappear on dedicated diving jaunts while in town, but the need to travel a lot on business opens up a whole world of diving opportunities (especially if you change your concept of what constitutes diveable water...) Even family vacations with nondivers present some interesting options.

Some personal examples from the past few years:

- two great shore dives in Ketchikan, Alaska towards the end of a family vacation on a cruise ship

- a one-day drysuit course on nitrox in a quarry near Madison, Wisconsin

- a beautiful dive at Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, New Mexico - about an hour from Albuquerque

- a solo dive from a rented motorboat in Crystal River, Florida (off season for the manatees, but very pretty and relaxing anyway)

- some interesting cold water shore dives off Cape Ann, MA and York Beach, ME while at a meeting in Boston

- a dip in the big fish tank (6 million gallons and 200 ft vis.!) at Epcot in Orlando, Florida (they run a great program, just make reservations and bring your C-card)

- a quick side-trip to Blue Grotto and Devil’s Den on another convention trip to Orlando

- an interesting lake clean-up dive with the local dive club during a family vacation in northern Wisconsin

- some great cenote diving in Akumal during a conference in Cancun (just me and the guide)

- two dives trips off the California coast (Coronado Islands, south of San Diego; Monterrey Bay south of San Francisco)

- a day diving in Fajardo, P.R. during a meeting in San Juan

(Most of these trips took no more than a few hours to half a day.)

A few recommendations for increasing your success rate as a business-traveler-diver:

1. try to make prearrangements; local shops are usually eager to help with advice (and provide air, weights and sometimes a knowledgeable guide for a reasonable fee)

2. check out the dive magazines - lots of good suggestions on local diving

3. surf the web: “diving and (location)”; try e-mailing officers of local dive clubs; they love to help!

4. arrange air travel to get in a little earlier than your business commitments require; dive first, then head home late the next day after business is finished.

5. be flexible - my Crystal River dive was supposed to be a Gulf boat dive from Tampa; we were blown out, but it was only an hour’s drive north to the springs, which are nearly always diveable

6. as always for dive air travel, carry your expensive personal stuff (mask, regulator, computer, etc.) on with you; if your bags arrive late, you can rent the other stuff and dive in spite of them! And always keep a C-card in your wallet; you never know when an opportunity will present itself.

7. bring small gifts for those who facilitate your good time (those Texas dive flag stickers are great).

8. don’t get frustrated when you bring your gear home dry and unused - it’s worth it for the successes (I’m over 80% for getting into the water this year!)

So when you’re schlepping around on business and you see all those dudes with the suits and laptops getting off the plane to claim their golf bags, show them you know how to live: fly in a dive T-shirt!; read a dive magazine on the plane!; and bring your dive gear!